Dugout Discussion

Lacazette benched as Kolasnic misses out on Saints trip with injury

There was instant disappointment for owners of two Arsenal assets as team news for Sunday’s Gameweek 17 matches came out.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.6m) is on the bench once again, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) preferred as the lone striker for the Gunners.

Meanwhile, Sead Kolasinac (£5.1m) misses out on Arsenal’s trip to Southampton after picking up a thigh injury in training on Saturday.

He is replaced at left-back by the returning Nacho Monreal (£5.4m), making his first start since Gameweek 8. With Rob Holding (£4.4m) injured and Shkodran Mustafi (£5.4m) and Sokratis Papastathopoulous (£5.1m) suspended, Laurent Koscielny (£5.4m) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (£4.5m) line-up at centre-back.

Aaron Ramsey (£7.3m) and Mesut Özil (£8.1m) are named on the bench.

There is a third Premier League start for young Southampton defender Jan Valery (£4.0m) while Danny Ings (£5.4m) recovers from his recent hamstring injury to feature for the first time since Gameweek 12.

At Brighton, there is another game at false-nine for Eden Hazard (£10.9m) who leads the Chelsea line, flanked by Pedro (£6.3m) and Willian (£7.3m).

Alvaro Morata (£8.5m) was not considered fit enough for the bench, where Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) has been named.

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic (£5.8m) comes through his injury doubt to start the match in central midfield.

Glenn Murray (£6.6m) leads the Brighton line with Pascal Groß (£6.7m) operating as the number 10.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Bernardo, Dunk, Balogun, Montoya; March, Stephens, Pröpper, Knockaert; Groß; Murray.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Jorginho, Kante; Pedro, Hazard, Willian.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Targett, Yoshida, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Valery; Redmond, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Armstrong; Ings.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Monreal, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Bellerín; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira; Mkhitaryan, Iwobi; Aubameyang.

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2,219 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sharkytect
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Well, i will make 0.1 profit if i sell kolasinac now, and i only bought him for this excellent run of fixtures.

    What 5.1 or below defenders are looking good for upcoming fixtures? I have doherty, TAA, digne and AWB

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Bennett

    2. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      West Ham defender?

      1. Sharkytect
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hmm...they do have good fixtures. Balbuena, maybe? Not exactly exciting in terms of potential attacking returns...or even defensive returns!

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Holebas

  2. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Deulofail you around?

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Livescore:

    11' Brighton & Hove Albion to take a throw-in in Brighton & Hove Albion territory.
    11' Stuart Attwell signals a Brighton & Hove Albion throw-in in Brighton & Hove Albion's half.
    10' Brighton & Hove Albion's Glenn Murray is whistled for offside at American Express Community Stadium.
    9' Goal kick for Chelsea FC at American Express Community Stadium.

  4. evilfish
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Do I want Laca to stay on the bench or all the juicy points Stephens will get me at home to Chelski?

  5. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on Kane and Salah to mitro and gundogen as a differential?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      is that before or after drinking a bottle of meths?

    2. Chirsbom
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Please do that. One less idiot to compete in the leagues with 🙂

  6. delux
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard not happy with Alonso

  7. Differential C (Mark)
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Early minutes, but so far Soton > Arsenal. Fight me.

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Soton > Second Half FC

      No surprises there.

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

      Dosen't matter, the end result is what counts today. As a Arsenal fan I will take a scrappy win, will be better days and grounds for playing beautiful passing attacking football

  8. Bolivian Seaman
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard has had about 3 touches

    1. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Why is Sarri trying to isolate him up top, what is he thinking

      1. Ghost Gooner
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Message to the board to get him a striker in Jan

        1. Ruinenlust
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          They already have the World Cup winning striker

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Can only hope he gets less. C'mon Brighton!!

  9. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Good run from Nuno Espirito Santo.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Racist.

    2. 4-4-who?
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      He will win the Champions League with Wolves #wwfc

  10. Rsforstar
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Comeon Murray wipe those Chelsea cleanies

  11. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Why is Sarri playing the best winger in the world out of position? Is he trying to destroy him?

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Trying to be too cheeky. Should be played with Giroud up top. Giroud is the perfect strike partner you can wish for. Look how he clicks in the French NT. Does all the donkey work and creates space for Griezmann and Mbappe to exploit.

      1. Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Exactly. Chelsea and Hazard were scoring goals for fun earlier in the season with Giroud up top then Sarri changes for no reason?

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Was probably forced to give Morata a run given the amount of quids they spent on him. But now that it's obvious what works best for the team, he should put Giroud back in the starting XI.

  12. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard should stop being a whiny baby and let Alonso play as striker and just slot in at LB to cover him

  13. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Celtic aren't top anymore. Rodgers out?

  14. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    If you could “tag” someone in your posts here it would be the new Facebook...

  15. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard unselfish

  16. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazarddd

  17. Richd
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Omg

  18. yakirh
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard I love you

  19. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Waiting for 'almost bought Pedro this week..' posts.

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Almost got Pedro damnnn.

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Ha

  20. 4-4-who?
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Who scored?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Pedro

  21. Sánchez
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    WGTA?

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Azarrr

  22. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Pedro G
    Haz A

  23. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Pedro G
    Haz A

  24. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Pedro goal

  25. Dakers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazza you legend. Keep it up boyo.

  26. Differential C (Mark)
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Armstrong forces a Leno save!

  27. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Let´s go Hazard - he will 100procent score in this game

  28. SirStevieG
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard you beautiful human

  29. Zladan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard 5th assist in 4 games.

  30. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Alonso standing on the peno spot, love to see it.