FPL
12 May 2026 104 comments
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With Burnley and Crystal Palace to come, an Arsenal triple-up feels like a no-brainer for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.

Indeed, relegated Burnley are bottom for expected goals (xG) and expected goals conceded (xGC) in 2025/26, while Palace have the distraction of a UEFA Conference League final a few days later.

In contrast, Arsenal’s late win over West Ham United on Sunday has put them on the brink of the Premier League title.

The question now is: should FPL managers load up on the Arsenal defence, or is it perhaps preferable to include an attacker or two?

In this article, we pick out the names to consider.


DEFENCE

FPL notes: Gabriel hauls, why Saliba was a sub + Livramento injury 3

The best team in the division for clean sheets (18), goals conceded (26) and xGC (27.13), there is a very solid case for doubling, or even tripling-up, on the Arsenal defence.

Stacking defenders from the same club is typically a high-risk/high-reward play, but if you’re going to pursue this approach in Gameweeks 37 and 38, the Gunners are undoubtedly the top choice.

Here are the best options to consider at the back.

GABRIEL MAGALHAES (7.3m)

Gabriel is the obvious place to start, having smashed the 200-point barrier in Gameweek 36.

Set plays, and corners in particular, are a key route to goals for this Arsenal team, which is why the Brazilian has racked up eight attacking returns in 2025/26, the fourth-most of any Fantasy defender.

Gabriel is first among all Arsenal players for headed goal attempts from set plays:

Furthermore, Burnley and Palace are both in the bottom three for set play xG conceded per 90 minutes since the turn of the year.

Then you have defensive contributions (DefCon), with Gabriel’s 36.7% success rate the highest of any Arsenal defender.

Gabriel is averaging more points per start (6.9) than any other player this season, so this really isn’t a position to experiment with in your team; just get him in if you don’t own him already!

DAVID RAYA (6.1m)

It’s often said that Raya has a ceiling of six points each week, with Arsenal’s ability to limit shots resulting in just nine save points all season.

However, the Golden Glove winner has bucked the trend in the last three Gameweeks, amassing 25 points.

He’s now joint-second among goalkeepers for bonus, just one behind Robin Roefs’ (£4.8m) 12.

That said, for the run-in, it’s probably fair to say he offers few routes to points outside of clean sheets. Indeed, in the reverse fixtures against Burnley and Palace earlier this season, Raya banked six points on each occasion.

He is, however, a nailed-on starter in the best defence in the division, so naturally carries appeal.

OTHERS

FPL notes: Saliba + Gibbs-White latest, Salah benched, why Calafiori was subbed 2

There are pros and cons to the rest of Arsenal’s defensive unit, as well as plenty of uncertainty in both full-back positions.

William Saliba (£6.2m) is a secure starter at centre-back but doesn’t generate much excitement.

The Frenchman offers an occasional threat from set plays, but with just one goal from five shots all season, it can’t be regarded as a strength. His DefCon success rate is just 13.3%, too.

Elsewhere, a left-back option could emerge later this week, depending on the severity of Riccardo Calafiori’s (£5.6m) injury, which you can read more about here.

Calafiori, if fit, has major upside: his rate of 50.0 minutes per shot and 72.7 minutes per shot in the box is the best of any defender in FPL this season.

That said, the presence of positional rival Piero Hincapie (£5.1m) means there’s much more risk to a Calafiori pick than there is with Raya, Gabriel and Saliba.

At right-back, we might not see Jurrien Timber (£6.0m) again in 2025/26 due to injury. Ben White (£5.1m) could be out for the season, too.

Cristhian Mosquera (£5.3m) would likely fill in, which is exactly what happened in the second half on Sunday, i.e. after the failed Declan Rice (£7.2m) experiment.

Meanwhile, an ‘out of position’ Myles Lewis-Skelly (£5.0m) has started three matches in a row in all competitions, but there is always a potential minute’s risk with Martin Zubimendi (£5.0m) lurking.

He’s probably not worth the risk, given his limited attacking upside (zero shots and one chance created in the last two Gameweeks), plus his lack of DefCons.


ATTACK

 

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price change predictions
104 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 15 days ago

    No Price Changes Wednesday 13 May

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Good lads.

    2. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Cheers

  2. martynteresa
      1 month, 15 days ago

      rainy - any idea

      Champion
      Last 4 seasons around 2800 points
      Previous 4 seasons around 2500 points

      What happened. Was it players just being more fortunate in the last 4 years or was there a major points shift in the game

      This year Ibsen looks like 2500 pushing 26 despite the addition of decon

      1. Sir Michael Taker
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Addition of double chips probably more significant than the DC. My take is its been a season where there have been more templates than normal and when they have come they have taken longer to react to so the better players in the game haven't reaped the benefits of them for as long.

    • Roy Rovers
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Chasing 22 points...1FT

      Gross > Bruno G or KDH

      Verbruggen
      NOR Gabriel Van Hecke
      Semenyo Bruno Gross Saka
      DCL Haaland Gyokeres

      Darlow Tavernier Senesi Hill

      1. martynteresa
          1 month, 15 days ago

          Gordon may be benched again ergo Bruno will be on pens.
          Rumoured Bayern interest so may not risk him and give him 5 minutes at end of last game of season to say goodbye

          1. Holmes
            • 12 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            No goodbye for him. He is as popular as Isak among the Newcastle fans.

        • The Hunt
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          You really don't want DCL firing at two of your defenders so what about taking out Tavernier as well for both of them and playing 3-5-2? I'm not averse to the odd hit when it gives you double the chance of nailing a haul especially when you can't make your mind up between two players.

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        I want to fund dub to pickford on BB

        A semenyo to trossard
        B Rogers to hinchelwood

        Thanks

        1. The Philosopher
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          B

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Thanks. I should have mentioned that I already own gross but dble Brighton attack feels right as a wee punt for the end of the season:)

        2. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          B

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Thank you !

        3. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          B

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            B it is then !

      3. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Most nailed out of these?

        a. calamari
        b. mosqueta
        c. machine gun kelly

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          Probably d none....but maybe C cos of form but risky with zubi. Gl

      4. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Is castagne the best Fulham defender to replace red carded andersen? Cheers

        1. The Hunt
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          When you take an important cog out of any machine it usually starts to cough and splutter so I'd think twice about investing in a Fulham defender.

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Fair point. Limited options at his price point though. Cheers

            1. The Hunt
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 17 Years
              1 month, 15 days ago

              Keane could be an option. Bangs in the odd goal every now and then as well.

      5. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Will be doing Ampadu > Saka this week.

        For GW38 is there 1 player you like the look of based on fixture?

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          Honesty, none. Salah if he was fit. A brighton attack maybe.

        2. I Must Break You
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Bowen at home against Leeds in a must-win

      6. Connor's Calling
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        1 FT

        a) Lacroix -> Saliba
        b) Pedro -> Gyokeres

        1. The Hunt
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          I'm not a fan of Gyokeres and long term I'd say Saliba but given the two games that Arsenal have left to play I'd say Gyok has the much higher ceiling.