Who are the best Arsenal picks in FPL for their strong fixtures?

The Scout pinpoints the clubs and players to target for the upcoming period in Fantasy Premier League.

Arsenal

The Gunners’ schedule from Gameweek 10 suggests a triple-up on their key players could be a profitable tactic for managers in Fantasy.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of their six matches from that point score just two, including encounters with all three promoted clubs - Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town.

Martin Odegaard’s (£8.5m) output in such matches last season immediately lifts his appeal.

The Norwegian’s 47 points against promoted sides was joint-top with Erling Haaland (£14.0m) among all players, indicating he takes on a more influential role in attack for Arsenal in such contests. 

Odegaard's 46 points this season rank second only to the 53 of Bukayo Saka (£8.6m) for the Gunners, placing both players among the top six midfielders.

See: FPL experts' plans for Arsenal players

The duo boast strong goal threat statistics ahead of their kind run.

Odegaard has been Arsenal’s leading player for both shots and shots on target, with 21 and 10 respectively.

But Saka has offered the greater close-range threat of the pair.

He has bettered Odegaard by 14 shots in the box to eight, and by a team-leading six big chances to two. 

Arsenal's top goal threats compared

When assessing the numbers, it has to be remembered that Mikel Arteta has yet to start a match with his first-choice front three – Saka, Gabriel Martinelli (£7.7m), and Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) – due to injuries. 

If Saka is passed fit to face Chelsea in Gameweek 9 and Arteta unleashes all three from the start at Stamford Bridge, Martinelli could build momentum on the back of his winner against Manchester City.

Martinelli's goal v Man City

His 16 big chances last season were more than any Arsenal midfielder, with 26 per cent of his shots in the box being classed as such opportunities.

But Martinelli has failed to record a single big chance in his six appearances this season, highlighting the fact the Gunners have yet to fully click in attack.

The creative numbers merely strengthen the appeal of a Saka and Odegaard double-up, with the pair considerably superior to the rest of their team-mates. 

Indeed, Saka’s 19 key passes have been bettered by only seven other players in Fantasy this season.

Arsenal’s top creators compared

In defence, full-backs Ben White (£5.6m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£4.9m) are the standout Arsenal picks, with seven key passes each.

Zinchenko clearly provides the best all-round threat, with his eight shots more than the combined total of five of the rest of the Gunners' back four.

Arsenal's defenders compared

However, the numbers also show the Ukrainian fares poorly when it comes to defensive contributions.

He has made only eight clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI), compared with the 34 of White, which lifts the latter’s prospects of earning bonus points whenever Arsenal have kept a clean sheet.

Indeed, White has collected bonus points in all four of the matches where the Gunners have recorded a shutout this season.

As a result, he sit just six points off the top of the defender standings on 45 points, at least nine more than any other member of the Arsenal backline.

So, what should managers do?

Ultimately, managers should look to invest heavily in Arteta's side from Gameweek 10.

See: Why Gameweek 10 will be a great time to Wildcard in FPL

Saka and Odegaard look the best options, particularly with both also sharing penalty duties, while Martinelli could thrive as a huge differential at under five per cent ownership.

In defence, meanwhile, White’s multiple routes to returns make him worth the extra outlay. 

View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 9 in Fantasy Premier League