Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Sterling benched as Guardiola names unchanged City team

Manchester City v Arsenal gets the final Gameweek before the September international break underway.

Kick-off at the Etihad is at 12:30 BST and you can follow the fantasy action on our live Matchcast.

A manager naming an unchanged side after a 5-0 win wouldn’t come as a shock in most instances but where Pep Guardiola is involved, it’s almost more of a surprise than when he makes multiple alterations.

The City head coach has indeed stuck with the same starting XI that demolished Norwich City 5-0 last weekend, so that means substitute roles for Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.0m).

Jack Grealish (£8.0m) makes it three Premier League starts from three following his summer move from Aston Villa, with Ferran Torres (£7.0m) also keeping up his 100% record.

Torres may well be leading the line again this afternoon, with Gabriel Jesus (£8.5m) turning in an excellent performance down the right flank against the Canaries in Gameweek 2.

Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m) misses out with an ankle injury, as previously disclosed by Guardiola.

The Arsenal team news is bamboozling in its own right.

Head coach Mikel Arteta makes four changes following the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat by Chelsea a week ago, with Martin Odegaard (£5.5m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£9.9m) brought into the side after starring in the EFL Cup in midweek.

Calum Chambers (£4.4m) is also recalled but the biggest surprise is the involvement of Sead Kolasinac (£4.4m), in for his first Premier League start since Gameweek 2 of last season.

Bukayo Saka (£6.3m) and Kieran Tierney (£4.9m) have shrugged off minor injuries to feature.

Pablo Mari (£4.5m), Albert Sambi Lokonga (£5.0m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£5.4m) drop to the bench, while Nicolas Pepe (£7.3m) is absent because of illness.

Ben White (£4.4m) still isn’t involved following his own spell in self-isolation.

LINE-UPS

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Jesus, Torres, Grealish.

Subs: Stones, Ake, Sterling, Zinchenko, Steffen, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Doyle, Palmer.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Tierney, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Xhaka, Saka, Aubameyang.

Subs: Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Pablo Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Ramsdale, Okonkwo, Martinelli

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1,532 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    When’s Lamptey back the little rascal and any chance of getting him for 4.4

    Quite fancy a punt on him as Tsmi replacement

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Aug 26: "Getting stronger day by day and closer to full training. We're probably looking at the break to step up a couple of things, but it's really good to see where he's at because he's had a long frustrating road."

      Potential return gw4

  2. Ted Striker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Apologies if this has already been covered, but is the FPL site showing live ranks now??

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      After each game, yes

      1. Ted Striker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks

  3. Das Boot
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Ok James owners, hands up

    1. Society
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Transferred in this week :/

  4. Society
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What aspect gets Jesus the extra bonus point over Torres ?