Dugout Discussion

Saka, Aubameyang return to Arsenal starting XI but Smith Rowe absent from squad

Having been handed breathers in Gameweek 26, both Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) return to Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up in Gameweek 27.

Martin Odegaard (£5.9m) is set to take up the No 10 role for the Gunners, with Emile Smith Rowe (£4.3m) absent from the matchday squad after picking up a hip problem during the 3-1 win at Leicester in GW26.

“Emile had some discomfort still in the week, he wasn’t ready. Hopefully it’s not too much. But I think Martin is adapting really well to the team.” – Mikel Arteta speaking ahead of kick off

Hector Bellerin (£5.1m) remains on the bench as Calum Chambers (£4.5m) replaces another absentee in Cedric (£4.6m) at right-back.

Pepe (£7.6m), Alexandre Lacazette (£8.1m) and Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) also drop out of the Arsenal XI. The latter is replaced in midfield by Thomas Partey (£4.9m).

“We have to rotate. I want to maintain everybody in top form.” – Arteta

Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) continues his injury return by keeping his left-back spot, with both Pablo Mari (£4.4m) and David Luiz (£5.4m) also remaining in defence.

Blank Gameweek 18 and Double Gameweek 19: The key player and team stats

For Burnley, Chris Wood (£6.2m) and Matej Vydra (£4.8m) continue up front in the absence of the injured Ashley Barnes (£6.0m).

Sean Dyche’s steady backline of Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) Ben Mee (£5.1m) James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Matt Lowton (£4.5m) will once again guard goalkeeper Nick Pope (£5.6m).

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.4m) is back from the treatment table to start at right midfield, while Robbie Brady (£5.0m) is also available from the bench. Jack Cork (£5.0m) misses out with a hamstring injury.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Brownhill, Gudmundsson; Wood, Vydra.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tierney, Mari, David Luiz, Chambers; Xhaka, Partey; Willian, Odegaard, Saka; Aubameyang.

635 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Pope turns to sh*t the moment I get and start him. So predictable.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Pope's been dicey for a while.

      His bonus hauls were before Christmas.

  2. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Has anyone heard about the wcammy nature of Football Index?

    This site advertises for them doesn't it?

    Sounds like it's going to get very messy and probably a few lawsuits chucked about soon

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Scammy*

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I’m no expert on it but it does seem a bit like a pyramid scheme - with ever changing rules that you can’t escape

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Unfortunately it is advertised here yes

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      It's been mentioned on here for months.

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I tried it, not for me.

      Alot of stuff posted on the "big" twitter accounts about players to drive their price up. Then these big accounts dump the players for a profit causing chaos and panic to the market. Like many of these things, you will see it promoted alot but there is more than meets the eye.

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        I just read a warning that they revalued all the players, so almost everyone who paid money into the site has had what they bought instantly devalued overnight...

        1. Sif
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          Trouble is most people don't understand what they were 'buying' or the terms under which they were bought.

        2. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          This revaluation thing sounded like such a scam. Would never play anything that cost money with flexible rules

        3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          I think revalue of the players might be a good thing considering alot of sneaky trading was happening. Although I personally don't trust it. As mentioned these "big" accounts are potentially linked to football index and making alot of money out of it. Probably not a good idea to trash a partner of this site but that's my opinion and experience. Take a look at twitter and you will see many of these accounts doing it day in day out

    6. PogChamp
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I don't think it was regulated. I prefer Fantasy on Paddy Power. Won a bit of money playing that.

    7. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I stuck £500 in there a couple years back to make use of the sign up bonus initially but then bought into some players and have barely touched it. It seemed legit at the time from when I researched it and thought it might grow (which it has done) but yeh - i'm probably going to get out soon. I was willing to lose the £500 i put it in

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Out of interest, what's that £500 standing at now and are there hidden fees?

      2. fusen
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        By the sounds of it, if you spent that 500 buying player shares then it's probably worth about half or less of the amount

    8. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      It's just suckering people, like the mug bets that bookies price boost to football fans on a Saturday.

    9. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      This is another reason I don’t think I will pay membership next year, too many gambling tie ups.
      For every person that says it’s fun there are hundreds hiding addiction from friends & family 🙁

      1. Sif
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        It will only become worse if the league grow a pair and ban shirt sponsorship. They'll look harder at communities like this

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        They reckon 2 to 3% can be problem gamblers.

        That includes kids.

        For those hooked they can become homeless.

        Just search problem gambling on Twitter and you'll see otherwise healthy young men committing suicide over gambling debts.

        It's serious when it goes wrong like that. People in so deep, emotionally as well as financially.

      3. Sif
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        It all smells a lot like Bitconnect.

    10. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I tried it too, got out a few months ago with 10% capital loss. I feel like one of the lucky ones.

      The thing that did it for me was I got shared in Zlatan at the start of the season before he went on his scoring run. Every week he would score at least one, most times a brace - his price didn't budge. In fact it went down.

      There's not enough liquidity in the FI market, and demand is centered on the big name (and young) players. Basically not enough people were interested in the likes of old-man Zlatan and since they changed to P2P trading, liquidity and demand are king.

      Its a great product but not nearly mature enough for me to consider using. If its still around in 5 years time maybe.

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Only two fixtures to be rearranged now (Villa vs Everton and Spurs vs Southampton). Hopefully Villa vs Everton is rearranged before GW30. GW29 would then be a good book-end for the start of final part of the season comprising GW30-GW38.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      GW 29 would be such a gift for those on the fence about FH that week (like me)

  4. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Grealish expected back next gw?

  5. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Has this Mari chap secured his place in the starting XI do we reckon?

    (A worried Holding owner!)

  6. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    The more I think about the more I start to believe that I should have play TC on KDB. Two home games for a crucial player of by far the best team in the league. And I don't think he will be benched. I can now only hope that Son will not let me down in his double GW.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      He's not gonna play both.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      He’s been rubbish though hasn’t he this season (considering the heights he’s reached in previous seasons).

      Don’t blame you for holding on to TC for a bit longer

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        He hasn't been rubbish, he just underperforms compares to the last season. He has even more chances now but he just can't finish them. He only scored 1 open play goal from xG of over 5. Biggest underperformer of the season. But I believe he will revert to the mean.

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          You pretty much just explained that he is rubbish right now. Over the whole season he’s underperformed showing a drop in form. If he was just underperforming for 3/4 games it’s understandable but it’s been for the whole season

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 22 days ago

            And what if he is underperforming in 1 season compared to 10 previous seasons? He suddenly started to be a rubbish player or that it's just un unlucky deviation from the mean and he will be back to the levels from previous seasons?

            1. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 22 days ago

              Previous 10 seasons? He's only had 1 season where he's got goals in double digits in the league before. Maybe last season was the deviation from the mean?

              Hes a good fpl pick (probably just decent at that price) but they way he gets treated as one of the great fpl picks on the back of just one trule elite fpl season is strange

              Even sterling has a better fpl record over their city careers

              1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 22 days ago

                It was a bit, but I'm talking about xG over/under performance. He has never underperformed so much, he always overperformed. He has the same amount of chances as in the last season (and it's only GW27) but last season he scored 14 goals from it and now only 3. Crazy variance. He would be "rubbish" maybe if he didn't get chances, but he's getting them and it's the matter of time until he starts scoring again

                1. Baines on Toast...
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 22 days ago

                  I don’t think it is variance. It is down to a different kind of chance.

                  Last season and historically, he was overperforming because he scores a lot from distance. This season he has had a lot more easier chances but is rubbish at finishing them.

                  The XG Totals themselves don’t tell the story.

                  1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 22 days ago

                    Fair enough. That could play a part in explaining the variance.

                    1. Baines on Toast...
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 22 days ago

                      I think it is counterintuitive. And fairly unique. He is a much stronger pick when kept outside of the penalty area. Normally we would be happy about a player being out of position but in his case it does not translate into goals

                      1. Baines on Toast...
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 13 Years
                        3 years, 22 days ago

                        Your original point may still be right though. Great fixtures if he gets the minutes

            2. thegaffer82
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 22 days ago

              Nobody is saying he’s now rubbish or anything like that, believe me.

              This season, he’s not been anything like a premium MFer basically.

              He’s priced up based on last years score. This year he’s miles off that. Hence he’s not worth the £££ anymore.

              1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 22 days ago

                As I say, he has better stats than in the last season and imho it's the matter of time until he starts firing. Best in the league in terms of xG+xA per 90 minutes.

        2. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          3 hauls and 4 reasonable scores in about 21 games is low by KDB standards and price.

    3. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I don’t think he’ll play the Saints game so good call not TC him IMO.

  7. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Boring SAT.. only 1 player at Villa Park for me....zzzzzZzzz

  8. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Almost great assist by Lowton.. To Auba.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      nearly the 2nd of the day

  9. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Saka sitter

  10. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    I benched Coufal for Lowton. How many points is he going to get

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Errr...

  11. nolard
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Burnley horrible at the back.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Will sell Pope for Martinez on WC.

      Of course, then Pope will go back to getting 11 pointers and Martinez will then turn to crap.

      Can’t win this season, whatever you do!

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Villas run in to the end of the season is not great so that could likely happen.

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      We can only act on what we see, not predict the future.

      But yea, tough times for many this year.

  12. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Was nowhere near having the confidence to get Auba in. Fair play to those who did.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Another thing involving the word nowhere that u might soon have too

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Bruno(C) next GW?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Salah

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Didn’t learn from the TC? 😀

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      If Spurs keep looking good, Kane. His record in NLD is good as well.

    3. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Form and fixtures says Richarlison

    4. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Digne punt maybe

  14. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Which move is better

    A. Struijk to Dallas
    B. Smith-Rowe to Raphina
    .

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Anyone please?

    2. Hubert
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      B

  15. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    For once Bruno EO < 100%

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      People deserted him on two blanks.

      He's still one of the form midfielders.

      Interesting that the Salah bonds are stronger.

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        If the fixtures were other way around, everyone would’ve sold Salah instead

        1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          I actually did sell Salah instead of Bruno, for now anyway, I don't see myself dropping Bruno though

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Looks like 0% ownership for me

  16. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Why do I have Saka in my team?

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      He is a very good player.

  17. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    When do we hear about AV-Everton?

  18. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Are there going to be staggered match times like this for the rest of the season? Kind of takes away the excitement of multiple possible returns in short succession

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Do you mean multiple clean sheet losses in quick succession?

      1. Muscout
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Or that!

    2. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I would absolutely imagine so

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    OMG Wood

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    xhaka 😆

  21. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    AC/DC afc if you're still on. Just to clear up in case you don't read back.

    I like fudge another and wasn't having a go at him a page back

    I was making a joke on his usual posts in which he says he's messed up (but has done well) and saying he's giving up fpl

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Meant to say like fudgy alot not fudge another

  22. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    1 1 burnley goal.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Wood

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        To be fair Xhaka asked for it.

        Keeper should have booted it.

    2. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      There you are 🙂 good timign

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Timing

        This updated keyboard is killing me

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

    Give me wood or give me Death!

  24. Utopsis
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Hahahahahah - what have I just seen?!

  25. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Lmao. You could see that coming.

  26. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Wood G

  27. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    God , I hate you Xhaka

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    that is just embarassing by xhaka. wow

  29. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Fudgy in heaven

  30. nolard
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Poor Leno....setting Xhaka up badly there.