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. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Wow.. what a scramble!!!

  2. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    what a game!

  3. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Arsenal with a seasons worth of bad luck in that last attack alone!

  4. Maarrrr17
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Goalpost sneaking into the bps.

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

    Let’s gooooo David Macca G, bust those cleanies son!

  6. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    This gameweek will come down to -
    Risk - KDB + Cheap Def
    vs
    Template - 2nd City Def + Bamford/Watkins/Raph (cheap filler)

  7. DropkickMurphys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Karambooooollll

  8. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    This game had more fun then whole DGW 26 !

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

    Rival started with holding, and coufal on bench.

    Queue coufal hauling against Leeds.

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

      I did the same, let’s hope!

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

        Wait.. are you my rival!?

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

        I did the same too lol

  10. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Pieters used his body on the first handball to stop Pepe getting the ball past him. This is just a joke now. How can anyone say that’s not a pen?

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

      Used his arm*

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Too close. He had no time to react to get out of the way. It's a fair call imo.

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

        His arm wasn’t in a natural position.

      2. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        You can't keep arm in unnatural position and ask for time to move it.

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

      The referees in this league aren't for for purpose

    4. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      It is a pen but unfortunately the refs haven’t a clue what they’re doing. That sort of pen has been given before and will be given again. They need to be consistent with their decisions and stop picking and choosing

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Auba owner. Happy with the decision. Pieters was so close to the ball when it hit him.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        that's not the point though mate, it's a pen by the new rules, his arm was in an unnatural position... don't like to see soft pens either but it should've been given... no consistency

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 23 days ago

          I don’t think it was unnatural though. When you rush out and come to a stop your arms move out. Also when you move laterally.

          Now, if he’d been a few extra yards away and kept his arm there, it would be a pen. But he can’t be expected to move his arm out of the way that quickly.

          It is borderline granted, but I understand the final decision.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 23 days ago

            yeah close one alright but these decisions have to be consistent... bet we see a softer handball pen this GW or next GW

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 23 days ago

              True, i hope not. I’ll be fuming if it’s not consistent now.

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

                You are right.. his arm was in a natural position, footballers can't run like they are in river dance.

                If the ball travelled further it would be a different story, but had no chance to react with the distance between him.and the ball.

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

                  No, a lot of footballers either have their arms to the side or behind their back in that position. Not sticking out. And you can’t just use your arm to stop the ball coming past you.

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        You're too sensible ❗

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 23 days ago

          I see what you did there 😀

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

      It would have been a pen 4 months ago... now its not, due to an update in interpretation.

      It was the correct decision from a footballing perspective, so if they have some consistency and do this onwards it will be better.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        this

  11. ZAMUNDA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    So Forster is nailed?

    1. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Looks like it, but let’s see what happens against City

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Not sure, might be that Heisenberg is giving Mccarthy a few games breather.

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

        He said exactly he'd be giving the cup games to Forster but now playing for the 2nd game in a row in the league as well with a 4m price tag is quite lucrative even if only a bench fodder

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

      I now have two starting keepers (no jinx)

    4. SweepaKeepa
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Don’t ask me. I did Forster to McCarthy in gw25.

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    I got only 1 player today - Vesterdard, how exciting !!!!

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      15 points incoming !

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        I take 6 tbh but makes no harm to dream 😉

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 23 days ago

          He is their most attacking outlet 😆

    2. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Also own Vestergaard here. He had a lot of shots and was unlucky not to score.

  13. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    For as long as the corrupt Mike Riley in the Head of Referees expect nothing but shambolic decisions every week ...

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      *is

    2. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Mike Riley is a criminal and needs to be prosecuted

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        Him and other Mike...
        Do them both as organised crime syndicate.

  14. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    If it wasn't for the refs Arsenal would actually be 4th this season

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Rolls eyes

  15. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    If Mendy gets CS and Forster start vs City... No words...

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Excuse me ?

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

        Seems like i have two starting keepers, pure joy.

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

    I can feel it, today’s the day

    Brewster masterclass inbound !!

    1. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      A masterclass in Nil Point....

  17. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    Erik Pieters with the most entertaining 0 points you'll ever see. A few inches here and there and he could've been on 6 or -3! 😛

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Absolutely

    2. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Outrage he didn’t get man of the match

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 23 days ago

        100% deserved to be MOTM

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

    Arsenal fan here but the refs got it SPOT ON

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

      We ready for Ings Nightcrawler?

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

        Oh yes we are

  19. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 23 days ago

    If Sheffield win this I think they might actually stay up

  20. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 23 days ago

      The league table if fans assessment of VAR was correct

      In joint first place
      Liverpool Arsenal Southampton played 27 won 27

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 23 days ago

      Ings groin?

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

      Saints 1 nil