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. Goodnight Kiwi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Forster (Henderson)
    Trent (Holding Maguire Alonso Amartey)
    Jota Son Lingard (Bruno ESR)
    Kane (c) (Nacho Vardy)

    8 playing with 2 trades.
    Am thinking Nacho + Vardy --> Bamford and Antonio (-4)
    Am 7 points behind my money league leader.
    Can anyone see any better moves? Thanks

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I think that's right.

      Unless you want to go off piste and all the DCL talk falls down often at Goodison Park.

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    GinjaWhinja nearly had to eat his computer!

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/23748234

    Or maybe he does?

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

      Already above and beyond.
      He'll be having a few bytes.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He'll have to ram it in

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Easily done if he likes chips.

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Romromrom

  3. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    For goodness sake Rudiger cleanie gone 🙁

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Did you Kaptain Kane tho?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bruno

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

      What do u truly feel

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

      He's not in the squad.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        This!

        Again...

        Shall we have a whip-round to get KK a subscription for next season even tho he's a professional services or recruitment man?

        Or tell him some trade secrets on NavS for those that know already?

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

          Huh?

          1. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            There was two points but for Kaptain Kane mainly.

          2. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            I think he knows what I do for a living

        2. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Cheeky cheeky 😉

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I actually assumed he was playing! Silly me!

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

      I wonder if Ramadan caused Rudiger not in team?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        No, Tuchel and cup finals.

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

    Arsenal playing with more passion today than with Villarreal. Why?

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

      The King's of winning when it doesn't matter

      1. BooYaKasha
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        So much this

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

    Would rather Arsenal didn't qualify for Europe. A season focusing on improving in the league and a domestic cup run would be much better.

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

      "Derby"? even though it's not really an important derby 😛

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

      They are miles behind the top teams. They will need a few years and even then I doubt they will do anything...

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

        Yeah squad is not good enough to compete. Team needs basic shape and style before we try all this over thought tactics.

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

          And certainly a change of manager. Arteta has been aweful

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Gabriel DBGh said on the radio today that Europa league for Liverpool may mean see ya from Salah....

      Which could turn Liverpool into Arsenal.

      I thought it was a well crafted put down.

      Little Liverpool love from Villa.

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

        ESL standard not good enough!

  6. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hi....anyone looking at ings?

    Is he capable of starting Saturday and Tuesday?

    Thanks

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lots of talk but less likely to fire but could be the one.

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

    Absolutely no chance Arsenal keep a cleansheet here.

    If Holding gets one it may decide my H2H game in my favour.

    If they can make it to about 65-70 minutes and it is still 1-0 I'll be putting a big bet on Chelsea to score

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      How much?

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

      My ML rival has dallas, mendy, forster and holding. I will bet you anything holding gets a clean sheet.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I have Holding. He won't.

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

          He played the ball with his hand and no penalty was given. Count that as a sign. Trust me, clean sheet guaranteed.

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

          Told you...CS locked

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

      Did I call it or did I call it?

  8. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Just got on. Chances for Leno CS based on first half?

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

      About 20 mins ago it was.. Attempts:
      8 - Chelsea
      2 - Arsenal

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

      98%

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I still say 2 1

        Either way.

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

          Still don't believe me?

    3. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      25%

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

      Told ya mighty

  9. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1. Mendy Holding Fernandes Iheanacho >> Fabianski / Meslier Dallas Son Bamford (-12) (gets 11)
    2. Holding Fernandes Iheanacho >> Dallas Son Bamford (-8) (gets 10)
    3. Holding Fernandes >> Dallas Son (-4) (gets 9)

    Best option?

    Thanks guys

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

    FH team

    Pickford
    TAA Tarko Zinchenko
    Son Bale Mahrez Salah
    Antonio Kane DCL

    Forster Raphinha Mitchell Struijk

    Have exact money for above but thinking swapping Kane to Ings. Thoughts?

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

      I’ll even take bad advice on this team if anyone wants to dispense it...

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

    As a Mendy owner, happy that Chelsea lost their clean sheet now.

    I can’t understand why he has been rotated in the first place !

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

      Warm up Kepa for the cup final?

      Get Mendy back for really important Leicester match?

      (Although if we drop points today, makes the latter not as great of a trade-off.)

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I think its more of a sweetener to Kepa to play tonight as Mendy probably plays the final..

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

          Really harsh on Kepa to drop him after playing every round.

          Before this match he'd kept 5 straight clean sheets, and the loss of it today wasn't even his fault.

          Would I prefer Mendy to play? Sure, but Kepa deserves it.

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

        Warm up Kepa to do one more like it.

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

          Yep, as we both thought - confirmed by Tuchel:

          https://twitter.com/NizaarKinsella/status/1392599781273391104?s=19

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

      Juninho didn’t look but Kepa always seems to be involved in these type of moments.

  12. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Scored 10pts last night from 6 on FH all 1s and 2s,killing it with my bench

    https://imgur.com/a/NDu7DLA

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

      Nice bench boost. Just the 22 plus Philips to go for me.

      1. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Not on BB thats why im killing it,just checked BB was 14pts

  13. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best option?

    A) Son + Antonio

    B) Bale + DCL

    Can't afford Son + DCL.

    Cheers

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

    Smith Rowe first on the bench 🙁 🙁 🙁

    1. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I have Benteke

  15. Life_Ban
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Wowsers just checked the score and Holding is Holding a CS!

    Didn't expect him to actually gift me some points, considering the first leg match blowout!

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You need a life ban for this post. It’s only HT you nutter

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

      He also got a good save..

    3. Life_Ban
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nothing can stop this CS!

      Not even BrexVid

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

        Holy moly CS alert!!!

  16. seanie3
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    really don't know what Tammy has done to Tuchel for him not to play any games anymore, tonight was a perfect game for him to start and rest havertz and werner.. doesn't get a look in anymore and he is more clinical than havertz and werner.. just don't get it...

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tammy isnt very good, and has limited ability to improve

  17. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Switched off FPL/football for a while. Thought I'd check my team and can see Forster ESR Mitchell and Alioski racking up 36 points on my bench haha. Until next time

  18. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    On another day chelsea have two already.

    1. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      ...penalties.

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

    Very similar to the penalty that was given against Chelsea to Man City last game

  20. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tuchel tinkered Chelsea in and out of CL

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

    Leno time wasting on the 50th minute in a game that has absolutely no impact on Arsenal...just wow.

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

      This has a huge implication for arsenal possibly making it into the top 5

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

        Top 5?? Lol. Top 10 maybe

        1. OverTinker
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Top 5 outside top 6

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

      Its a big game for chelsea tho. Integrity on stake

  22. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Arsenal getting pummelled here.

  23. HVT
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    ESR
    😎

  24. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1. Vardy + Nacho to Bam + Antonio for -4
    2. Bruno to Salah
    3. Vardy + Nacho + Bruno to Bam + Antonio + Salah for -8
    4. Vardy to Antonio/Bam for free (and play Lowton and Coufal)

    1. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wait until after matches

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ofcourse but what's good on paper

  25. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How on earth has it taken this long for Maguire to be given a red flag? Unbelievable

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Jeff

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

    Tierney back up, studs on the knee always looks painful

  27. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best -4 to take this week (got four blankers and Veltman injury to contend with)?

    A) Greenwood + Nacho > Mahrez + DCL
    B) Greenwood + Nacho > Bale + Bamford/Antonio
    C) Greenwood + Shaw > Son + Dallas

  28. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1 1

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

      offside

    2. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wrong

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        It was at the time!

    3. Dirty_Harry
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      0 1

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Disallowed

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

    Checked the Holding CS points.
    Chelsea score.

    Lol!

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Offside

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

      Oh way offside.

      Still rather us win.