Chip Strategy

Should we Triple Captain Gabriel in Double Gameweek 26?

9 February 2026 253 comments
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The first Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Double Gameweek of 2025/26 is fast approaching!

With bigger Blank/Double Gameweeks ahead, the Bench Boost and Free Hit aren’t too popular this week.

Instead, the leading chip in our Double Gameweek 26 poll is the Triple Captain. Around 25% of responders say they’re playing that chip this week.

Some of those will be thinking the unthinkable: using Triple Captain on a defender! Not just any old defender, though: Gabriel Magalhaes (£7.1m).

Here, we’ll assess some of the arguments for and against Triple Captaining the Brazilian in Arsenal’s Double Gameweek 26. We also take a look at some of the other potential windows to play the chip for those who choose to hold off.

TRIPLE CAPTAIN GABRIEL – THE PROS

FPL notes: Gabriel + Rice rests... but 90 mins for Saka 5

DECENT FIXTURES, WITH A DECENT GAP BETWEEN

The immediate appeal boils down to the Premier League leaders having a Double Gameweek in which they play the division’s bottom side and also avoid any of the other so-called top teams, like Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

If you had to pick a ‘dream’ Double Gameweek on paper, those would almost certainly be some of the top conditions.

There’s also a full six days between Arsenal’s two Double Gameweek 26 fixtures, which is a relative rarity when it comes to doubles in years gone by and may hopefully lead to less rotation. An FA Cup fourth-round tie comes in between, of course, but the expectation is that Mikel Arteta tinkers in that game instead.

90-MINUTE MAN

Another condition, more specifically for an ideal Triple Captain, is that we want to try and choose a player like Gabriel who’ll get the maximum gametime within which they can earn us FPL points.

He ticks that box as a pretty much surefire 90-minute man when fully fit.

Above: Arsenal players sorted by minutes per start this season

He also appears to be more or less rotation-proof, in a way that many of his peers – Arsenal or otherwise – may not necessarily be, particularly in a Double Gameweek.

That means, provided he doesn’t pick up an unforeseeable injury or suspension during the first match, you’re almost guaranteed not just two starts in this upcoming double but quite possibly 180+ minutes of potential point-scoring opportunities.

CONSISTENT OUTPUT AT BOTH ENDS

Gabriel has a well-documented potential for points at both ends.

Firstly, he’s an integral staple in the country’s most airtight backline, which boasts a league-best 13 clean sheets in 25 games. The Brazilian is also the current leader among Arsenal defenders for defensive contribution points (12) and bonus points (18).

His appeal is further boosted by being one of the Gunners’ top targets for set-piece deliveries, with his aerial presence helping him register a joint career-high five attacking returns (three goals, two assists) already this season. Meanwhile, a total of six Opta-defined ‘big chances’ also ranks among the top defenders in the division, suggesting more attacking returns may be around the corner.

This level of output, delivered on such a consistent basis, has seen Gabriel average a league-second-best 7.4 points per start in 2025/26:

(minimum: 10 starts)

Look at the consistency, too. In terms of starting blanks (sBln), his rate of 22% (four in 18) is the lowest in the league.

That reliability puts Gabriel above Declan Rice (£7.5m) in the Triple Captain conversation this week.

UNKNOWNS LATER IN THE SEASON

Right now, we know that Arsenal are gunning (no pun intended) for the league title. The Champions League and the EFL Cup are on the backburner until March. The B team will likely be used in the FA Cup against League One strugglers Wigan Athletic.

But what about the doublers in Gameweek 33/36? Will the Champions League or the FA Cup then be the primary focus of the teams that play twice? Will the league/relegation/top-five spots be sewn up by Gameweek 36? There could be more Premier League rotation by that point, as a result.

TRIPLE CAPTAIN GABRIEL – THE CONS

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FPL Scoop London-based freelance journalist and editor, frequently with The i Paper, The Standard, Fantasy Football Scout, and BBC Sport. Follow them on Twitter

253 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Kane Train
    • 11 Years
    19 hours, 35 mins ago

    Looking at Wolves defenders:

    S.Bueno :
    60+ mins - 15 games
    4 DEFCON games
    1 Assist, 2 Goals

    Mosquera :
    60+ Mins - 14 Games
    5 DEFCON games
    0 goals & assists

    Any of these two worth consideration

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      19 hours, 24 mins ago

      Only if you want about 3 points total

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    2. Conners
      • 7 Years
      19 hours, 22 mins ago

      Most likely a waste of a transfer considering you won't play them again for the remainder of the season.

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      1. Sir Michael Taker
        • 11 Years
        19 hours, 15 mins ago

        The team have 1 CS and less goals scored than Igor Thiago. Very hard to be bullish about any of them... and they blank in 31

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  2. I have no Wirtz
      19 hours, 34 mins ago

      Who to bench form this front 8?

      Mbeumo BrunoF Semenyo Enzo Rice
      Gyökeres Haaland JP

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      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        19 hours, 32 mins ago

        Enzo

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        1. I have no Wirtz
            19 hours, 23 mins ago

            You would rather play Mbeumo away than Enzo at home against Leeds?

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            1. Craigsimpson
              • 1 Year
              18 hours, 15 mins ago

              Yep. Would you rather play the AM currently playing striker against the third worst team in the prem whilst his team are the most in form in the league, or a DM who will play deeper because of Palmer and against a plucky Leeds team who have only lost 1 of their last 5

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              1. I have no Wirtz
                  16 hours, 55 mins ago

                  That makes a lot of sense. Thank you

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          • Hibbopotamus
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            19 hours, 21 mins ago

            What's the rest of your bench? Could look to BB...

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            1. I have no Wirtz
                18 hours, 45 mins ago

                Dub Thiaw Collins

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                1. Hibbopotamus
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  11 hours, 8 mins ago

                  Eh never mind then

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            2. lilmessipran
              • 13 Years
              18 hours, 37 mins ago

              Tough but prob Enzo

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          • Letsgo!
            • 9 Years
            19 hours, 33 mins ago

            Triple capt rice or gyokeres?

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            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • 9 Years
              19 hours, 32 mins ago

              Rice

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            2. z13
                19 hours, 28 mins ago

                Rice is going to get 9-15 points
                Gyokeres could get a grand total of 4 or a grand total of 24

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              • Hibbopotamus
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                19 hours, 21 mins ago

                Of those two, Rice.

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              • rokka222
                • 2 Years
                19 hours, 10 mins ago

                I know a lot of ppl are saying Rice...but Gyokores might be smart if he is on penalties. He's on pens right if Saka is out?

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            3. RealSocialDads
              • 9 Years
              19 hours, 29 mins ago

              Which one to rotate with KDH as 8th attacker up until GW32:

              A. Kroupi
              B. Mane

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              1. Sir Michael Taker
                • 11 Years
                19 hours, 25 mins ago

                A because you probably need him in 31?

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              2. Hibbopotamus
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                19 hours, 22 mins ago

                A

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            4. The-Red-1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              19 hours, 23 mins ago

              Would you move Tarkowski to Munoz?

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              1. Nomar
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                19 hours, 23 mins ago

                No

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                1. Craigsimpson
                  • 1 Year
                  18 hours, 15 mins ago

                  Why not

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              2. Hibbopotamus
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                19 hours, 22 mins ago

                If you have a few transfers to spare I probably would. Falls under the "luxury transfer" category though.

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              3. Conners
                • 7 Years
                19 hours, 16 mins ago

                Depends on the rest of your team and how many transfers you have saved.

                e.g. If you have Gabriel, Timber and Nunes/Gueh/O'Reilly, you're adding a 4th def with no game in 31.

                If I had 4+ FTs saved, possibly yes.

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              4. rokka222
                • 2 Years
                19 hours, 12 mins ago

                not worth it IMO

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                1. Craigsimpson
                  • 1 Year
                  18 hours, 14 mins ago

                  Why

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            5. Hibbopotamus
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              19 hours, 23 mins ago

              Two bad GKs this week. Who would you start?

              A. Roefs (LIV)
              B. Dubravka (cry)

              Not wasting a transfer on Sa or anything like that.

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              1. Nomar
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                19 hours, 21 mins ago

                A has better chance of a CS than B imo. Sunderland at home are decent, Burnley are just awful.

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                1. Hibbopotamus
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  19 hours, 17 mins ago

                  Thanks, yeah leaning that way personally

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              2. Sir Michael Taker
                • 11 Years
                19 hours, 17 mins ago

                A. I think we're into the territory where Dubs is not a pick through choice now

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            6. rokka222
              • 2 Years
              19 hours, 15 mins ago

              OUT: Mbuemo, Thiago
              IN: Palmer, Kroupi Jr.

              Is this transfer worth a -4 hit to get Palmer? Is Mbuemo hurt?

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              1. Ha.
                • 10 Years
                19 hours, 12 mins ago

                Ewwww

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              2. g40steve
                • 7 Years
                18 hours, 16 mins ago

                Nah

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            7. I have no Wirtz
                18 hours, 30 mins ago

                Would this be a tempting BB

                Dub(cry) Watkins(BHA) Hill(eve) Thiaw(tot)

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              • Froes
                • 12 Years
                18 hours, 21 mins ago

                I really don't know how to exploit the best way my team....
                Short term strategy I would love to play bench boost....but bench boost on terms of maximizing points its much more worth to use on a double gameweek. (when looking at probabilities). So i must keep my nerves and save it.
                Triple captain on gyokers (even considering only 120 min of play time) might be a one time only opportunity for a 3x suitable differential, however two away games is though.

                Dubravka (Cry A)

                Chalobah (lee H) Badiashille (Lee H) Gabriel (DGW) Munoz (Bur H)

                Bruno (Whu A) Saka (DGW) Enzo (lee H)

                Gyo (DGW) Halland (Ful A)

                Bench: Pickford (BOU H) / Tarkowski (BOU H) /Garner (BOU H) / Summerville (MUN H)

                Prediction 1): Fofana does not play 3 games on a 7 day period so Badiashille will start
                Prediction 2): Bournemoth is finding its form and will get goals past everton

                RAGE THOUGHTS: Play bench boost
                Most likely: No hit
                Might do: TC on Gyokeres

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              • lilmessipran
                • 13 Years
                18 hours, 17 mins ago

                Best option here, to buy -

                A H Bueno
                B S Bueno
                C No Bueno

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              • g40steve
                • 7 Years
                18 hours, 17 mins ago

                Anyone remember the Dunk TC train fiasco from years ago, that derailed spectacularly 😉

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              • La Roja
                • 13 Years
                18 hours, 16 mins ago

                How’s she looking?

                Raya*
                Gabriel* Shaw Guehi
                Semenyo Bruno Rogers Guimares
                Gyokeres* Haaland JP

                Dubravka Wilson Andersen Rodon

                No hits. 1.7m ITB

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              • FantasyFooty01
                • 8 Years
                18 hours, 5 mins ago

                Verbruggen
Richards Timber O’Reilly Gabriel
Rogers Palmer Bruno Mbeumo
Haaland Kroupi
Dubravka Dorgu Potts Barnes
0.9 ITB 1 FT

Need to get 3 Arsenal players in for the double gameweek. What’s the best options? Or what changes do you think I should make? Best options I can think of below, which do you think is best?

A) NOR>Calafori
B) Rogers>Rice
                C) Rogers + Bart> Sarr and Raya

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              • EricTheKingCantona
                • 4 Years
                17 hours, 41 mins ago

                Should I make these 3 transfers for -4: [Vebrugen, Dorgu, Cunha] --> [RAYA, MUNOZ, SARR]

                RAYA
                Gabriel MNunes MUNOZ
                Rice BrunoF Enzo SARR
                Kroupi Haaland Eketike

                Dubravka Wilson Sanesi Rodon

                0.0 ITB

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              • raiyanshishir
                • 1 Year
                12 hours, 20 mins ago

                Start two from Virgil, Senesi, and Garner

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              • NZREDS
                • 12 Years
                4 hours ago

                What’s everyone’s verdict on Gab (or rice?) TC - for or against? My tired brain after a 12 hour shift can’t compute whether this is best opportunity / option or not given possible rests if there’s a DGW later.

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                1. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  3 hours, 49 mins ago

                  I haven't capped Gabriel this season. This means that for 25 GWs in a row (at least when he's been fit), I've found an attacker's potential to be higher than the best defender's. Out-of-form (3 GWs ago) Haaland outscored Gabriel in their last two GWs, for example

                  This makes me expect that I'll find a better TC window for an attacker, most likely Haaland in a title chasing Man City

                  The main differenciator for me is that I'm fine with playing BB in a SGW if there's only one more DGW and it's better for Haaland TC, as I'm more interested in getting 15 good fixtures on BB than 15 doublers

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              • Bullett
                  3 hours, 30 mins ago

                  Morning Guys

                  Im not going TC this week but would you captain
                  Gabriel , zubimendi ,or haaland(screwed me for weeks ) ?
                  Or Bruno fernades like I have the last 2 weeks?

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