Welcome back for another article. 🗞️
One of the best Gameweeks I've ever had in terms of Gameweek rank, 96 points all out on the bench boost and a Gameweek rank of 47K. Ultimately the Gvardiol no show technically resulted in a weaker bench boost due to Mukiele's mega haul coming off the bench, though I might not have ever owned Mukiele in the first place if I wasn't setting up for a GW7 or 8 bench boost. Anyway, 17 points was incredibly lucky, the only reason I picked him was because he'd fared well for defensive contributions, and secondly the fixtures weren't bad in GW7 or 8 to bench boost. Elsewhere Arsenal with another clean sheet, they haven't conceded a shot on goal for the second game in a row, the last time Arsenal did that it was 2003 and they won the league that season even.
Bruno with an unexpected 8 pointer away at Anfield as Man Utd surprised us with a win over Liverpool, just a Bruno assist but this is the other thing with him, when he gets a return he's so tailor made for the bonus point system he'll often end up on bonus with any returns. Plus the penalties, set pieces, def cons. Haaland continuing to farm the league with a brace for a 26 pointer, he's 10 points clear of where he was in his record debut season at this stage. Even Dubravka showed up for the bench boost with a 9 pointer, what a hero he's been - I've only played him in GW2 and GW8 which are the two games Burnley have won and the only two games they've kept a clean sheet. The only down side was Andersen going off besides the Gvardiol benching, we're waiting to hear what the severity of that is. Hopefully not a bad one. Anyway, 5 free transfers so thanks for bearing with me after rolling every week, the good news is I'm absolutely making at least one transfer this week.
GW9 Team and Transfer Plans
Goalkeeper
Raya has a home fixture to Palace which has Arsenal top of the GW9 clean sheet odds given a 46% chance, Chelsea second with 44%, Newcastle and Wolves 40%. Been lots of questions about selling Raya to free up a slot for Saka, it's a move I can see paying off but Raya's been good value, he's on more points than Salah for just the 8.7m cheaper. I'm also not as convinced by other keepers but that's down to personal preference, Pope has been solid, likewise Petrovic but I'm reluctant to go double Bournemouth defence, perhaps from GW12 it has potential.
Defence
In defence it's Gvardiol, Gabriel and Senesi. 🛡️
Despite the benching I'm pleased I picked Gvardiol due to that assist and clean sheet in GW7, he's outscored Tarkowski by 5 points in one fewer game and it was only a choice between those two for me. However the benching was very unexpected, I misjudged his nailedness there, I know Peproulette is unpredictable but I had him down as one of those that will start 9 out of 10 games which would make him a perfectly good pick. Maybe he will go on a long run of starts now however I am looking to potentially sell this week.
Is Gabriel the best defender in the world right now or is that too far? Arsenal have conceded 3 goals all season, he scored and kept a clean sheet in GW6, assisted and kept a clean sheet in GW8, Tuesday night vs Atletico he came away with a goal, assist, clean sheet. 🔥
You'd think Senesi's the best defender on the planet with the hype the FPL community have given him this season! The Andersen injury isn't ideal because after this game Bournemouth have City and Villa away, the plan was for Andersen to come in, Fulham have Wolves home and Everton away. I can use Mukiele in GW10, they've got Everton home, and if I replace Gvardiol then I'll be aiming to give myself some additional cover.
