FPL experts: What to do with Arsenal players for their tough run?

22 Oct 2024

The Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts discuss what to do with Arsenal players, given they now face Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea in succession, and who the possible replacements could be. 

It makes sense to have just one Arsenal defender, and maybe even none for the next few fixtures. Manchester City is a good place to go for replacements, with either Rico Lewis (£4.7m) or Josko Gvardiol (£6.1m). I sold William Saliba (£6.0m) for Lewis last week and it's likely that Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) will make way for Son Heung-min (£9.9m) this week. 

Last weekend showed just how important Saka is to Arsenal, so assuming the injury isn't long term, I'm inclined to hold the talismanic midfielder. It's a tough call, though, with Son and Cole Palmer (£10.8m) knocking on the door. It's probably time to move away from the defensive double-up. Given his goal threat, I'd go with Gabriel (£6.3m) as your pick at the back if you can afford him. 

If you have two or more Arsenal players, I would be tempted to sell one. I only have Saliba, who is suspended in Gameweek 9, but I'm comfortable benching him due to having sufficient squad depth.

I think you keep the Arsenal players who are fit. Their fixtures are good again from Gameweek 12, and if you sell them now it'll just involve spending a transfer to get them back again. But if Saka is ruled out of the Liverpool game, he can be moved on.

Over 60 per cent of Arsenal's Expected Goals Against have come in the three matches in which they went down to 10 men. They have a good run of fixtures after their next three. I don't mind making an attacking move for the short term, but I wouldn't want to spend transfers in defence unless needing money to fund other moves.

As a Saliba owner, I am likely to sell the centre-back due to his one-match ban. In doing so, I will be committing to going without an Arsenal defender until my Gameweek 12 Wildcard. But given the fixtures, this feels like a viable option. I also own Saka and will be keeping a careful eye on Arsenal's European exploits to see what news we have on his availability. If he is a doubt for the weekend, moving to Son or Phil Foden (£9.2m) for the next three Gameweeks looks a good move.

Arsenal's next three fixtures may be harder, but after that they have great long-term fixtures right until the new year. I can understand a short-term move away, but it looks shrewd to have a triple-up by Gameweek 12. I still prefer double defence long term - the clean-sheet wipeouts against Southampton and Leicester haven't put me off. Historical underlying data and performances point to the fact that there are lots of clean sheets on the horizon.

If I owned double Arsenal defence, I'd be looking to jump off that mainly to free up funds, as there aren't a lot of clean sheets at the moment. I think the ideal situation now would be no Arsenal players or just one attacker, with that being Saka, if fit, or Kai Havertz (£8.3m). Having none could work well if transfers are banked ready for when their fixtures turn favourably again.

Using Arsenal players as cash cows to enable other moves during the Gunners' tough fixture run is absolutely something I am considering. I sold Havertz last week, and Saka will be sold ahead of Gameweek 9, as I bring in Palmer or Son. Selling Saka is of course dangerous, but with so many good premium midfielders, using transfers to jump off and then back on them is an option. Gabriel is a defender I am happy holding through tougher fixtures, knowing long term I expect Arsenal to be the best defence in the league again this season. 

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