Dugout Discussion

Mendy benched as Chelsea and Arsenal make a combined 12 changes

It’s 12 matches down, three to go as Triple Gameweek 35 continues with Chelsea v Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 20:15 BST.

Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel have been prone to a spot of rotation in the spring, with both of their sides juggling domestic duties with involvement on the continent.

Changes always looked likely for this second Gameweek 35 fixture for the pair and there have indeed been a dozen alterations to the two starting XIs this evening.

Only four of Thomas Tuchel’s side have survived the cut from the 2-1 win over Manchester City.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m), Reece James (£5.1m), Billy Gilmour (£4.3m) and Christian Pulisic (£8.3m) are the lucky quartet.

That means that Edouard Mendy (£5.2m) drops to the bench, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.7m) making his third Premier League start in the Tuchel era.

Thiago Silva (£5.6m), Kurt Zouma (£5.3m), Ben Chilwell (£5.9m), Jorginho (£4.7m), Mason Mount (£7.3m) and Kai Havertz (£8.3m) are also recalled, with Antonio Rudiger (£4.7m), Andreas Christensen (£4.7m), N’Golo Kante (£4.9m), Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) making way.

Rudiger, Kante and Christensen are all absent from the match day squad, with the latter having previously been confirmed as being injured.

Arteta has made a mere five changes to the team that beat West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m), Kieran Tierney (£5.2m), Martin Odegaard (£5.7m), Thomas Partey (£4.9m) and Pablo Marí (£4.4m) are all promoted to the starting XI.

Budget FPL midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) has recovered from a hamstring strain to start.

Calum Chambers (£4.5m), Willian (£7.5m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m), Dani Ceballos (£4.7m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) all drop to the bench.

Rudiger and Mendy were by some distance the most-popular players within the top 10k as of the Gameweek 35 deadline, with ‘effective ownerships’ (EO – something that takes into account captaincies and benchings) of 30.73% and 23.36% respectively.

Rob Holding (£4.3m), whose EO of 17.03% in the top 10k is more than the rest of Arsenal’s squad combined, is therefore the most-owned player within this leading group of Fantasy bosses in tonight’s game.


LINE-UPS

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Zouma, James, Gilmour, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Havertz.

Subs: Alonso, Werner, Mendy, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Emerson Palmieri, Anjorin, Livramento.

Arsenal:Leno, Holding, Gabriel, Pablo Mari, Tierney, Thomas, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Aubameyang.

Subs: Bellerin, Ceballos, Lacazette, Willian, Cedric, Pepe, Chambers, Ryan, Martinelli.


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542 Comments Post a Comment
  1. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    My rival has Mendy and Rudi. It's so base but YES!

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ok Thomas.

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      really not very sporting of you ,with nothing to watch he may have to talk to his wife..

  2. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    My team name for next season is sorted
    "Thomas to Hell"

    You reckon I'll get reported ?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just call it John Thomas.

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nah will be fine

  3. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Soothes pain of transferring Mendy out ever so slightly

  4. fusen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I transferred Azpil out for Maguire for a -4.

    Hindsight makes it so painful...

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Take comfort that your pain is providing pleasure for others.

    2. ktk_interista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Made the same move

  5. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Thats cool, the Mendy 11points still do nicely.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That's what Derby supporters used to say.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That's what I think too. Could have been much worse.

    3. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Good outlook. That's still a nice haul

  6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Had kept 0.3 ITB to do Nacho to Antonio. Have this defense:

    TAA Konsa Rudiger Struijk Mitchell

    Should I still get Antonio for Nacho or should I get a 3rd nailed defender by doing Rudiger to Coufal?

    1. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Probably risk it for a biscuit and do the Antonio move, more upside. Surely 1 of rudi / struijk and mitch will play. Then figure it out week after

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Makes sense! Thanks.

    2. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Well not rudi next week but the week after

    3. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Antonio has much higher upside. It can be fun to punt a bit in the final weeks as well

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Agree. Thanks!

  7. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ah Tuchel what are you doing to me

  8. drughi
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Frustration

  9. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sold Holding for Rudiger, stupidly listening to people on here saying Holding's place was under threat.

    My fault completely, but lesson learned. Ignore the noise and trust in the players you already have.

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Correct trust who you think

      As I always say people give on here give bad advice as we all against each other on here

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Don't blame others for your decisions - no one forced you to make the transfer(s).

    3. Farteta
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Arsenal will concede at some point anyone so it'll only be a 4-pointer for Holding!

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    And the merry rollercoaster continues. You climb only to be plunged into some dark tunnel.

    But yet we queue up for this rude week in, week out 😆

  11. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    FH draft. Trying to make the strong 11 from my budget.

    Martinez (3.9)
    TAA - Digne - Dallas (Mitchell, 3.8)
    Salah - Mane - Son - Mahrez - Foden
    Kane - DCL (4.3)

    What do you think about these options? Bamford is more certain to start and there should be chances at Burnley.

    A: Foden + 4.3 FWD
    B: Bamford + 4.1 MID

  12. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Wait a minute is Holding RWB?

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Saka is I believe

  13. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Like all the DGWs you score well in the first half. And 30% of that in the second if you are lucky.

  14. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The greed in this place - Mendy owners should be chuffed - best keeper selection!

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mendy and Forster.

      1. BIG TONES
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Forster was my first ever time owning a keeper with a pen save. Been playing for 7 years

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Nice! I have never had any. Been playing for the same number of years. Played Martinez over Forster this GW.

          1. BIG TONES
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            We have the same keepers! I got Forster's haul through bench boost though. Would have missed out if it was SGW! Cheers and all the best

            1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              That's good. Thanks! Do well.

  15. aborg
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Not even goalies are nailed for double game weeks nowadays !!

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Captains normally safest

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      And players can disappear altogether, like Rudiger.

  16. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    When I played my BB, Tuchel suddenly gave Kepa a game then too

  17. FootballDog
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Have WC available... 0.3itb..

    Martínez / Sanchez

    Shaw / Digne / Veltman / Coufal / TAA

    Salah / Bruno / Lingard / Jota / Greenwood

    Nacho / Kane / DCL

    Wat are my options? These any good...

    Bruno to Son
    Nacho to Antonio
    Lingard to Raphinha
    Jota to Mahrez

  18. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Advice please?

    A. Nacho to Bamford for free. Field 10

    B. Nacho and Shaw to Antonio and Dallas for -4 and 11 players

    Was on A but leaning towards B especially as Shaw might get rested against Fulham or wolves

  19. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Big miss Havertz

  20. A. PRISE
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding haul incoming

  21. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Skai Havertz

    1. A. PRISE
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Skai Highvertz

  22. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Big let off for Arsenal there.
    Mari asleep!

  23. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Billy Gilmour is a bright prospect

  24. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding in a great position but a proper CB cross!

  25. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding big chance created.
    Wait no.
    He had the opportunity but fluffed it!

  26. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tyler and Smith just spent the first 10 minutes wondering how Aubameyang has a driver's licence. Quality 😆

  27. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    #justiceformendyowners

  28. A. PRISE
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Oh jeez

  29. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    WOW POW

  30. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Jorginho WTF

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      G ESR
      Aubameyang