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. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Big Gw for me. Been very template all seasons and the slowest progress. This gw I have a “Very differential”squad. Playing BB. I’m moving somewhere, hopefully upwards! GL all.

    1. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Same here. Gotta break free from the template at some point if your chasing

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Let’s hope the FPL gods are in our side! GL.

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

      Yeh same I’m BB with triple soton

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Wow. That’s ballsy.

        1. Forgetmeknot
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          I should caveat, I wouldn’t recommend it 😀

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

      Went the same way this week it seems, although unintentionally and not part of an overall strategy.

      Started off well with Auba scoring so far, although he could have had more.

  2. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Well that is hilarious. Come on lads. They are there for the taking!

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

    Xhaka must have Wood

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

      exciting time...

  4. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    i put the armband on cancelo and never changed it lol

  5. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    I've currently got Wood

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Your Gravatar, surely that’s edited lol

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Think of your gran

  6. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Dodged that Tierney bullet so

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      It was close... Happy now 🙂

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I almost went Mee to tierney but backed out last minute..

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

    Arsenal cleanie gone too.

  8. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Patience in holding Wood has paid off massively!!!

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

      I'm just hoping that play on words was meant 🙂

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        You lot are just rude 😉

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

      Holding not playing

  9. thepancakeman123
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Who to replace Barnes with??

    A) Mount
    B) Neto
    C) Jota

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Like the Jota idea if he looks any good tomorrow, wait and see with Liverpool though.

  10. Doug McCasual
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    burnley grown another leg

  11. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Wood (G), Xhaka (A)

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

    Does Xhaka get 3pts assist points for that?

  13. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Afternoon Wood

  14. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Any link to that goal please?

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

      Www biilysmartscircus.com

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Lol

    2. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      reddit /soccer

      go to the new tab

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Cheers mate

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

      Fotmob app always have videos of the goals as well, recommend it!

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        FotMob is great!!

  15. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    I am convinced Bemba's keyboard has every button mapped as a shortcut to "OMG", and is hooked up to a launchpad where every button is a Premier League footballer.

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

      OMG HAZZ

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      He's defo sat closer to the internet than everyone else

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        He's a lucky guy, I'm jealous.

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

      He lives in the BT hub on his street 🙂

    4. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      He should do the lineups

  16. Kai
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Xhaka assist

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

    I brought in Tierney this week, I'm furious with Xhaka, was looking like a great chance at a clean sheet.

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

    Yes, arsenal PUNISHED for not starting my player and their best defender Robert holding

    Arteta give ya head a wobble!

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

      Reckon he’s dropped now?

      (Fellow owner!)

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

        Yes, I might hold until 29 though and start him just incase he flukes a start and I can get an extra player out. If no pressing issues I’ll ship tho

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

          Shame cos he’s done fantastic for me from GW17 onwards really

  19. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    There are actually some of our fans who see this liability as an essential part of our squad. He makes a stupid mistake like this every, single, game. Absolutely wack...

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

      My thoughts on Arsenal's best team:

      Leno
      Bellerin Holding Gabriel Tierney
      Elneny Partey
      Saka Smith-Rowe Martinelli
      Aubameyang

      Best midfield performance I have seen from Arsenal this season was vs Man Utd when they won 1-0 with Elneny and Partey bossing it. People may say the Chelsea game, but I thought Xhaka wasn't great in that game, but it was glossed over by a quality free-kick goal. I haven't seen enough from Willian, Odegaard, or Pepe to justify them being in the first eleven and don't see why they are picked just because they have a larger price tag than others.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Pepe has been playing quite well recently tbf.

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

        For those not reflecting on Liverpool scoring 1 goal at Anfield in the last few 10 hours.

        Here's a perspective..

        https://twitter.com/SwearingSport/status/1368196462195138569?s=19

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

          Not sure why that went in there. My thumbs!

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

      Couldn't agree more. He epitomises everything wrong with the team/club in recent years. Get rid.

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

    Can see a lot benching their three Leeds players (Dallas, Raphinha, Bamford) next GW.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Big game before Atletico, Chelsea may rest some players. Risky to do that.

  21. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    wow live fpl really leveled up

    great stuff Raga

    if you're obsessed with fpl and use that tool a lot then consider donating!

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

    Just noticed only got Martinez today, going to be a red day isn’t it?

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      lol same

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        actually lie - got watkins

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Only if Ings does things

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

    Absolutely Nowhere To Hide For Xhaka

  24. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Just realised I only have 1 player today....

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

    Wood moves onto 3BAP’s for having his hip on the right place at the right time. Great stuff! Worthy of rewards!

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Forgot Aubameyang is a midfielder now. Was confused why his BAPs were so low!

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

    No pressing issues in my team and I annoyingly still have triple West Ham but no Antonio

    Would flappy > Patrício be mad? They have this run coming

    Ful (a)
    Shu (h)
    Bur (h)
    Wba (a)

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

      Not a bad plan at all. They badly miss Jimenez, Jota and Doherty though. I think their defence has been put under more pressure this season by not having the goals from those three to give them greater control in games.

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

        For sure, they need boly back as well hopefully he is back soon

    2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Fixtures are great!
      They seem to concede one goal in the first half all the time though.

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

      Buy Mendy.

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

        This was the alternative

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

          He's straight up better. Chelsea are elite defense now under Tuchel and Mendy is cheaper than Patricio.

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

        I just checked, I’m getting Mende, beautiful rotation with areola and the fixtures are even better, cheers!

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

      decent move if you have no other issues

    5. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Good point - might keep Kilman after all!

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

      I'm moving Ederson to him eventually too, Patricio is good for baps too and Boly is due back soon

  27. AscotUnited
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Who else is still having a wildcard? What GW is this best to be used? I also have TC left and used both other chips.

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

      GW31

  28. casual69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Xhaka is at fault, as is Leno, Leno should recognise the pressure he is under and play in Luiz—or even clear the ball. Burnley are on top of us, just a silly mistake.

    You know Xhaka is poor, he's made more mistakes leading to goal then anyone else, so why give him a ball when he's under pressure?

    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Saka has missed two good opportunities ...not good for such a highly rated player.

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

    Auba could have had a haul by now. Hopefully more points to come second half

  30. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    My team looks crap. Hoping for a grey arrow

    Mendy

    Cancelo - Dias - Pereira

    Son - Fernandes - Foden (C) - Raphinha

    DCL - Kane - Bamford

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Brace cap choice - I have Foden too so am hoping he hauls

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Brave (Freudian slip- wishful thinking)