Fantasy Premier League

Friday's Team News Today

Thu Mar 06 08:51PM by Jeremy

Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Liverpool's Mark Gonzalez

Some late, breaking news; Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen has injured himself in the pre-match warm-up, meaning Al Habsi has taken his place in the Bolton goal... Big blow for Bolton.

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Double Injury Blow For Gunners

Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are out of Sunday's trip to Wigan.

Walcott picked up a thigh injury in a behind-closed-doors game against Colorado Rapids on Thursday while Diaby damaged his thigh during the 2-0 Champions League win over AC Milan in the San Siro on Wednesday night.

Robin van Persie played an hour of the game against Colorado but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is still unsure if he will feature at the JJB Stadium.

Defenders Kolo Toure and Alex Song are set to miss out again....

"As for Tomas Rosicky, it is difficult to say. We hope he'll be back in 10 or 12 days."

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Cech A Chelsea Doubt

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech could miss the Barclays Premier League clash against title rivals Arsenal after picking up an ankle injury this week.

The 25-year-old sustained the problem in training on the eve of the Champions League victory over Olympiacos, and Carlo Cudicini deputised in the 3-0 win.

Cudicini is expected to be in goal for the FA Cup quarter-final clash at Barnsley, with Cech's injury keeping him out for up to three weeks. Should the Czech Republic international need that time to recover he would miss the Premier League matches against Derby, Sunderland, Tottenham and Arsenal as well as the Barnsley clash.

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Latics sweating on midfield duo

Wigan are hopeful midfielders Ryan Taylor and Kevin Kilbane will be fit to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday.Taylor has been out for a month with a rib injury while a bruised foot kept Republic of Ireland international Kilbane out of last weekend's goalless draw at Manchester City.

The pair both returned to training this week and could both be competing for the same slot on the left wing as the Gunners visit the JJB Stadium.

(17 user comments)

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User comments

  • (1)

    does anyone know who tott's starting defenders are going to be? I have hutton but noticed hes not even on the bench for the game today. Also - haven't heard anything about Arteta in awhile. Now that he's not injured, shouldn't he be due to have a 25+ game here in a while?

    Posted by: sockerman04 on Thu Mar 06 09:37PM | Report abuse
  • (2)

    I believe Hutton is cup tied for the UEFA Cup, he will be first choice right back in the Prem surely? Arteta is just coming back from injury.

    Posted by: alex.ayre on Thu Mar 06 09:45PM | Report abuse
  • (3)

    arteta played the 2nd half for EVE today. puts pienaar's value in some doubt. Hutton is cup tied.

    Posted by: jspitzberg on Thu Mar 06 10:16PM | Report abuse
  • (4)

    Even w/Taylor and Kilbane potentially on the shelf, Wigan may give the Gunners some trouble, especially on that Third World pitch they play on! Nothing like watching a game from the JJB! Reminds one of Easter Road...

    Posted by: donegal08 on Thu Mar 06 11:19PM | Report abuse
  • (5)

    Neville could move to the back, Hibbert to the bench, so Pienaar could still play the wing... Pienaar is a bit of a risk, but maybe not... I have a good feeling about Cahill vs. Black Cats.

    Posted by: donegal08 on Thu Mar 06 11:25PM | Report abuse
  • (6)

    Cudicini... Hilario... ??? Both cheaper than Reina... could be a good move to free up some pts...???

    Posted by: donegal08 on Thu Mar 06 11:29PM | Report abuse
  • (7)

    sooo....I dropped CRon last week. I have to think I wasn't alone and want to know if anyone had the same experience as I did. It was obvious a week late if I was going to do it. I'll chalk that one up to Sunday morning hangover. Regardless of how I tried to justify it, there was this lump in my throat, a void in my stomach, I think I stopped breathing for a few seconds as I stared at the empty spot in my lineup where he had so ably held up my team for these last 16 weeks or so, and then I began to think.....the last time I had this feeling it it involved a breakup with a girlfriend. I dropped a &^$#ing fantasy player from my lineup for pete's sake, who, for two years has been the bedrock of my team. I feel as though I have betrayed. Forgive me CRon, please. sniffle, sniffle. Time to pony up and see if I can be a real fantasy manager and make up those points.

    Posted by: bradley_albright on Fri Mar 07 05:53AM | Report abuse
  • (8)

    hilario could be used for barnsely, cudicini hopefully will start against derby.

    Posted by: rohit0110 on Fri Mar 07 07:17AM | Report abuse
  • (9)

    RE:(7):- That made me laugh mate, I know the feeling :) I've had CRon for 20 odd weeks, but this was the week to let him go...as soon as I clicked "Leave Slot Empty" time stood still for a second...it was the right choice though, with only 10 weeks to go I can't afford to have someone who takes up 20 units scoring me zero points. There are enough good alternatives this week (Gerrard/Bentley/Lampard) Who average only 5 points less than Ronaldo per week - if you do the math, it makes sense!

    Posted by: nikargiropoulos on Fri Mar 07 11:14AM | Report abuse
  • (10)

    An Owen's hattrick against his old team back in Anfield? Looks tempting..

    Posted by: ychenhian on Fri Mar 07 12:04PM | Report abuse