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. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    wow xhaka.

    i thought this was literally a guaranteed cleansheet for Arsenal.. almost got Tierney in

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

    SHU vs SOU - why does the PL insist on spoiling us like this. Can hardly wait for KO.

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Some of us have 2 players in that game! 😉

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

        😮

        Didn’t even realise their players were available on FPL....

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

          Saw some guy get 150 on BB and had Two Sheff, under rated 😛

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

            Da faq....who were the two?

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

              Ramsdale and Ampadu

    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Some have Ings (c)

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

    Please start Ings (praying)

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I really really need him and Minamino to start.

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Why would he not?

      1. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Last time the manager saved him for the more difficult game in a DGW

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

          This

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

    Tierney and Leno fail. Back to normal after my Richarlison haul.

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

    If you could live in any US state, which would it be?

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

      Did a 3 month trip with friends and would have to say Oregon. Beautiful area. Nevada was also memorable for slightly different reasons

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

        Yeah, Oregano has beautiful scenery....

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

          I don't have much thyme for oregano

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

            😉

      2. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Live in Texas, but would love to live in Idaho

    2. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Hawaii

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

        Yeah, reckon this would be my choice, with a holiday home in Alaska....

        1. Firminooooo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          The best of two worlds.

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

      LA Galaxy

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

        California is good to visit, not to live....

        1. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          Yeah, too woke for my taste.

    4. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      In NY state of mind.

    5. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      New Hampshire

    6. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Area 51

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        That where Fudgy is from.

    7. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Did a tour of New England a few years ago and Vermont was lovely!!! Cape Cod very special too!!

    8. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Somewhere where the scenery is wonderful, including the women.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Try Poland old man.

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

        In which case, it’s Scotland for you Old Man...

        1. Crunchie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 22 days ago

          I would love to live in Scotland in the summer. I like Florida in the winter. Play alot of golf

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

        I'm too old (and otherwise committed) to do much about it these days, but it would be a sad in a man's life when he has to stop looking. 😀

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

      Cali

      Either sausalito or carmel

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

        Once drove from SF to San Diego along Pacific Highway One - epic

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

          Yep that's a top notch drive. Big Sur...

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

            In a rented convertible.....mad times...

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

            We thought big sur was a huge let down 😮

            Had a class dodge challenger and loved driving it

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

          Its amazing alright. We did 20nights West Coast and 3 nights ny on honeymoon

          Drove from San Francisco to San Diego and into vegas

          The little towns are lovely

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

            We went down into Mexico after SD, got a bit wild 😆

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

              Nice!!!

              Lovely drive down pch

    10. jbenny1107
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Depends on how you want to live. Northeast has horrible winters. Southeast has bad humidity and insects. Northwest is overcast a lot. Southwest is dry. We travelled the country and chose Colorado because of the outdoor lifestyle and more sunny days than Florida (300+ days).

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

        Colorado is definitely a good choice...

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

    Saka not a great punt so far!

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

      Awful

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Involved and close in 1st half.

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

        this

  7. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    My FFS Cup opponent has almost the same team as mine, except for 3 players:

    My team
    Dias, Targett, Son

    Opponent
    Cancelo, Digne, Watkins

    Both captain Gundogan

    Who do you think will win?

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

      I guess, it will be a draw unless Son gets something

    2. Ain't No Holebas Girl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Hopefully you because I have the same 3 and none of the others. You'd think Son would make the difference but could come down to which City defender plays twice.

    3. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I have Cancelo Dias Watkins and Son.. So it probably would be a draw (laugh)

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Looking forward to the KdB interview with Oprah tomorrow.....

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

    Nothing happening in the game?

    Not watching

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

      Number of pages here is a good indication

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

      Why do you think we’re discussing US States and other shiiite 😉

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

    Taylor off

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

      That was 7 mins ago fit anyone watching

      Others are:
      Gudmundsson > Brady
      Willian > Pepe

      Also Pieters YC.

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

    Wood's hip is worth how many bps?

  12. 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 another perspective..

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

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

      😛

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

    Didn't know Burnley were a team of divers trying to get other sent off.

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

    Anything from FPL Rockstar about Southampton lineup? Ings etc?

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

      Only posts about teams we care about these days!

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

        Ings could be massive this week! 6% EO for a nailed DGW striker is unheard of

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

    Saka got a yc?

    Should have just benched him.

    Big mistake from me.

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

      Yeah he took “touch and go” Charlie out

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Early thoughts on Werner and Barnes in next week for Salah and DCL?

    It will mean Chelsea triple up for me. Maybe I am biased because I am Chelsea fan but the Leeds game is tempting

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

      You're a fellow Chelsea fan. You know we can predict the lineup bar Mount) 😀

      Ashley Barnes? Or someone else?

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Got Mount, Werner and Mendy on my WC this week - will either be ahead of the curve or fall of the cliff....

  17. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Laca screaming like he got shot

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Snap - talk about a hypochondriac

      He's a grown man FFS

  18. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Lacazette should be booked for screaming like that

    Absolute disgrace, what was he thinking?!

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      So soft. Embarrassing.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Arteta needs to have a word - totally unacceptable

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

    Forster!

    11 pointer incoming.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      For sure. On my bench.

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

    SHEFF UTD TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Southampton: Ramsdale, Baldock, Bryan, Ampadu, Stevens, Bogle, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck, Brewster, McGoldrick.

    Subs: Foderingham, Lowe, Ndiaye, Maguire, Osborn, Mousset, Sharp, McBurnie, Burke.

    SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Sheff Utd: Forster,Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Minamino, Armstrong, Ings, Tella.

    Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Salisu, Chauke, Jankewitz, Djenepo, Redmond, Adams, N’Lundulu.

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Thanks. The timing of McCarthy being dropped is so annoying - it should have been done a long time ago or not at all.

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

        True, at least he played the first double!

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

      Maguire on the bench!

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Remember when Mousset was a bandwagon on here

      That was funny

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

    Ings starts

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

      Phew!

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

    Could have an ARS penalty any second.

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

      No penalty. Tight one.

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

        Clear handball.
        You wonder why VAR is there when it is not used in such cases.

  23. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Forster starts!

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      DDG being the other one, it was a nervous wait. I just want him to match Martinez

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

      Pretty hilarious how I took out Forster on my WC in 25

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

        For McCarthey I meant to add

  24. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Forster as main keeper on GW31 WC if he keeps his place

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

      Only if SOU keep CSs.

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

        Bar 30-32, Saints have awful fixtures from a defensive perspective.

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

    If that’s not a pen thats ok but they need consistency. I don’t want to see another team getting a pen for a similar situation. Unfortunately it will happen

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

    no penalty? wtf

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

      O*G

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

    How on earth wasn't that a penalty?

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

    Never a pen!! 🙂

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

    KWP back = Ings haul confirmed

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

    That should’ve been a pen. Unnatural position, far away from the body, and preventing a dangerous attack.