FPL GW21 stats: Saka backers frustrated in Arsenal's big win

More than 1.52million Fantasy Premier League were left frustrated after Bukayo Saka (£9.1m) blanked for the fifth time in six matches.

In the absence of regular picks Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) and Erling Haaland (£13.9m), Saka was the most-popular active captain. 

Despite scoring just one goal since Gameweek 15, Saka had improved his goal threat over that period, mustering 20 shots in the box.

But none of that menace was in evidence in Arsenal's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace as he failed to register a single effort in the opposition penalty area. 

To compound the misery for his backers, Saka looked to have earned the assist for Arsenal's second goal, only for the Goal Accreditation Panel to rule it was an own goal by Dean Henderson (£4.4m).

The FPL assist, therefore, went to Gabriel (£5.0m), whose header deflected in off the hapless Henderson.

GW21 most-captained active players

*including Haaland vice-captains

Just behind Saka as the most-popular captain pick was Ollie Watkins (£8.9m).

But the forward endured a disappointing match last weekend as Aston Villa drew 0-0 at Everton, failing to find the back of the net with any of his six shots. The previous occasion he mustered six shots in match, in Gameweek 7 versus Brighton, he scored a hat-trick.

To make matters worse, Watkins picked up a yellow card reducing his score to one point.

There was better news, however, for the one million who handed the armband to Cole Palmer (£5.8m) for Gameweek 21.

He produced his fifth double-figure haul of the campaign, a tally bettered only by Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) among all players.

Palmer scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea beat Fulham 1-0 to collect the maximum three bonus for a 10-point return. In doing so he surpassed 100 points for the first time in Fantasy.

Recruited by 1.52m Fantasy bosses, Palmer also featured among the three most-bought players of the round.

The No 1 transfer target, Phil Foden (£8.0m), snapped up by over 1.6m, blanked for the first time in four matches.

Foden's new owners can count themselves somewhat unfortunate given that his tally of six shots and four chances created both placed joint-first in Manchester City's 3-2 win at Newcastle United.

Indeed, he's only produced more shots in a match once this season, notching seven efforts on goal at Everton in Gameweek 19.

However, with Kevin De Bruyne (£10.5m) producing his 51st double-figure haul in Fantasy after coming off the bench in the second-half, the threat of rotation increases for Man City attackers. The Belgian has been transferred in by nearly 650,000 managers since the deadline.

GW21 most-bought players

Elsewhere, Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m) had been bought by more than 1m Fantasy bosses.

Estupinan is beginning to recover some of the owners he lost following his injury in Gameweek 7. However, currently found in over 26 per cent of teams, he is still some way short of the 64 per cent ownership he had in the opening rounds.

But many mangers could have their eyes on the Ecuadorian after he produced an eight-point haul in Brighton & Hove Albion's 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers thanks to a clean sheet and two bonus points.

That return meant Estupinan has now accumulated at least six points in a match in his last three fixtures.

Record sales

Salah and Son made history in Gameweek 21 after becoming the most-sold players in a single Gameweek ever. 

More than 2.8m managers parted company with Salah and a further 2.4m sold Son, with the pair playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup respectively.

Salah's Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.5m) made up the top three, with more than 800,000 managers transferring him out after he injured his knee, ruling him out for around three weeks.

GW21 most-sold players

Managers use Wildcard chip early

Gameweek 21 of Fantasy has posed a lot of problems to managers due to key men going away to international tournaments, and other players suffering injuries.

This meant many opted to play their second Wildcard at the first possible opportunity, after the chip became available again to all managers for the second half of the season.

Almost 950,000 chose to use their Wildcard, which was the most since Gameweek 4 in 2021/22, when 1.12m managers deployed the chip.

Chips used in GW21

Who have elite managers captained?

Saka was the most-popular choice among the leading 100 managers in the world rankings, with 45 giving him the armband.

A further 26 have chosen Palmer, while Foden and Watkins have been picked by five each.

The remainder of the top 100 managers have gone for one of 11 differentials. That includes one person who has rolled the dice on West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola (£4.2m) for his trip to Sheffield United.

But the Hammers goalkeeper only picked up three points in the 2-2 draw.

Most-popular GW21 captains for top 100

Also in this series

Part 1: Gameweek 21 FPL bonus points