The Dugout Discussion – Chelsea vs Arsenal

This is what we’ve been waiting for. A potentially momentous Gameweek in our seasons begins very shortly, as Chelsea face Arsenal at the Bridge in a fixture that offers plenty to the neutral and the committed Fantasy Football manager alike.

Eden Hazard’s owners will be clinging to the Belgian in hope that he can overcome the Gunners’ resistance to offer a decent points haul to justify selection ahead of a double Gameweek asset. Those holding Chelsea and Arsenal defenders will be seeking a more subdued encounter, fought in midfield, with little incident at either end. It’s one of many contrasts and conflicts ahead of us as Gameweek 31 unfolds in the coming days.

Once we know how this one falls, six more three o’clock kick-offs follow, with United’s visit to the Boleyn Ground in East London bringing the day to a close.

Our Twitter feed offers an insight into today’s teamsheets, while our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to allow for your real-time interaction throughout the day.

2,034 Comments Post a Comment

Syd.
10 years, 7 months ago
Southern Conference game for the ref next week
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Revival
10 years, 7 months ago
Another goal conceded and it will be just a single gameweek for my Arsenal defence 🙁
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1. Optimus.
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Just be thankful you haven't Gibbs
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  1. Debauchy
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Lol I have him in UFPL , still another game or decide to switch out ?
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2. Manani
  10 years, 7 months ago
  you are expecting them to get CS for chelsea's match??
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  1. Revival
    10 years, 7 months ago
    2 points would have been something even
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getfunky
10 years, 7 months ago
benched hazard but i've got yaya, silva, nolan & gerrard in midfield

i'd do it again
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1. kitier katba
  10 years, 7 months ago
  nice,,,
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2. Debauchy
  10 years, 7 months ago
  So far still not a bad decision. So far .....................
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  1. getfunky
    10 years, 7 months ago
    well you dont know, that's the point, nolan could go & score twice against hull & end up with more.
    
    hindsight is something that should be put off till the end of the GW rather than 30 mins into the first game
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    1. Debauchy
      10 years, 7 months ago
      That's it. Every week you get crowing after one or two games and it fades away as more games end. Against 10 though Im bricking it a little.
      Oh no another - No Haz though ty
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3. 4-4-who?
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Me too. City have 3 more games than Chelsea (4 if you count the current match). #nobrainer
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Manani
10 years, 7 months ago
why can't football involve some technology in it like rugby or other sports?
all they need is sky sports 1, not like it is expensive as well
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1. Billy Gilmore
  10 years, 7 months ago
  All they need is eyes really.
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  1. Manani
    10 years, 7 months ago
    it is kind of hard to see with such high speed to be fair
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2. Debauchy
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Yeah its totally ridiculous . Biggest game in world living in the past.
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3. Kylos
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Wouldn't really help as it was a case of mistaken identity. The decision was clear cut.
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  1. Manani
    10 years, 7 months ago
    not only that incident, but things like major penalty decision, or offside goals, red cards etc.
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Make United Great Again
10 years, 7 months ago
Andre Marriner has reportedly congratulated Ramires for scoring the opener.
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Give The Todd Some Love
10 years, 7 months ago
Benched Suarez and Sturridge in UFPL 😎
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1. In Like Flynn.
  10 years, 7 months ago
  You can't have?
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  1. Give The Todd Some Love
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Well I have
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    1. In Like Flynn.
      10 years, 7 months ago
      Any particular reason why Todd?
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      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        10 years, 7 months ago
        Forgot to change my team from last week, when Liverpool were playing on a Sunday 🙁
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        In Like Flynn.
        10 years, 7 months ago
        Ouch, heart-felt sympathy.
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        Give The Todd Some Love
        10 years, 7 months ago
        Haha I'll live
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2. Cilly Bonnolly
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Forgot I was playing that again. 🙂
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Kylos
10 years, 7 months ago
#WengerOut
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r0nh
10 years, 7 months ago
As I benched Hazard, I am hoping one of my players doesnt play, both games.
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1. In Like Flynn.
  10 years, 7 months ago
  I just hope mine all score more than whatever Haz gets.
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  1. Tommy J
    10 years, 7 months ago
    +1
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2. Woy of the Wovers
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Suarez?
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3. La Roja
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Why would you bench top scoring midfielder who is playing at home?
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  1. Cilly Bonnolly
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Double gameweek blinkers.
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  2. r0nh
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Cause he only had one game, & that was against a top team...
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    1. Manani
      10 years, 7 months ago
      not if he is playing for chelsea at home.
      chelsea at home is gold
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      1. r0nh
        10 years, 7 months ago
        Well, my DGW players havent played yet.
        
        Still might score more than Hazard...
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4. Grubby
  10 years, 7 months ago
  well if hazard only gets 6 points and all your players play 2 games you will likely only lose 2 points.
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  1. Perthite
    10 years, 7 months ago
    He won't get 6pts unless a yellow card is earnt.
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5. Sess!
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Keep off the pot.
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LewanGOALski
10 years, 7 months ago
c'mon Arsenal. I need you to score today!
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Revival
10 years, 7 months ago
Just been confirmed red card will be transferred to the Ox Monday and he will be banned for 1 game, Gibbs free to play midweek.
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1. Syd.
  10 years, 7 months ago
  I think Gibbs was happy to go off
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2. Debauchy
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Tx.
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3. Tommy J
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Bad luck for Gibbs owners as it can't be changed in FPL....
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OPTA FPL
10 years, 7 months ago
3-0 and vs 10 men
Hazard off at HT plz!
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7shadesofsmoke
10 years, 7 months ago
Chamberlain is having a nightmare out there.
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Chucky
10 years, 7 months ago
beach volley match at the bridge 😆
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1. Syd.
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Plenty of Tits and Arses on view
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  1. Chucky
    10 years, 7 months ago
    😆
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Tommy J
10 years, 7 months ago
I benched Haz after a last minute change to get rid of Kos and Ki and bring in Mirallas and Nolan. I agreed with Mark's preamble and chose the option to chase my mini league-I know it was a big gamble but lets play out the dgw before people start judging whether it was the right decision or not. The other part of the gamble was to get rid of Yaya. I know it could be a huge gamble but I did it consciously after I slept on it and we will see on Wed how Yaya/Hax and Kos fair vs Nolan/Mirallas and Zab.......
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1. Hibbo
  10 years, 7 months ago
  You sold Yaya Toure? And benched Hazard?
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  1. Tommy J
    10 years, 7 months ago
    As per the preamble I decided to get differentials to chase a 90 odd point lead(I was on wildcard)-let's wait and see.....
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    1. Hibbo
      10 years, 7 months ago
      I'd maybe stop reading the pre amble if that's the kinda decisions it prompts you to make.
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  2. Make United Great Again
    10 years, 7 months ago
    I've seen it all now.
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2. Az
  10 years, 7 months ago
  That's risky and then there's just being stupid
  
  You are the latter I'm afraid...
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  1. Tommy J
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Shouldn't you hold off on that until the end of the dgw...very insulting.
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    1. Az
      10 years, 7 months ago
      But obviously hazard toure and kos are better options this week than Nolan mirallas and zab .
      
      If the last three do actually do better it's a bloody miracle
      
      Poor poor decisions this week from you.
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      1. Tommy J
        10 years, 7 months ago
        You can't say that yet....
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3. Tommy J
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Listen guys I welcome your comments but I'm not totally crap at this game as you'll see from my history...we'll see-took a gamble-I still bet there won't be a lot in it....
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copps
10 years, 7 months ago
was the red a correct call? what did he do
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1. JK - Cønt ⭐
  10 years, 7 months ago
  the red card was correct, he sent off the wrong player
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2. Billy Gilmore
  10 years, 7 months ago
  He did a Suarez and turned goalkeeper for a split second.
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3. beric
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Right call, wrong guy. Ox essentially forgot he wasn't in goal
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4. Piggs Boson
  10 years, 7 months ago
  He was sent off for impersonating a player.
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5. Gaz Downright
  10 years, 7 months ago
  he made a very good save... with his hand
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beric
10 years, 7 months ago
You can hear some great sound bytes from the Chelsea fans
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1. Hibbo
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Haha was quality.
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2. Give The Todd Some Love
  10 years, 7 months ago
  'Sagna you're f**king shit!'
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3. Qubit
  10 years, 7 months ago
  My fav i heard was "Oi Stone! Stand up you short arse!" @ Steve Stone
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Studgie G
10 years, 7 months ago
hazard will go off at half time I reckon
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1. Schwarzer
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Why's that?
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  1. Studgie G
    10 years, 7 months ago
    he needs a rest perfect time
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2. Jafooli
  10 years, 7 months ago
  70mins
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3. beric
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Nah, goal difference could be important
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4. Woy of the Wovers
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Traditionally, all the players go off at HT.
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Jafooli
10 years, 7 months ago
To be fair to Mourinho, at least he doesn't mess around with his back four. An FPL safe haven.
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r0nh
10 years, 7 months ago
I have no sympathy for Wenger.

It was 2-0 when the penalty was rightfully awarded & Hazard scored the penalty regardless of which player was sent off.

Wenger bought an injured squad player in January to bolster up league hopes...
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1. Yome
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Go and support a better club if you can
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2. 50shades of o'shea
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Kallstrom wasn't already injured. He got injured after he joined...
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  1. r0nh
    10 years, 7 months ago
    Accoring to Wenger, they knew he had an injury
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  2. Billy Gilmore
    10 years, 7 months ago
    He had an injury that didn't show up in the medical.
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  3. The Shadow
    10 years, 7 months ago
    He failed his medical, but they went ahead with the signing anyway.
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  4. getfunky
    10 years, 7 months ago
    he was already injured, wenger admitted as much
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3. HNI
  10 years, 7 months ago
  a 1000th game for arsene cudnt be any more telling can it ??
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Gaz Downright
10 years, 7 months ago
Arsenal's team morale isn't really good. Gave up at Anfield, giving up now.

While City on the other hand battled to a 0-2 win away with 10 men.
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1. Manani
  10 years, 7 months ago
  their passing is way off from the start.
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2. stufail
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Hull and Chelsea are slightly different levels.
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  1. Gaz Downright
    10 years, 7 months ago
    so you are saying they are right in giving up?
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CMIFLFC42
10 years, 7 months ago
And they say chelsea are a second half team...
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Schwarzer
10 years, 7 months ago
From twitter:
Ref: "Gibbs, you're off!"
Ox: "But ref, it was me!"
Ref: "Shut up Walcott, get on with the game"
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1. Namtab Nomolos
  10 years, 7 months ago
  He just didn't want to have to write Ox's name in full.
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2. Kylos
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Gibbs and Ox do look a bit alike. They both have same round face and similar skin tone and hair cut. It's does not mean it's racism.
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Chu Young Ping Pong
10 years, 7 months ago
boring :/
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Kylos
10 years, 7 months ago
Can we just see the incident for what it really was. Cracking save by the OX.
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1. 50shades of o'shea
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Shame it was going wide 😉
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2. Woy of the Wovers
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Saved a goal-kick.
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jas5sk - Youtube channel
10 years, 7 months ago
Anyone considering a "Arsenal next team to score" punt?
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1. beric
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Nice timing
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  1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    10 years, 7 months ago
    😆
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2. Kylos
  10 years, 7 months ago
  Unless you think that Chelsea are not going to score again and no other team will score until Arsenal play Wednesday....sure.
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HNI
10 years, 7 months ago
A memorable 1000th Game for the manager who believes in beautiful but no trophy hungry football 🙂
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Give The Todd Some Love
10 years, 7 months ago
Hazard into orbit
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Chucky
10 years, 7 months ago
The first two goals were perfectly executed counter attacks.. My word
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Syd.
10 years, 7 months ago
Hazard.... So close....

To clearing the grandstand
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Del Griffith
10 years, 7 months ago
It was needless by Ox, as Haz shot was going wide. Just a reaction I guess
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