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. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    unbelievable that

    1. Hi I'm Jose
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Totay agree

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      *Geoff

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      OMG upgraded to unbelievable :O

  2. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    The officiating and implementation of VAR in this league is absolutely horrific

  3. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Urgh Che Adams epitomises my stinking season.

    Always someone else I need to ship out. Those who I ship out go on scoring runs and those i keep become a shell

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Those are the players that should be gone for hit as soon as possible

  4. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Ings and Minamino let’s go! Come on saints

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Pope won’t be happy....

  5. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    No Holding and No McCarthy so far 🙂

    Pope and Dallas on the bench

    1. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Glad I benched McCarthey. If he somehow comes back in for the City game it'd have been a diaster.

  6. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Wood WTF

    Should have a brace.

  7. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Wood almost in again

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      😛 😉

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      He's really attacking the box with power.

  8. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    So those of us that gambled on McC starting now worried Forster has a Weston and is back in the team from the City rout haha

  9. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    So how's ARS this afternoon?

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

      Wasted some chances first half.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Shocking

  10. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pepe huge miss.
    Wastes Tierney assist.

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pepe

    Enough said

  12. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    "Vydra and wood, combining like two players in those positions would love to do".

    Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner for sports commentary piece of the year.

  13. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Oh dear Pepe

  14. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pepe 😆

  15. LSP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pepe doing Pepe things

  16. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Argh Pepe

  17. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    72 million. LOL

  18. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    penalty arsenal

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      OMg

  19. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pieters RC.
    Need to check VAR.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      That was a brilliant block tbh. Should be overruled IMO

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        Will be no penalty

  20. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Should be shoulder

  21. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Saka to Grealish?

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

    Thats the shoulder! Not red!

  23. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Red card. Pieters.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Hit his shoulder?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        Rescinded.

  24. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Clearly shoulder.

  25. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Never ever a pen..

  26. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Surprised Marriner didn't send Mee off 😉

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    what the....

  28. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Shocking, Pope denied a penalty save and 3 BAPs

  29. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    50:50s not working again.
    A) Salah and Saka
    B) Aubameyang and Rafinha

    Obviously went A...

  30. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    If you can be offside by that part of the body... Great block