Dugout Discussion

Gundogan fit to start as De Bruyne returns to City XI and Foden drops to bench

After missing out on Manchester City’s win over Everton in midweek, Ilkay Gundogan (£6.1m) has made a swift return from a groin injury and makes Pep Guardiola’s starting XI this afternoon.

Arsenal are the latest team attempting to stop City’s 17-game unbeaten run, with kick-off at the Emirates at 16:30 GMT.

Gundogan featured prominently in both the transfers in and out columns in the run-up to Gameweek 24: 365,022 Fantasy Premier League managers recruited the German after his huge haul against Spurs, with 244,409 of us moving the in-form midfielder on – no doubt influenced by the yellow flag that appeared next to his name following his no-show on Merseyside.

There is other noteworthy team news from the City camp, with Gundogan one of five players who are recalled.

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) makes his first start in over a month, with John Stones (£5.2m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Fernandinho (£5.4m) also back in Guardiola’s line-up.

Phil Foden (£6.1m) drops to the bench despite scoring at Goodison Park, with Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m), Kyle Walker (£6.1m), Rodri (£5.3m) and Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) also making way from the team that took to the pitch at kick-off on Wednesday.

Sergio Aguero (£10.3m), who has not played for City since the beginning of January, is also among the substitutes for the visitors.

Having named the same team in his last two competitive matches, Mikel Arteta also makes five changes to his starting XI.

Kieran Tierney (£5.2m), Rob Holding (£4.5m), Nicolas Pepe, Pablo Marí (£4.4m) and Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) return, with Cedric Soares (£4.6m), David Luiz (£5.4m), Gabriel (£5.0m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.3m) and Dani Ceballos (£4.7m) dropping to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Pablo Mari, Tierney, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Pepe, Aubameyang.

Man City XI: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25 SO FAR…

Gundogan fit to start as De Bruyne returns to City XI and Foden drops to bench 1

Second-place Leicester City warmed up for their Gameweek 26 double-header with a win over Aston Villa on Sunday, a match that was notable for injuries to two well-owned FPL midfielders.

Harvey Barnes (£6.8m) recorded his second successive double-digit haul with a goal and an assist in the Foxes’ victory, which took his total to 10 attacking returns in 11 Gameweeks.

James Maddison (£7.3m) is in similarly fine form and opened the scoring at Villa Park – his 12th goal or assist in his last 14 appearances.

But the England midfielder hobbled from the field of play just after the hour-mark, having twice needed treatment from the visitors’ physios.

Missing altogether was Jack Grealish (£7.7m), who was sidelined with a reported shin problem.

While some reports suggest the Villa talisman may be absent for several weeks, manager Dean Smith said he was “hopeful” of the player’s return against Leeds.

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1,652 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    City being tactically quite dirty here

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

      They always are. Always seem to get away without yellows too

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

        And again ...

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

    5 points still my highest scoring player, while I have a combined 21 on the bench? Awesome

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

      I've 6 for stones . So far.

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

      Good week for bench boost!

    3. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How much did you get off bench on your BB?

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

        15. Crap.

  3. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tierney with hopeless cross nr 126 in this game.

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

    Surely this is the week trashford repays my patience

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There is a chance with this lineup.

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

    Pro wrestler fall from Jesus

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

    Jesus, try and pass to Raz you useless fool.

  7. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ARS happy to lose this game 1-0 - no ambition

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

    Gundo midweek rest after 90’ post knock?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      he'll sit back and watch the game with a shish kebab

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

    Is Gundo playing as advanced as he used to?

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

      Yup

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

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

    Anyone captain Bruno?

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

      Sensible folk.

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

        should have

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, my wife.

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

      Yes. Meant to change to Raph but missed out in the Friday rush. Might work out ok

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

      Nope, Ings 🙂

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

      I

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

      Plenty in my ml 🙁

    7. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yep

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

    Kick someone else now, Fernandinho!

  12. moz_1983
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus! 😀

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

    Jesus row Z

  14. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Leeds Southampton better finish 4-4

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

      It will, Che Adams 4 goals and Harrison 4 goals, no assists

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

    Zinc CC

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

    Better option for 26

    A. Son and Watkins (TC Son Salah or Bruno)
    B. Kane and Barnes (-4) TC Kane

    Thanks

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

    Jesus would make a great number 10. In rugby.

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

    Jesus making good ball contact for once

  19. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus just broke window in his dads house.

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

    Hezuez Christ!

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

    Jesus general play is very good, shame he can’t finish his dinner

  22. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus is terrible at football.

  23. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That finish should put Jesus on the transfer list asap if we wasn't on it already. What a waste.

  24. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    was this Jesus shot worse or the Firmino one yesterday

    Brazils star strikers !!

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

      They’re fake Brazilians

  25. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That Cancelo miss was worth 9 points.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Use his full name please: The Man City Lamptey

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

      He’ll get another chance

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

      It wasn't.

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

    Luke Shaw assist & CS would be huge in a week like this! Come on lad

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ASM against Maguire and Lindelof, comedy value alone means I'm tuning in

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

          He doesn’t have end product, we’ll be alright 😉

          But that pairing is terrible. Bailly needs to start

      • EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The CS is pretty much banked.

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

      Is Dias worth .9 m over Stones?

      1. lifes a pitch
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh..but i have both.

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

        No

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

        Irl yes. On FPL not really.

      4. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I reckon he'll play when Stones rotates out for Laporte.

    3. lifes a pitch
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pulled trigger on Wc to earlier i think. Sold Cancelo, Sterling, Antonio, Sterling, Tarko. Current score 27 from 9. Lol.

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Was Sterling that bad you sold him twice?

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

          He is so bad, you never buy again after selling.

        2. lifes a pitch
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Lol. See his name's still trolling me.

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

      Dias +BPS

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

        For time wasting?

      2. Bun Rab
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Now that's sexy football!

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

      Luiz dirty bstrd no eye on ball