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.

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970 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My entire starting def didn’t play 1 min

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mitchell Stones Cancelo?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yessir

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

      That's what the subs are for.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        For all 3...?

    3. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That's quite funny!

    4. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sold Wilson also

      1. Camino Aleatorio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Are you Me? From another dimension?

        Same here

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Face it; We suck

  2. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When you week hinges on Ollie Watkins, you know you’re in trouble 🙁

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

      He'll do well

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

      Yeah same as.

    3. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There are some cats here whose weekend was Callum Wilson

      Random stuff happens

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Players I owned more than 3 GWs who managed to derail my season so far: Ryan, Werner and Rashford!

  4. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Two of the boringest teams in the prem! Give me Newcastle any day 😀

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

      Haha yeah the team with one exciting player

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wilson and Saint Max walk into your team 😉

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          St max can’t even walk into his own team

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He’s had covid you muppet

          2. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He’d walk into Chelsea’s team too with all those foreign flops

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Auba and joelinton on a par this season.

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

    united are going to lose this 1-0

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

      Hopefully.Maguire own goal would be nice.

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

    I must be the only one here who isn’t fussed by that ESM chap at all.

    The only decent thing about him is he wears his socks like Scholes and Grealish.

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

      ESM ESR REM SRM

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

      I think you are. He's not only good as an individual, but he takes a large proportion of the respononsibility for improving this Arsenal team. Fans at Huddersfield loved him, too, on the whole. You probably haven't seen enough of him, if that's your opinion

    3. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’s class on grass

    4. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I haven't seen much of him but looks good to me.

    5. Roy Hudd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      At the risk of him doing something in this next 20 mins.... I agree, he's very very average. People got/getting way too carried away by him.

    6. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Quite like him and he has decent potential. If he’s this decent this young hopefully he can develop

    7. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's 4.5m playing in a strong mid table team as a 10. What's not to like?

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

    Sold wilson>DCL
    Captained gundo

    Bamford benched so expecting a brace

  8. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Huge hauls for Bruno and Gundo as it stands.

  9. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    In the old days this game was blood an thunder - now it's more pus and drizzle

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        And that's just mctominay

      • tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sequels always disappoint

        1. TRIPOS TOPPER
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Apart from American Pie 2 ?

        2. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Umm Terminator 2...

      • how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Used to be unmissable didnt it? Oh well

      • Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That 7-2 will always be a classic

        1. STEP rOVERS
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          8-2

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            When Ashley Young became a legend

            1. alsybach
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Debbie does Dallas 2

      • Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It was more Ferguson vs Wenger

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

      Looking like a bgw

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

      is pogba playing?

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

      Laca post

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

        Bar*

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

        What did he say?

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

      Holding loves a bap, absolute bargain at 4.5

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

      Lacazette shot off target.

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

      United’s luck is endless.

    8. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DDG save point, finally!

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

      DDG hauling from my bench.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Dgw left over ?

    10. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3 - Wan-Bissaka (28)
      2 - Holding (27)
      1 - Maguire, Shaw (26)

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        To soon TM too soon

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

      Of course my rival has DDG and Holding!

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lol... right there with him!

      2. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Typical

      3. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Still time for a 1-1

    12. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's tough watching a match when you want it to end nowt-nowt! de Gea in net, Holding coming off the bench...

      1. jammie26
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Are you Gudjohnsens rival?

        1. BeaversWithAttitude
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Haha, no. But somebody out there probably hates me.

    13. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane to Wilson for free.

      No brainer yeah?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Easy transfer, he’s going up tonight

      2. jammie26
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nope.

      3. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Depends if he goes another 7 games before scoring again.

        1. BrockLanders
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This is true. Owned him for 3 GW's earlier in the season and he was utterly useless

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He was great for me. Ultimately though newcastle create so little you need to be patient.

            They're arent many great options at the minute

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              He didn’t touch the ball in the opponent’s half for 3 matches

      4. OneJuan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Looks like it. What about DCL to Antonio?

      5. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Not for me

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

      Easy United clean sheet.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. Declare 0-0 now and put something decent on.

    15. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      14 here with 5. Any use?

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        green arrow

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Massive green

    16. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Holding hooold!

    17. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My rival has DDG AWB Holding and Wilson of the bench with for Sterling Cap and his VC is Dias

      WTF

      and I have Digne DCL and Gundogan

      1. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Some people's luck is breathtaking

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          and Kilman coming on for Cancelo for me
          RIP me

    18. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Suddenly interested in Holding

      HOLD

    19. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ⚽ Team News 📰
      SOUTHAMPTON : McCarthy, Bertrand, Bednarek, Stephens, Romeu, Walcott, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Redmond, Ings.
      Subs: Forster, Long, Adams, Djenepo, Valery, Ramsay, N’Lundulu, Jankewitz, Watts.

      ASTON VILLA : Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Watkins, Traore, Targett, Barkley.
      Subs: Heaton, Taylor, Trezeguet, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Engels, Sanson, Elmohamady, Davis.

      1. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would like a 1 pt from Davis

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Targett striker? 😛

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

        Adams benched?!!
        Can't catch a break this GW with all this benching

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

          Me too....my full bench is already coming on and now don’t have anyone left to come on for Adams !! Wtf?!?

      4. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The Grealish show?

        Or 1.1

      5. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you

      6. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Save me Grealish

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

      Need -1 from Bamford to break even on my hit

      DCL + Richarlison - 4 = 0
      Martial + Bamford = 1 + ?

      Get a yellow and help me out Tony!

    21. Bobby
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Has this been the worst week for fpl? Can't remember when we last had so many template players either rested or doing nothing?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Game week 16 wasn't a bundle of fun either

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

      Adams better come on to block points.

      1. djman102
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who still has players left on their bench?

      2. THL33
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nasty, would love lewis' 11 points, but got no chance I think