634x258 Dugout Discussion
23 December 2013 4978 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

An all-London affair at the Emirates brings the curtain down on Gameweek 17 this evening. Plenty of Fantasy favourites are on show as the Gunners look for the win that would extend their lead to four points over the chasing pack:

For the hosts, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are the main protagonists for Fantasy managers, whilst Theo Walcott will be looking to maintain the form that saw him score twice at the Etihad last weekend.

Jose Mourinho’s side roll up on the back of a poor form of form on the road. The Blues have been beaten in three of their last four away games in all competitions but know that a victory will draw them level with the Gunners on 36 points. Eden Hazard will be desperate to have his say before Fantasy managers turn our attentions to the Gameweek 18 fixtures on Boxing Day.

The team news sees the hosts make four changes from the side that lost 6-3 at City last time around. Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen are drafted in for Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny at the back, with the Frenchman sidelined due to a knee wound. Mikel Arteta partners Aaron Ramsey in the double-pivot, with Mathieu Flamini dropping out, whilst Tomas Rosicky gets the nod on the left, replacing the suspended Jack Wilshere. Lukas Podolski warms the Gunners bench along with the likes of Santi Cazorla.

The Blues make three alterations from the XI that edged past Palace. Gary Cahill replaces David Luiz in defence, whilst John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard are drafted into midfield – Michael Essien drops out through suspension while Juan Mata takes his place on the bench, allowing Ramires to move onto the right of the attacking midfield three. Oscar, Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto’o are also amongst the subs, with Fernando Torres leading the line again.

Once again, we’ve opened the Dugout Discussion chatroom for those partial to some real-time reaction.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. sinik
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    cleansheet for Arsenal please

    Open Controls
  2. banskt
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsey back to original it seems...

    Open Controls
    1. jmcclory123
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Your right, he hasn't scored in 45mins, have him shot outback

      Open Controls
      1. banskt
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Its not about scoring / assisting, he seems out of touch.

        Open Controls
  3. Moorinho
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I see goals in this one, and a Chelsea win.

    Open Controls
  4. drughi
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsey is so overrated, glad i"ve never had him in my team. Everybody talks about yaya being a fluke ha ha ha. Yaya is a real footballer, ramsey is not

    Open Controls
    1. FACUPARSE
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      and you are a nobody with a nobody opinion

      Open Controls
      1. drughi
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        My opinion means everything and i'm right

        Open Controls
        1. Crouch Potato!
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          I'm

          Open Controls
        2. Debauchy
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Just silly lad , you aint got a clue

          Open Controls
    2. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      How can you possibly be glad you've never had him in your team? 😆

      Open Controls
    3. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      How has not having Ramsey worked out for you then?

      Open Controls
      1. drughi
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Top ten K and you ?

        Open Controls
        1. MattysFantasyFooty
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Link your team

          Open Controls
        2. Fitzy.
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Don't believe you for a minute.

          Open Controls
    4. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Link your team

      Open Controls
      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Or IQ.

        Open Controls
    5. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Stupid, stupid, stupid. What's a 'real' footballer?

      Open Controls
      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Carlton Palmer

        Open Controls
        1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Drew Brees

          Open Controls
      2. SuperOsçarBaby
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        YAYA

        Open Controls
      3. Podge
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Please Granville I need to downvote this, please bring it back !!!!!

        Open Controls
    6. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Ramsey is not a real footballer? What exactly is he then? A milkman!

      Open Controls
    7. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed +100

      Open Controls
      1. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        The fact that you agree confirms it was a stupid statement.

        Open Controls
        1. FACUPARSE
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          100% Doughnut

          Open Controls
    8. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      LOOOL you're probably ranked 3 million. Shut up

      Open Controls
      1. drughi
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        You just wanna see me link my team

        Open Controls
        1. Make United Great Again
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          shhhh your opinion is wrong

          Open Controls
    9. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Drughi you plonker.

      Open Controls
    10. jmcclory123
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Your glad you never put a 5.5m starting priced midfielder in your team who is now 4th top scoring player in the FPL and 2nd top scoring midfielder and has raised in price to 7.6m? Your happy with this? Really?

      Open Controls
    11. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Wow your logic is flawed

      Open Controls
    12. Holy See
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I'm givin his points back. Not accepting them from pretend footballers anymore.

      Open Controls
  5. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Doubling up on Chelsea's Defense was not a good Idea , they said 😉

    Open Controls
    1. Demelbrush
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I benched terry...got cech though.

      Open Controls
      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Great ... He hasnt made a single save though 🙂

        Open Controls
    2. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      They are right, it's not a good idea.

      Open Controls
      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Proved to be my worst decision of the season , just 1 CS in 8 games , hope they can shut out arsenal today ....

        Open Controls
    3. Podge
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Its not

      Open Controls
    4. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Lots of people benched Ivanovic or Terry.

      Open Controls
    5. Moorinho
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Gloating at half time is a really bad idea.

      Open Controls
      1. Debauchy
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        lol. I,ve had Terry since gw 6. Suffering, now you talking about double Chelsea defence ? Cmon .

        Open Controls
  6. Limbo
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Great result for Merseyside if it stays like this.

    Open Controls
    1. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      As an Everton fan id rather Arsenal win

      Open Controls
      1. Limbo
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Haha. Indeed.

        Hard to call - rather be within 3pts of everyone or Liverpool not top... hmn.

        Open Controls
  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    ramsey off at HT please. Awful performance

    Open Controls
    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      walcott too

      Open Controls
  8. Demelbrush
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I'm double chelsea at the back. Keep for one more week or go double everton - terry > baines.

    Open Controls
  9. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    ofc Chelsea will keep a clean sheet cuz I benched Terry. Only the 2nd time I bench him this season, the first was in GW2 and and he kept a CS...

    Open Controls
    1. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Ofc

      Open Controls
  10. Mojo Rojo
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Terry & Ramsey > Martin Olsson & Walcott?

    Open Controls
  11. mr gruber
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Half time face off:

    Nasri & Lukaku
    or
    Silva & Adebayor?

    Open Controls
    1. Rafabio
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      B

      Open Controls
      1. mr gruber
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        thanks - feels better with Silva doesn't it.

        Open Controls
    2. Podge
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      B

      Open Controls
  12. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    After 45mins the sad non Ramsey owners start bone picking the lad. Wise up fellas.

    Open Controls
    1. Saint Domingo
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      +1 spot on that.

      Open Controls
    2. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Lots of Ramsey owners looking to get him out of their team too. Tis a fickle site at times!

      Open Controls
    3. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      He's been one of the best players in the league this season.

      Open Controls
      1. Debauchy
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Best value no doubt.

        Open Controls
  13. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Carracher saying it's a penalty. Clear Pen

    Open Controls
  14. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Mignolet -> Howard (play Shaw) or R Bennet -> B Turner (play mignolet)?

    Open Controls
  15. Bolasie
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott needs to get out more wide, he's in the middle.

    Open Controls
    1. Rafabio
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Thinks he's a ACM the lad

      Open Controls
  16. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    It was a penalty to be fair.

    Open Controls
    1. banskt
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      +1

      Open Controls
    2. mischty
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      They've been given for less. Walcott let contact happen and fell over, but Willian continued to pull his foot through....

      Open Controls
    3. Podge
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Certain peno

      Open Controls
    4. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      truth.

      Open Controls
  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    ozil fail, transferring him out like I planned to

    Also considering ramsey out

    Open Controls
    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Here we go, half time knee jerk as if it's full time.

      Open Controls
    2. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Knee jerk.

      Open Controls
    3. Mojo Rojo
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      To who?

      Open Controls
    4. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Plenty of more games Millhouse.

      Open Controls
    5. Saint Domingo
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Loads of time left in this game Bemba,one goal and this game will open right up,both sides a little cautious at the min.

      Open Controls
    6. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      tampon alert

      Open Controls
      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        forgot the 😉 !!

        Open Controls
    7. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Such a Bemba thing to say 😀

      Open Controls
  18. Kim Philby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Not surprised by Wenger's frustration really seeing as Chelsea's bullies should've been sent off a number of times by now.

    Open Controls
  19. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal should have had a penalty and Mikel sent off.

    This ref is scared of Mourinho

    Open Controls
    1. r0nh
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      True fan speaking.

      Open Controls
    2. Captain Shirokov
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      lol ok

      Open Controls
    3. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      arsenal fans always scared

      Open Controls
    4. Prime
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Neither.

      Open Controls
  20. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Arteta lost as much control as Mikel.

    Open Controls
    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      agree.

      Pen, yes. Red, no.

      Open Controls
      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Never a red like.

        Look after yourself in the tackle.

        Arteta wants to lunge in and come out limping like a pansie.

        Open Controls
  21. Demelbrush
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Any moxey news? why did he come off at the weekend?

    Open Controls
  22. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I don't think Jamie & Gary agree on the mikel tackle. 😆

    Open Controls
    1. Saint Domingo
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Haha.

      Open Controls
    2. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I'm watching Lineker on NBC 😀

      Open Controls
  23. SpinyNorman [*_*]
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Having just done Coutinho > Sterling, I now have 7.0 in the bank.

    Mr Money Bags me.

    Open Controls
  24. rohan
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Best player so far? Cahill for me

    Open Controls
    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely up there. Happy with Torres' workrate too.

      Open Controls
    2. tm245
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Hazard seems to be the only attacker unaffected by the conditions.

      Open Controls
    3. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Willian

      Open Controls
  25. gers23
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    1 0 Vermalaen i smell

    Open Controls
  26. Limbo
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Christmas Eve tomorrow. Jesus.

    Open Controls
    1. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      No, that was Christmas Day.

      Open Controls
    2. Rafabio
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      was born

      Open Controls
    3. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      one of the world's longest running successful marketing campaigns that

      Open Controls
      1. Limbo
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Blessed are the meek.

        Open Controls
    4. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      He knows

      Open Controls
  27. MillsAU
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    If you could choose, which goalkeeper would you want for the next six weeks?

    Open Controls
    1. Holy See
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      At his peak, Pat Jennings would certainly appeal to me. Or Szczszny.

      Open Controls
  28. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Mikel actually got to the ball BEFORE Arteta and knocked it on to him and happened to follow through.

    Complete 50/50, Gary Neville is right.

    Open Controls
    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      only one of the players is endangering the opponent

      Open Controls
  29. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Don't you dare keep a clean sheet John Terry, don't you dare!!

    Open Controls
    1. PogChamp
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Same. Benched him after 4 blank weeks.

      Open Controls
    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      ^^this^^

      Open Controls
      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        I told you not to offload him !

        Open Controls
        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          It will work in the long run

          Open Controls
  30. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott Ramsey Hazard -> Young Adam Larsson (-12)

    Open Controls
    1. JT's Dog
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Not as good as Adam Larson snr

        Open Controls