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. Mika-eel
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I'm a neutral watching this game, but my heart is racing as a Holding owner, lol.

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

      My heart is racing looking at your profile pic

      Hold me Holding wooop

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

    Holding bap

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

      Pure fpl skill right there

    2. Mika-eel
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lovely unexpected points tonight.

  3. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Thank you so much Holding

  4. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pathetic from Chelsea

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

      Nope. Just unlucky and unfair

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

    Nice double over Chelsea this season

    Never in Doubt 😀

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

    Poor result for Arsenal. This will only spur Tottenham on

  7. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play Lingard over Holding they said

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

    Holding over Dallas didn't go so badly in the end...

    Kane & Watkins can sniff some poo though.

  9. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding you beauty

  10. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Liverpool's CL fate back in their own hands with Chelsea and Leicester still to play each other.

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

      Got to beat United and the others.

      9 losses so far

    2. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yip, might even get there with 3 wins and a draw if Leicester lose to Chelsea and draw with Spurs or if Chelsea only take 3 pts from last 2 games.

  11. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Unexpected CS from Holding, thank you.

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

      1 in 4 or so

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

      Not unexpected. Unfair

  12. Chrisitis
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Big result for Liverpool
    Now they can secure CL by their own

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

      Yeah

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No they can't

      1. 272MK
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yes they can. But they need to have a better goal difference than Lricester tho

        1. 272MK
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          No wait a min. If Leicester win all 2 remaining fixtures, yrt Chelseas win Champ League then no for Liverpool. Lol

          1. bitm2007
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            5 English teams in CL if Chelsea win it and finish outside the top 4.

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Chelsea and Leicester still to meet, so at worse, it will come down to goal difference which will almost certainly be in their favour if they win their last 4

      3. Chrisitis
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Of course they can
        They just have to win big enough

    3. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Liverpool can finish on 69 pts. Chelsea and Leicester can't both finish on 70 pts.
      If Liverpool win their 4 games their goal difference will be better than whoever fails to win between Leicester and Chelsea.
      Liverpool might even get top 4 if they draw 1 and win 3.
      Chelsea play Villa away in last game, 6 days before CL final. Leicester play Spurs who have good record on final day

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

    It's better all said and done for FPL points...

    with West Ham, Leicester and Chelsea all in contention...

    Possibly Liverpool too, if they can find any consistency after 9 defeats so far.

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

    Holding, Forster, Mendy, Godfrey and Greenwood. I'm off to buy a lotto ticket.

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

      Great work, I have just have 3 of them and even that feels lovely.

  15. Mika-eel
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding owners out in all their glory 😆

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

    Forster, Holding and Smith-Rowe on bench boost. Dreams.

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

      Smith Rowe well done. The others pure luck

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

        Holding was more likely to be fair

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

          Hr handballed dude. 1 point is what he should have gotten. The fact that the refs/var officials are dirty or stupid doesn't change that

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

      This makes me angry

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

      Well done. Well played.

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Have all of them on my bench. The week I actually did play bench boost, I ended up with -1 total. Don't even want to think what it would have been this week.

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

      Oh baby a triple!

  17. Setpiecemad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Now on 122 points and up to 15k overall ranking

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

      Are you happy with that too?

  18. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Son/Bale Mahrez or Bamford?

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

      Which way??

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

    Chelsea to drop out of top 4 and win CL,Pool to get 4th sound good

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

      Not likely.

      The Liverpool stuff.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      5 English teams in the CL can't be bad.

  20. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding owners assemble! *blows horn*

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

      Yeah cavalcade around London. Meet up at Big Ben in half an hour.

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

    Never doubted a Holding clean sheet tonight.
    Well played lad.

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

      😀

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He’s great value

  22. Jars458
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So Leno in goals but Smoith Rowe on the bench. Easy come easy go

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

    Looks like the best strategy now is to ditch Man U assets over Leicester. Can easily see Man U putting out their kids again against Fulham and Wolves. They have 2nd tied up now easy. At least Leicester have something to play for

  24. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bruno & Kelechi -> Bale/Son & Antonio/DCL?

  25. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Hamez definitely out? Dissapointing buying him.

  26. james 101
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    99 with 11 to play. Anyone worse?

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

      Yeah 97 with 7 to play

      11 seems somewhat steep for two games

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Very nice. It’s been a crazy season so enjoy it!

    2. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Worse?? I’m on 57 pal

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Sorry mate. Lucks a big part right?

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Your still above the GW average. Those of us with 97 plus are in the top 100k for the GW.

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      97 with only 8 to play now after BB went horribly wrong (5 points)

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Still a huge score matw

    4. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Got your smug face on I guess

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

    which defenders to target for the run in guys?

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      TAA Digne Dallas Coufal Alioski are mine

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

    Saka, holding and Mitchell on the bench

    Tbf aside from the Castagne failure can’t really complain

  29. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    My bench this week: ESR, Dallas, Lowton

    Put me to bed