Fixture Focus: A bumpy ride for Arsenal assets

It’s a tough call for owners of popular assets like Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka. Under normal circumstances, facing Brentford at home and travelling to Watford are fantastic fixtures at both ends of the pitch, yet they alternate with two Blank Gameweeks for the Gunners.

Due to meet Chelsea (a) and Liverpool (H) in Gameweeks 25 and 27, their opponents’ trips to the Club World Cup and EFL Cup final means their games in hand have now accumulated to four. The potential for multiple Double Gameweeks is obviously good but what if they’re this difficult? Wolves (H) and a north London derby at Spurs are tough too.

Their first encounter with Wolves is up next – a solid side involved in just 35 goals so far this campaign, whilst next-lowest Burnley (43) have played three games fewer. Based on this, it may be wise to hold onto defensive assets but attackers could be nullified by Bruno Lage’s side.

Another reason to hold onto White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney is that it’s easier to rotate defensive options for the pair of blanks. 3-4-3 is still the most-used FPL formation, meaning there is more pressure on midfielders and forwards to appear. Teams like Man United, Tottenham and Aston Villa have strong matches in those two weeks, allowing Diogo Dalot, Sergio Reguilon, Eric Dier and Lucas Digne to step in.

Yet for those with Saka, Smith Rowe or Gabriel Martinelli, it might be time to look at the many good midfield options to replace them with. Names like Philippe Coutinho, James Maddison and Raphinha.

Arsenal’s matches go up-and-down. FPL managers rarely have the patience for that.