Welcome back for another article.
Who are the best players to buy for GW10? Let's break it down by position and discuss the FPL landscape right now.
🧤 Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers first, and naturally with the best defence in the league facing Burnley away it's Raya top on 4.2 points. He's moved up as the second top scoring keeper after a sixth clean sheet in 9 games last gameweek, only 3 goals conceded in 9 games is bonkers. Arsenal are conceding a big chance every 176 minutes so basically one every two games. Likewise 167 minutes per xG conceded.
Newcastle still sit second best for xGC on 7.33, Man City 3rd with 9.1. Look at that though, Leeds in fourth, Sunderland fifth. Absolutely amazing numbers from the promoted teams. What's also very alarming is Liverpool's drop off, only Arsenal were better for that xGC metric last season, this season after 9 games they're 12th. Burnley are rock bottom with 18.5 expected goals conceded.
Liverpool have now lost as many Premier League games this season as they did in the entirety of last season (4). They've lost four consecutive league games for the first time since February 2021 😱.
Leno is second on the keepers table with 4 projected points vs Fulham. Donnarumma, Verbruggen, Pope, Rorefs all tied on 3.7.
Petrovic of course drops off the table for GW10 given they're away vs Man City, however it's worth pointing out that as far as next 5 projections he's on 17.3 which places him firmly alongside those guys mentioned just now.
🛡️ Defenders
Defenders next, Gabriel and Timber sit as the top two this week. What's going on with Saliba and Calafiori? Saliba was forced off as a half time sub last gameweek, Arteta didn't go in to any detail but we'll get the benefit of their game vs Brighton in the league cup on Wednesday, plus training photos after and the Friday press conference. Calafiori was also subbed off due to discomfort, seemed okay coming off. I wouldn't look to buy either as it stands, Gabriel and Timber are the best two.
Arsenal have gone 100 consecutive games in all competitions without conceding three goals in a game, just the second English league team to ever achieve this feat, along with Man Utd between October 2016 and August 2018 (107). If you're still not invested in Arsenal at this stage what more stats do you need to hear to do it? Right now double defence is certainly doing better than double attack, some have even gone triple defence and reaped the rewards.
The biggest talking point this week is going to be Palace, because it's the start of a great long term fixture run, if they tick along then you realistically won't even be looking to sell until the new year. Brentford, Brighton, Wolves, Man Utd, Burnley, Fulham, Man City, Leeds, Spurs, Fulham and so on.
Munoz is fourth for projected points over the next 5 gameweeks, though it's worth pointing out that a lot of us are already tripled up on Arsenal and it's only Gabriel, Timber, Saliba ahead of him next 5. Therefore he's top as far as unlocked picks.
-
4 goal involvements in 9 games so far.
-
10 in 37 last season.
He's a premium though at 5.6m, we haven't all got that kind of money. Lacroix for 5.1m is great, Richards at 4.5m has to be the best value as far as points per million. Lacroix is averaging 11.1 defcons per 90, Richards 10.8 not far behind.
Senesi still leads on 12.76 per 90, than Van Dijk, Mukiele, Andersen.
Hopefully we get a positive update on Andersen because he's perfectly good to start next gameweek which Tete appearing third on the tables this week suggests. Trippier is on 4.5 points but you'll potentially only get a few games out of him before Livramento returns so avoid now.