Dugout Discussion

Bielsa reshuffles in Phillips’ absence as Aubameyang and Odegaard make Arsenal XI

The third of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday sees Arsenal play host to Leeds United at the Emirates.

Kick-off in north London is at 16:30 GMT.

The visitors are without influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) for this encounter, with the England international missing out with a calf injury.

Jamie Shackleton (£4.8m) comes in for Phillips in Marcelo Bielsa’s only change from Gameweek 23.

That alteration prompts a wider tactical reshuffle, however, with the Leeds boss confirming ahead of kick-off that Pascal Struijk (£3.9m) would fill in for Phillips in midfield.

Luke Ayling (£4.4m) will move across to centre-half as a result, with Shackleton deployed at right-back.

The Arsenal team news is no less interesting as captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) returns to the starting XI for the first time since Gameweek 19.

Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard (£6.0m) is also promoted to Mikel Arteta’s line-up and makes his first start for the Gunners.

David Luiz (£5.4m) and Bernd Leno (£5.0m) are back after suspension, with Dani Ceballos (£4.7m) replacing the injured Thomas Partey (£4.9m) in midfield.

Mat Ryan (£4.2m), Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m) and Rob Holding (£4.6m) all drop to the bench.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Cedric, Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard, Aubameyang.

Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Alioski, Dallas, Klich, Shackleton, Harrison, Raphinha, Bamford.

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1,089 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ESR off Willian on

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

      Hmmm..

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

    I would say that my gf captained Auba but I'd be lying because we broke up yesterday

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soz Deulo :/

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

        It's okay, I have another one 🙂

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

          Good thinking, cant celebrate valentine with both of them

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

          Digital girlfriends don't count.

          She's got 15 guys including u!

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

            That's funny mate! I wish I was joking too!

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

      So you didn't have to get a St. Valentine's card or flowers?

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

        I made a personalised sexy UV light Jenga for her for Christmas so I was just hoping to play that as her treat

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

          She dumped you?

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

            In the end, yeah. Dragged on a bit, so a relief it's over. But I'm still very sad about it.

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

              Good luck.

              Sharing is a release too.

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I thought you were gay

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

        Are you disappointed or hopeful in any way?

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

        I mean... This is a homophobic comment. Got your number.

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

          It's not homophobic stating a sexual preference either way.

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

            Think about the presumptions he has to make to judge me in this way, then the purpose of him commenting this anyway.

            1. CRO KLOPP
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              It was a joke,not presumption

        2. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I would told you to call me,but you are not in EU anymore,so it's expensive

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

            I'm in the Netherlands

            1. CRO KLOPP
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Call me then,Great football nation btw

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

                Total football.

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

    Willian looks like he just got out of bed.

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

      Lol.

  4. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Holding rested on rotation risk?

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

      Rested

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

    Imagine the scenes on here if DCL is in the starting 11?

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

      You've said it now...

    2. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've benched him for Bamford. That would be painful.

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

      I'll be so pissed

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

    *Checks Aubameyang's fixtures.

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

      Tough next 6

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

        This

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

        Yeah no. Maybe in GW29 though. He'll have a game and then a nice run until the end.

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

        *Tough next 5

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

      *Sees City and Lei and backs away

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

      This was an obvious result with Kalvin not playing. Auba will not play Leeds every week xD

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

        11 million or so and can be benched. Not to mention he plays for unreliable Arsenal. No thanks.

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      *Checks Aubameyang’s manager*

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

    Why in gods name does Willian continue to get game time?

    1. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      To justify his 200k per week. I'm sure Arteta feels obligated to justify his decision as manager to bring him in in the first place.

  8. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bellerin first touch of a baby elephant

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

    Ironically cheering Meslier save to then find out it was offside! have we ever had 4 goals conceded and no saves before by a keeper?

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

      Guaita shipped 7 to Liverpool without a save

  10. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Digne and Areola later on. Kinda want a Digne haul but also kinda want a Areola haul to start clawing back those Martinez points lost on my bench.

    0-0?

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

      Are you sure Digne will start?

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

      Digne and Richarlison for me. Sunday is not going well so far so I’d expect you to get some Areola points

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

    Checking Leeds fixtures. Seeing that I have double Villa attack against them in 26. Lovely.

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

    Someone in my league has a BB of:

    Ederson, Lowton, Struijk (+Soucek)

    ... fair play!

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

      Who is the second last one? The guy who scored for Leeds, is that...?

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

        Yes

    2. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wow! Great FPLing!

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

      Damn

    4. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You could put Gundo on the bench on BB

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

        Regardless the first XI still kinda makes sense:

        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/2386331/event/24

    5. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That is one of the best i have heard of. Already above 30 and with 3 games left

  13. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all these moves yay or nay?

    DCL + Grealish > Ings + Raphinha -4

    Already own Bamford and Dallas for DGW25

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait to see re DCL fitness

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers!

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

      You are in better shape than me with Meslier rather than Dallas. Yes I’d do those two moves, I will be doing similar

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers!

  14. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Another attacking return in this for Raph

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

    Can’t wait to jump on Raph this week.

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

      Reported.

    2. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who are you dropping for him?

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

        Soucek to him for me, I think.

  16. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford reverse bandwagon incoming

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

    Rapha close

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

    Raphinha dangerous.

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

    Can't believe I bench boosted with Bamford away to arsenal lol

  20. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I could watch this Saka, Odegaard, ESR trio all day long

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

      That's why you are in the stand.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You could put three traffic cones up against Leeds & they’d score for fun

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

    Raphinha is sooo good. Better than Bamford

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not really the same kind of players? But yep, raph is good. Bamford a different kind and good at what he does too.

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

    4 goals from Arsenal and only 1 assist from Saka.

    Not been involved at all?

  23. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you do grealish to raph or long term grealish is more good?

    (Bamford, dallas owner)

    1. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was wondering this myself as an tempted to make the move

  24. marcos11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Better combo on a wildcard?

    a) Ings and Grealish
    b) Watkins and Son

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

      Prefer B

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

    Costa goal

  26. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    4-2! Game on

  27. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal gonna Arse

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

    TC chip for when Leeds visit Man City

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

    There is something here for Leeds