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. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Øde at the wheel....

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

    Martinez on 1 BAP.

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

      2 saves and he’s on 3 baps

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

        Just 10 minutes and we will be there.

      2. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        1 down 1 to go

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

      A cleansheet and us owners we get a double digit score.

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

    Does this shot count as a save for Martinez???

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

      it was a shot so it was a save

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

        Cool, thanks

    2. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hasn’t been added yet

  4. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez u legend.

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

    People who transferred Mee in having the last laugh 🙁

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mee is a better option than Pope imo

  6. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal are so bad.

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

    SAVE

  8. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Be interesting to see if Minamino has finally found his level because lord knows it ain't Liverpool.

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sadly I agree

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

      He sounds like a small car.
      Little city runaround. Quite nippy. Bit hipster. Made by Fiat.

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

    People benched the best FPL keeper at home to one of the worst sides in the league?

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

      It'll be the lure of BB next week - and Pope with a plum fixture. Understandable.

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

      Bite me

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

      Martinez and Targett bencher here, bench off to a great start.

  10. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oh Arsenal, when will they realize Arteta is not the man to take them forward at this moment?

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

      Him and Lamps were never surviving.

      1. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed

    2. PogChamp
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's doing OK with not a very good squad. Deserves another season with some funds.

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

        Kroenke not exactly known for being pragmatic.

  11. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Weird, looks like they took away his "3rd" save from 10 minutes ago.

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      wtf

    2. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah I thought that

    3. G0SS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This.

    4. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Heart missed a beat there, thought he got a card.

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

      The Pepe cross?

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Idk I'm not really watching it but he was given a 3rd save around 10 minutes ago then when I went to check on his 4th save he had dropped down to 2 saves.

  12. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez CS confirmed makes me so so happy. Haha at you non owners

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Give our goalies a chance to play...

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How? 10 minutes to go.

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

      Benched him for Pope

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

    Watkins wastes Grealish assist >:(

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

      He does that a lot.

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

    Shouldn't Martinez be on 4 saves and not 3??

  15. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins what a donk

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

      Watkins showing why owning and selling him are both viable options.

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

    Which Man United MID / FWD would you take a one week punt on against wba next week? (Besides Bruno)

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

      Cavani

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pogba?

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

      for a second MU asset I'd want Shaw.

      if I had to get another attacker then Rashford. Maybe Cavani

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

      Rash

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

      Rashford

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

      Rashford.

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

      Rash

  17. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins showing he can play PL level

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely, especially when he's on my bench!

      1. Aidan269
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My fault. Started Cancelo and Gundo

        1. Aidan269
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Reply fáil

  18. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Getting seriously blueballed here as a Grealish and Watkins owner.

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

    What is sh** team arsenal is .
    Cant even score a goal in such an open game .
    Pathetic .

  20. Aidan269
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Watkins and Targett

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

      Wouch

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same 🙁

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

    There's being competitive and there's being childish. Why are footballers bred to be ago childish? Surely it's not ideal to have such volatility in the dressing room and on the pitch, and managers are just putting a positive spin on things when they say they like it when players throw a strop.

    Talking about Barkley of course

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

      Petulant little sh!te.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The best players never want to come off, call it a competitive streak. As long as it doesn't go any further that the match, nothing wrong with it

  22. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    All the Martinez benchers right now. 😀

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

      Love how match days bring out all the mature posters.

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

        i like to avoid here on matchdays, all the vermin come out, funny thing is their ranks are prob 100k+

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It is usually 1m+ and team not linked 🙂

        2. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Hey what’s wrong with 100k? That’s brilliant this season!

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

            haha sorry i'll revise to 500k+

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        +1

  23. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Why haven’t they added 4th Martinez save from Gabriel header?

    1. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would give him extra bonus too

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

      They did, it was his third save.

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Because they're clowns

  24. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lol at the urgency from Arsenal.

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

    Emi 9 pointer. Holdddd!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Won’t Watkins get the 9?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ahh my bad, as you were haha

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

    Comn Arsenal.. pls shoot from distance and let Martinez make 2/3 more saves 😆

  27. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 baps for Emi. Hold Villa.

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

    Watkins could have had a monster haul today.

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

      It's always like that

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

    Hooooollllllllddddddddsdddddd

  30. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cs confirmed lads. 90 mins up

    1. robredo10
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Six Martinez posts in 17 minutes... Not suspect at all