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. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    There's been 96 minutes WTF

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

    Martinez: 7
    DCL: ?
    Dias: ?
    Coufal: ?

    Probably should have bench boosted LOL

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

      Martinez on 9

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

      *make that Martinez: 9

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

    Grealish YC

  4. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Greslish YC

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

      Nice

  5. All For One
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard active:
    Pope
    Digne, Dias, Lowton
    Grealish, Gundogan, Bruno, Salah
    Dcl, Antonio, Bamford

    Martinez, Dallas, Maddison, Coufal

    0.4 ITB

    Will bench boost next gw

    Any changes?

    Thanks

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

    Think Odegaard will start for Arsenal in next match. Looking class

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

    What was that YC for?

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

      Being Jack

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

      He said something to Willian

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        To the ref

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

      Because I have him

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

    EMiiii MARTINEZ what a legend

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

    Brining Willian on lost Arsenal that match.

    He was absolutely dreadful!

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

      Agent Willian 😎

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

    Hold villa

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

    Martinez CS!!!!

  12. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FT

  13. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    F you Grealish

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

    Emmmmiii youuu beautsssss

  15. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone gangsta until they bench Martinez.....

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

    Grealish's such a troll

  17. lewis1290
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ffs that’s never a yellow for grealish

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

      Did you hear what he said?

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

    FFS Grealish FML!!!!!!!!!!!

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

    Martinez!!!! What a legend

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

    Robbed of a Grealish point because of this idiot referee. Blatant foul by Willian on Grealish.

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

    Great stuff.

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

    Grealish stinking my team up as usual

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Emi 2/2 CS vs. his former club this season. Quality!

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

    Martinez could get all 3 baps here

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

      Based on what?

  25. Party time
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Emi Martínez appreciation post

    • Rash
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any chance martinez sneaks max baps?

    • JustPark
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      People benching Martinez is just beyond me. Even if they just got shiny Pope in for the DGW. Not this GW.

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

        Well done for waiting until FT to post this.

    • Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Seriously this game can f**** o***. Trying to make gains by getting Pope in and benching Martinez.

      Absolutely fuming.

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

        And if Pope gets 10+ points later?

        Presumably you’ll totally (actually?) lost your sh*t and run up the down the street naked and chanting his name in celebration?

    • Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. 9 from 1. Oneward.

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

      I told everyone Grealish would do nothing since I brought him in, even got a YC.
      Kiss of death!