Dugout Discussion

Arsenal without three key players as Pogba returns to wide role for Man United

Arsenal are short of key personnel as they host Manchester United in Gameweek 21.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) misses a second Premier League match in a row as he deals with an ongoing personal issue but the premium midfielder is not the only absentee.

Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) was to be assessed for the calf injury that kept him sidelined for the Southampton game ahead of Gameweek 21 and he misses out third time in Arsenal’s last four league matches.

That means a third successive start at left-back for Cédric Soares (£4.6m) while Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) remains a substitute amid rumours of a departure during the January transfer window.

Bukayo Saka (£5.4m) might have been viewed as an alternative on the left-hand side of defence but he is the third big name missing from Arsenal’s latest team-sheet, left out with a sore hip.

With Saka and Aubameyang missing, Mikel Arteta turns to Nicolas Pépé (£7.6m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) to staff the flanks of attacking midfield either side of Emile Smith Rowe (£4.5m), whose recovery from a muscle injury is even more welcome than usual in light of Arsenal’s latest injury news.

Thomas Partey (£4.9m) has also shrugged off his yellow flag for a knock and features in defensive midfield alongside Granit Xhaka (£5.2m).

Following the shock defeat to Sheffield United, Paul Pogba (£7.7m) returns to a wider role for Manchester United.

The Frenchman features on the left-hand side of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s front-three with Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) in the middle and Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) on the right.

They sit behind Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) who earns a deserved recall up-front at the expense of Anthony Martial (£8.8m)

With Pogba higher up the pitch, Scott McTominay (£4.9m) and Fred (£5.3m) anchor the midfield while Luke Shaw (£4.8m) returns at left-back.

Arsenal v Manchester United line-ups

Arsenal XI: Leno; Cédric, Holding, D Luiz, Bellerín; Xhaka, Partey; Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Pépé; Lacazette.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Fred; Pogba, B Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

970 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    4 points from 8 players any good?

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Take a guess. 50% chance you'll be wrong.

    2. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This week it probably is.

    3. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      9 from 4 here!!

    4. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      8 from 3 including captain.

    5. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      V good

  2. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That was a really nice clearence from Martinelli

  3. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McTominay has the tom-tits

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      McTits would be on menu if McDonald's was a strip club.

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who can beat me?

    Not playing:

    Sterling
    Cancelo
    Stones
    McGoldrick
    Mitchell

    I think I've won.

    9 players at best.

    And this kind of things ofcourse are not happening when Soucek is first on the bench, like last time.

    Now I wish went with the first plan to get Mane.

    Anyone beating me with more players missing?

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Me

      I got Stones, Cancelo, Saka, Mitchell and Sterling

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford is unbelievably bad

  6. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martial coming on for Tommy

  7. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get McTom off he is just a passenger

  8. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Holy sht, Luiz, retire already

  9. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tony coming on

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mctominay off with a tummy ache

  11. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lindelof laughing at me from the bench

  12. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Away dressing room toilet getting a pounding right now

  13. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martial on.

    Arsenal 3 points secured.

  14. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno wasnt going to be in my team if KDB and Kane were fit

  15. wolvesmad
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Love how Fantasy Football Scout abbreviates to ffs

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Some say it was deliberate

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ESR is a lovely player.

    Croyden David Silva*

  17. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Need Salah to go mental tomorrow to save my gw.

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah vice?

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah Sterling C

  18. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Now that's an interesting substitution

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      McTomminay needed a shite, Martial is shite...

      Perfect sub.

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Harsh

      2. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I shouldn't laugh but I did 😀

  19. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do we think Mitchell starts the next game now he’s been rested?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      unfortunately with him out the team they’ve won and cleaned so I would assume woy sticks with the same team but could be wrong, anyone’s guess

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Keep thinking Mitchell could be good on the right

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d be doubtful Roy would change a CS defence.

      Mitchell should be a 0 or 90 player though so worth starting, imo.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good point

  20. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The player my rival is getting off his bench for Cancelo has outscored my entire team so far, Bobby bloody Reid FFS what are the chances of him scoring the week my rival plays four at the back with Mitchell and Cancelo and they both get 0 minutes!!??

  21. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good god. Does nothing for weeks, so I did Wilson > DCL (-4).

    Figures.

  22. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    United going for the win. Arsenal depleted.

    Arteta needs to make some changes ASAP

  23. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    14 from 8 🙂

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      (Sorry for brag)

  24. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    9 from 5 inc (c) here, awful

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      8 from 5(C) here

  25. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    God I hate you Rashford

  26. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford, what are you doing??

  27. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    SHOOT RASHY FFS

  28. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I dont wanna be rude....but Rash is complete TRASH.

    Cant belive that some ppl have him in their team

  29. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Show yourself, Moderator!

  30. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WTF was Rashford doing???