Dugout Discussion

Ryan starts in goal for Arsenal as Aubameyang remains on bench

On-loan Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan (£4.2m) makes his Arsenal debut in Gameweek 23.

A hip problem ruled the stopper out for Gameweek 22 but Ryan returned to full training on Friday.

Bernd Leno (£5.0m) is serving a one-match suspension after being sent off as Arsenal lost 2-1 at Wolves on Tuesday. David Luiz (£5.4m) is in the same boat after his red card at Molineux.

Having only returned to the Arsenal matchday squad in GW22 following a personal issue, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) remains on the bench as Pepe (£7.6m) starts again. On that selection call, Mikel Arteta said:

It’s been a really difficult decision, as you can imagine. I felt that the players that played against Wolves, the way they played – they deserve another chance today and that’s why I stick with them.

Pepe joins Bukayo Saka (£5.4m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m), and Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m) in Arteta’s four-pronged attack.

With Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) still sidelined, Cedric (£4.6m) continues at left-back while Gabriel (£5.0m) slots in for David Luiz. On the Scottish full-back, Arteta said on Friday:

“We are trying to manage him in the best possible way and find every possibility to give him the best chance to be fit as soon as possible. Kieran is a player that really pushes himself and he has to be able to perform physically at his best because he cannot help himself. Even in training he can’t help himself.”

Asked whether the left-back’s injury has to be managed carefully:

“No, it’s a different injury in this case.”

For Aston Villa, Douglas Luiz (£4.9m) drops to the bench as Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) is drafted into midfield.

Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) also returns to Dean Smith’s starting XI, after Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) earned a rare start on Wednesday as the Villans were turned over by West Ham.

Speaking to BT Sport ahead of kick off, Smith explained:

Just freshening it up. I rested Betrand on Wednesday. It’s been a lot of games; I think it’s our sixth game in 18 days.

Likewise with Douglas Luiz. He’s done OK but he’s played pretty much every minute so it was time to put Nakamba in.

Emi Martinez (£5.2m) banked four points in that midweek defeat, despite conceding three goals. He lines up behind the usual back four of Matt Targett (£4.8m), Tyrone Mings (£5.4m), Ezri Konsa (£4.6m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m).

Traoré rejoins Ross Barkley (£5.9m) and Jack Grealish (£7.8m) in attacking midfield, with Ollie Watkins (£6.3m) leading the Villa line.

On that West Ham loss, Smith said in his pre-Arsenal press conference on Friday:

The message was they’ve dropped below their standards. We’ve had some very high standards this season already and we keep speaking to the players, if we want to be a top team then we have to keep playing to those standards.

For me, there were too many six out of 10s on Wednesday night and if you drop to that level then you’re going to get beat. We found that out. The lads understand that as well and they know what they have to do to put it right.

On defensive mistakes against the Hammers, Smith added:

After the Burnley game, I only showed (the players) the set-piece goal, which I thought was really poor defending from ourselves. After the West Ham game, our debrief was all three goals, as they were really poor defensively.

I haven’t had cause to do that because we’ve set really high standards this season and I thought we dropped off it. It was the first time I thought we looked mentally tired more than anything, certainly there’s nothing in the numbers to suggest fatigue in any way, but it was the fifth game in 14 days, we’ve got our sixth game on Saturday in 18 days.

The lads have to make sure they’re ready for each game because it’s a tough league and can be punishing if you’re not right.

Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash; McGinn, Luiz; Grealish, Barkley, B Traoré; Watkins.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Bellerin; Xhaka, Partey; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka; Lacazette.

1,118 Comments Post a Comment
  1. afcblegend
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Laca wasn't even close to being in the box on that last counter, good thing for Arsenal he's been hooked

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Like a ropey Thierry Henry tribute act.

  2. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please score Arsenal.

    I benched Martinez and Targett for this

  3. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    pages not moving today.

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not many arsenal owners chasing the equaliser

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

        I have Saka and ESR playing 😐

  4. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arteta is clapping his hands

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

      Lots of flies in the Midlands

    2. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Idk if you watch NFL, but he is a Jason Garett of the PL

  5. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who else benched Martinez ?

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

      Casuals

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope owners

    3. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's only on 7 points.

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

        "only 7" LOL

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Evidently you think he's the only keeper capable of a clean sheet this week.

  6. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best GW24 midfielder to replace Son in this midfield?

    Salah Bruno Gundogan Grealish Son*

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rash

      1. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        thanks

  7. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins has the ball

  8. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez best keeper in the league.

    Confident. Good Distribution. Active. Great reactions. Good positioning. As an everton fan it makes me weep. Pickford has one of these attributes.

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Confident?

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

        Yeah.

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

          Good with the ladies. Very important.

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      And he's in the baps. AGAIN.

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

      Confidence?

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

      None*?

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

        haha. I gave him shot stopping.

        1. Here's Tom with the We…
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Too 5 maybe, not the best.

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

            Alisson maybe? Wouldnt' say anyone else could be on a par with him right now. I'd take him over both of these (on current form).

            1. Here's Tom with the We…
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Alisson the best. Then Ederson, Lloris and DDG, all slightly better.

              Definitely up there on current form though.

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

                I'd have him over Lloris and DDG. Ederson fair enough.

    5. Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’s very good. Only weakness is on 1v1s. Goes to the ground too quickly.

    6. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pickford has 2 of those attributes.

      Wonder if Olsen will keep his place later?

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

    Anyone any idea what is EO of fernandes ?

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

      150 ish

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

      147

  10. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like a Martinez 8 pointer

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Another save and maybe 9

  11. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feel that Auba(c) a great shout at home vs Leeds next gw. Although with the DGW many will use transfers elsewhere, myself included

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

      Rather Saka

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Current owner

  12. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Should have hit it harder on his face!

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

    Benched Martinez for Pope 🙁

    I can't wait to play this BB and just get over it.

    Those bench hauls are so painful

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I did the same.

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

    Please Arsenal score

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

    Laca fail, get out of my squad, usless

  16. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Steve The Spud better get his phone ready to throw down the toilet.

  17. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Matt Ryan starts in 11 of the first 12 GWs for Brighton. I bring him in on a WC for GW13. He then plays 0 minutes from GW13 up until this GW when I swap him for Pope.
    Sometimes it really feels like this game is trolling me.

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

      but... he's conceded?

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Oh I don't want him. Not complaining he's grabbed a rare start today. Just a little heads up to the FPL gods having a laugh that I'm onto them.

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

      He's also crap so picking him is not great

  18. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Congrats Martinez owners on the clean sheet ... again 🙂

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

      Never bench Martinez

  19. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Targett on my bench :/

    But have Martinez! What should I wish for?

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

      Points.

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ... umm ...

    3. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A clean sheet??

  20. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bus team bench for next week

    Martinez (bha)
    Bamford (ars)
    Maddison (LIV)
    Son (mci)

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

    Odegaard and ESR can't play together they said.

    1. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only non Arsenal fans said that.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Takes half an hour to call each other due to long names.

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

        There are no players in the squad today with a surname with fewer syllables than Smith Rowe

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

          9 others with the same as Odegaard or more.

          Sorry

          1. Scrumper
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I love your posts 😉
            Brilliant stuff

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

              🙂 not sarcastic I hope!

              1. Scrumper
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Not at all

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      MØ is versatile, can play in several positions

  22. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Laca to DCL the only right move?
    Have Kane and Bamford.

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

    Another Martinez mega haul loading

  24. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Another save for Martinez. Should get 8 at least

  25. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal never scoring here. Sad

  26. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How do Villa ever keep a clean sheet? Everything is so last ditch.

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

      That's their style, intentional way of play. Similar to Burnley.

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

      Villa get battered

  27. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This was a save, right?

  28. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Another save point Martinez. haha.

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

    Why is the pitch so bad?

  30. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Another Martinez save. We want more weak shots aimed at emi. Like 8 more.