Dugout Discussion

Arteta explains Leno benching as ill Aubameyang misses out again

Arsenal v Fulham is one of just two Premier League matches that takes place on a less-busy-than-usual Sunday.

Kick-off at the Emirates is at 13:30 BST.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) isn’t part of the Arsenal matchday squad, with the Gunners confirming on Saturday that he “will continue to be supported and assessed by the medical team in the coming days” after contracting malaria.

Martin Odegaard (£5.9m) also misses out with an ankle issue but “is hoping to be back in light training next week”.

Aubameyang’s absence means a fifth successive competitive start for the in-form Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m), who has six Fantasy Premier League attacking returns in as many top-flight appearances.

The Frenchman was the fourth most-bought player of Gameweek 32, attracting 270,608 transfers in.

Mikel Arteta makes five changes to the Arsenal side that started the 3-0 win over Sheffield United, with a benching for Bernd Leno (£5.0m) the most eye-catching decision.

Mat Ryan (£4.1m) starts in goal for the hosts this afternoon, with Hector Bellerin (£5.0m), Gabriel (£4.9m), Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) and Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) also recalled.

Thomas Partey (£4.9m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m), Calum Chambers (£4.5m) and Pablo Mari (£4.4m) drop to the bench.

Arteta explained his line-up ahead of kick-off:

It’s rotation, it’s precaution, there are players who haven’t recovered from the [Slavia] game and we have to be very careful because we don’t want to lose them.

And then there are others who deserve to play, for example like Mat [Ryan] in goal. He trains like a beast, he’s been really positive around the place, he’s doing really well and he deserves a chance.

Scott Parker has matched his opposite number and made five changes to his starting XI.

Kenny Tete (£4.3m) and Terence Kongolo (£4.3m) are among the quintet to make way, with the former testing positive for COVID-19 and the latter out for the season with a knee injury.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) and Harrison Reed (£4.4m) drop to the bench, meanwhile.

Ademola Lookman is back from injury and starts, while Tosin Adarabioyo (£4.5m), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m), Josh Maja (£5.3m) and Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m) are also thrown back into the fray.

This is the reverse fixture of the Gameweek 1 clash at Craven Cottage, a match that the Gunners won 3-0.


Arsenal XI: Ryan, Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Saka, Ceballos, Elneny, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Fulham XI: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Robinson, Zambo Anguissa, De Cordova-Reid, Adarabioyo, Cavaleiro, Lemina, Lookman, Maja.


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506 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 days ago

    Henderson, Shaw, Wan Bias, Maguire, Lindelof, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Bruno, Rashford, Greenwood

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Cavani benching is strange

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Can only presume it’s due to his injury history this season and playing in the EL, in saying that his minutes were managed in that. As long as it’s not injury which it shouldn’t be it’s fine. Him fresh for Leeds next week would be great

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      That doesn't make things any easier

      Looks like Pogba playing further cup again and a choice between Greenwood and Cavani. Unless you punt Pogba - very 2019 that

  2. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 days ago

    Laca came off injured..?
    Bought him & Lingz this week 😀

  3. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 days ago

    Son,Lacazette >> Salah,Benteke?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Form forward of course - good hamstrings too 🙂

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Wouldn’t need Tekkers every week.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      My Tekkers move this week would be from Kane 🙂

      Salah would be coming the other way so not complete nonsense if Kane is out.

  4. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 days ago

    man that's really annoying with all the injuries so far
    any idea who to replace Laca with? Already got Kane and Nacho and about 9.2 in the bank

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Watkins

      1. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        for shizzle?

  5. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 days ago

    Why are people coming to FFS to comment on F1?

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

      Maybe Arsenal fans feeling like they watching car crash ?

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Lacazette's screams sound like the cars whizzing by

      • Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Because this is a lads club for lads that like lad things. Phwoar!... Jules Breach. Phwoar!... Sound of a car. Etc

      • Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        I’m happy to talk about any sport at any time

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Phwoar!... what a mustache!

          1. Thomas Magnum
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Thank you! Wait until you see my car, Ferrari 308 (I know a cultured man like you would like it), I was the talk of the town in Oahu, Hawaii in the 80’s... great times!

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              An impressive man!
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pmjd3l5NHQ

              1. Thomas Magnum
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 days ago

                Classic! Alright, alright, alright

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

      Damn it Holding:(

    4. HellasLEAF
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Can't believe I brought the Bum Leno in as 2nd keeper and he is benched out of the blue. Plus Holding.

      Never trusting Arsenal again this year poor decisions.

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        You say Bum Leno like its his actual name :p

      2. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Almost went Leno, but decided on Lloris at the last minute, so I totally hear you.

    5. AM9
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Ffs benched Areola last minute

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Aina coming in for DCL

    6. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      Cavani benched. WC fail till now.

    7. FantasyTony
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 days ago

      I don't think Arteta is a top manager but to be fair to him the squad just isn't there and my major criticism of him would I don't think it's building towards anything. Really reminds of Rogers Liverpool the season after they lost Suarez.

      I know he signed a new contract but surely Saka will be looking elsewhere if they continue over the next few years.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        The squad is better than West Ham/Everton, similar level to Spurs/Leicester. As you say it just doesn’t look like he’s building towards anything.

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Spurs and Leicester have much better squads

      2. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        I think there's a lot of quality on the pitch. A few mediocres, but enough to take the game to the opponent and avoid defeats.

      3. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Just question some of their recent signings, lots of money for Pepe, Willian (albeit guess that was a free) and even Saliba, I remember he was the talk of the town at the start of the season (I fell for the hype) they spent lots of money on him and he never even featured on the bench once

      4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Yep true

        It’s also mad that Emery actually had slightly better results than Arteta during his tenure

        And even madder that Wengers final 50 games were in turn slightly better than Emery’s

        You really have to hand it to Arsenal’s board to oversee that type of decline for so long now, impeccable consistency from them tbf

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Emery was sacked for nothing compared with this.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            He lost the dressing room, as they say. There was no possibility of improving.

      5. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        The squad is there other than a backup LB. I have assumed Odegaard will go back to Madrid and Arsenal won't be able to buy him.

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

        Ryan
        Soares Chambers Gabriel ?????
        Xhaka Luiz
        Pepe Ceballos Willian
        Lacazette

      6. FantasyTony
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        If you were to rebuild arsenal, I don't even know which players you'd say "well we have to keep him".

        The younger players, I guess because you'd hope they'd kick on but other than Tierney and Saka, I think you'd be comfortable showing most of them the door.

      7. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Although the other thing is - it’s not for want of spending money either

        They have one of the most expensive front 3’s in european football in Auba - 56m, Pepe - 72m (omfg) & Laca - 46.5m

        Throw in 45m on Partey, 40m on Xhaka, 37m on Mustafi, 27m on Saliba, 25m on Torreira...

        That’s 350m spent right there

    8. Party time
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Arteta is not the Messiah

        1. Thomas Magnum
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          This is why I’m not for signing club legends as managers, especially when they’re mostly unproven

      • Mweene
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Massive bench boost fail with Mendy and Cavani.

      • TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Competitive finish is out of sight. Brothers head to head all that’s left to play for.

        He (stupidly) (c) KDB (vc) Kane and going to get Aina off bench..

      • pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Looking at the progression of this week short odds now on Jota benching.

        He looked the most vulnerable of the template at the start of this week - he wouldn't be in it had his returns in 30 and 31 been reversed.

        1. Muchentuchel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Jota is the perfect kind of player to score a brace against a defence like Leeds

      • JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        I hate Fulham and Arsenal... Played Areola last GW, no CS.. Benched Areola this GW, most likely CS. Ffs.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Rotating your keepers is a recipe for frustration - just have 1

          1. JBG
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Thats my plan, but I can't get Areola out, had injuries that I have been prioritizing ahead of getting him out.

            1. Utopsis
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Well, until you do, despite the fixture temptation, just set and forget one

      • Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        I actually thought Arsenal were better than this but watching this game they are pretty poor aren't they.

        How the mighty have fallen!

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

        Bukayo Saka is too good and too driven to be playing for Arsenal, would happily welcome him at West Ham next season.

        1. KAALI_DAAL
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Yeah him and Lings would bring the trophy hone.

      • R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 days ago

        Why did bitcoin crash?

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

          Because it's extremely volatile and drips occur all the time. There are 3 popular ideas for this latest dip but no one truly knows

          1. R.C
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            I know about two. What's the third one?

            Turkey ban and US treasury fines

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 2 days ago

                Third one is me buying some right before the crash

              • fusen
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 days ago

                Chinese power outage knocked something like 30% of all mining operations out for a couple of hours.

          2. KAALI_DAAL
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Cause it wanted to get its parents attention.

          3. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            It's not real

          4. HellasLEAF
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Money laundering crackdown apparently

          5. Londongeezaa
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Regulation can and will crash crypto’s overnight.

            And no, that’s not a Spurs defender.

          6. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 2 days ago

              US treasury talking about stopping money laundering and Turkey banned it I think

            • Kane and Ablett
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Because it’s is worthless and costs a fortune to create, it’ll be worthless one day but until then some lucky people and criminals will make a lot of money and some mugs will lose a load, it’s not even a good distributed ledger but as long as it’s advertised on Facebook some people will have a gamble

            • Thomas Magnum
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Also, why has dogecoin increased so much?!

            • Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              itll rise back in no time... It so volatile you just have to take the up and downs as they come

          7. KAALI_DAAL
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Areola gets a YC.

            For showing his nipple.

            What a plit twist that would be.

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              That should be red innit

              1. R.C
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 days ago

                IYKWIM 😉

          8. Chandler Bing
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Nipple 3 saves

          9. Londongeezaa
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Rumours are we will be getting a Hamstring chip for next season.

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Does that activate hamstring injury?

            2. Thomas Magnum
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Chip called new bench, when all 3 of the players on your bench are red flagged you can sell them all without a hit!

            3. KAALI_DAAL
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              You get to give hammy to a player?

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

              If you keep Antonio for 3 months you'll get an extra one.

          10. Kane and Ablett
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Lacazette went off injured, and Kane and JLing, sounds like Mendy has been dropped and Spurs and City blank next week, that could be six out of my squad next week and I’ve only got 2 FTs.... there could be a lot of hits taken on Friday

            1. KAALI_DAAL
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Wild Card.

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

            Cmon areola, lose that CS like you did vs wolves when i started you!

            1. Gandalf
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              You got your wish

          12. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            I think I should just avoid Arsenal players completely in FPL.

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

              Only arsenal player in fpl ive had in the past 3 years is auba

              There was a time when i had 3 players all the time in the days of sanchez walcott koscielny

          13. Chandler Bing
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            When did Areola get the YC? Just checked Sofa Score and he hasn't gotten one but FPL says he has.

          14. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Nketiah G

          15. Sandy Ravage
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Hodling FTW?

          16. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Burnley could yet be in a spot of bother and the GW35 game with Fulham could make it really quite tight if Fulham win and Burnley don't do anything before then.

          17. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Oh Fulham...

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 2 days ago

              Oh Fulham

              Count all those draws and lost points

          18. Gazwaz80
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            WOW!!