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

    This Willian fool is actually a bad omen. Just seeing him come on to the pitch is beyond depressing

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

      Ozil 2.0

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

        Not even comparable

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

        This comment makes no sense!

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

          Because he's on high wages but not worth playing

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

    King benched, owners stunned

    1. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      People actually brought him in?

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

    Rival has wc in triple Everton and I have areola

    Essentially My season now depends on someone named after a nipple

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

    Allan benched. Everton going to get destroyed

  5. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy has averaged 1.16ppg over the last 6 games. Biggest Mistake of the season was bringing in McCarthy instead of Martinez in GW8. So costly. It also emphasises how important it is to get your keeper right because as the season goes on there just aren't many opportunities to use a transfer on a goalkeeper.

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

      The tough thing with keepers is hindsight.

      Patience is often rewarded right up to it’s not. Then it becomes obvious you should have jumped ship. Conversely, jump too soon for form / fixtures and it only takes 1-2 double digit hauls

    2. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ? You have every week to transfer a keeper, you have subs to cover premiums

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

        yes obviously but other things seem to take priority which is the point im making

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

      the position is way overlooked. I made the mistake of transferring Martinez out during his cancelled covid fixture. pope has done well, but martinez has continued to be incredible.

      The position is worth a transfer imo. I think FPL General held Ramsdale for 15+ gameweeks. Was easily worth a -4 to transfer out.

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I suppose everyone will get Martinez next year at lol

        Probs 5.5

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

          Doubt it, another 4.5 gem will emerge like it does every year

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

            agreed

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

      I think a key thing I've learnt from FPL is not to be stubborn and accept when a decision has gone wrong and to fix it, even if it means for a hit. I got it wrong early in the season keeping DCL out of my team for too long, but fixed the McCarthy decision quite quickly.

    5. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bought Martinez in GW2, but have not found the transfer for Nyland to Any yet..

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

    Digne starts, excellent

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

      Winger?

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

        Nope

    2. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Best way to get a red card is to be in the starting 11.

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

    Bam dive!

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

    Richarlison playing up top. Do me proud

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

      Same. I need this.

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

      Same. Some big changes to Fulham side. Could be an opportunity to make hay

  9. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lets go Siggyyyy

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

    Bam sandwich

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

    Auba post wow

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

    Please no laca cameo

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

    Is that first time bamfords touched ball in opposition box today!?

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1st touch on the whole pitch

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

    Auba hits bar. Denied 4th.

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

    Both blocking him off, how is that not a pen? Arsenal fans can never whine about refs again. Bamford robbed.

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

      Yeah absolutely ridiculous tbh lol deffo a pen

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

      Have to say I thought that was a pen as well

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

      What? LOL

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

      This cancels out every bad call against Arsenal in the past and future. Yep. Sound logic!

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

        Thanks!

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        How does that work?

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

    Richarlison in a prominent position.

    But Tom Davies behind him...

  17. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How is that not a pen on Bamford? No ball, clear contact.

  18. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Xhaka is poor

  19. RoryzonderR
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The VAR not even involved!

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

      English referees,thats all i can say

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

        FPL players desperate for points more like

  20. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No Bamford involvement? Pathetic.

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

      Denied clear pen tbh

  21. A Fat Spanish Waiter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Has there been any update on Gundogan?

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

      No and don’t expect one

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

    Bamdinio will deliver lads I can feel it

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

    VAR is useless

    1. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      VERY sketchy the United penalty was taken away by ref's decision (which I'm surprised at but thought was correct). It should have been immediately called offside but they didn't even check that.

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

    Consider me Ønderwhelmed.

    Didn't do much to justify the hype.

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

      Bury him!

    2. TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Never understood the hype myself. He can be good, but he can also be very invisible.

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

      No surprises, he's an Arsenal signing after all.

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hey flair, u the city fan ??

        Gundogan for DGW26 capt?

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

          I capped Gundo this week but will most likely be captaining Kane in DGW26.

          1. Tango74
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Same but 2 home games worry me and spurs not on good form

  25. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A mess and all over the place. Willians hairstyle as well as his playstyle...

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

    Willian walks around the pitch as if he's being punished into doing exercise

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

      And he even walks like he's scared of damaging his aged body

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

    WC team starting to take shape, 0.6 still ITB after Bamford to DCL for DGW26, any obvious upgrades?

    Martinez Johnstone
    Cancelo Stones Vestergaard Dallas Lowton (will Burnley have a double in 26?)
    Salah Bruno Maddison Gundogan Raphina
    Kane Ings Bamford (will become DCL for 26)

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

      Yes Burnley will very likely have a DGW in 26. It just won't be a very good one. tot/LEI.

      You gonna bench boost?

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

      Do you really want Salah? I’d be tempted by Son and then upgrade to KDB or whatever premium presents themselves

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

    Cedric even had the cheak to shout in bammy’s face, horrible player who’s not fit to lace his boots!

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

    G Bamford
    A Raphinha

    Would be dreamy.

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

    Antonio not spotted in the training pics released today.

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

      That’s disappointing