Our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26 team previews continue with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Here, their best FPL picks for the upcoming campaign are discussed. We’ll also attempt to predict the line-up for Gameweek 1, review pre-season, detail the best players for defensive contributions (DC) and more.
The data and graphics in this article come from either our Members Area or Statsbomb, with whom we are again partnering in 2025/26.
Fantasy managers can get access to the wealth of Statsbomb numbers, as well as the usual Opta stats, new defensive contribution (DC) points, recalculated points from last season, exclusive articles, transfer planner, tools and app, with a 47% discounted Chief Scout membership today.
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
THEY’VE BOUGHT A FORWARD
Last season’s 69 goals were very low for a supposed title contender, far less than the 88 and 91 of their second-placed finishes in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Bournemouth had more overall attempts, while the Gunners ranked seventh for shots on target (180) – below both the Cherries and Brighton and Hove Albion. They only narrowly pipped Crystal Palace to sixth for expected goals (xG, 61.58) – yes, these 69 strikes were actually a big overachievement!
Arteta has long been chasing the purchase of a top-class striker, so the hope is that £64m man Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) can help turn all those draws into wins. Arsenal dropped 21 points from leading positions, enduring a February-to-May spell of three wins in 11.
Not that Kai Havertz (£7.5m) had been particularly bad, bagging nine goals in 21 pre-injury league starts.
STRONG DEFENCE
If Arsenal eventually better their three years of being runners-up, a big reason will be having the bedrock of a good defence.
No side conceded fewer goals (34), expected goals (xGC, 35.08), shots on target (120) or big chances (58), keeping 13 clean sheets along the way. David Raya (£5.5m) was the joint-winner of the Golden Glove.
Two seasons ago, they were also the best in these four areas, with even better numbers of – in order – 29, 28.42, 83 and 40.
Whether it’s from Gameweek 1 or once fixtures improve, FPL managers absolutely need coverage of this backline.
SET-PIECE THREAT
As is often discussed by pundits, Arsenal are good at dead-ball situations:
They ended 2024/25 as the fourth-best for set-piece shots (153) and second-best at preventing them (86). Alongside Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, the Gunners scored 17 times from such moments.
REASONS TO BE FEARFUL
ILL-DISCIPLINE
With Gyokeres one of many signings – more on them below – not much should concern supporters.
Even so, it’s worth mentioning that Arsenal collected a league-high of six red cards. That’s despite conceding the joint-fourth fewest fouls (401) and accumulating the third-least bookings (66).
If Arteta can calm everyone down, maybe those wins stop becoming draws and there will be more lineup stability.
