The Scout is going through each position to help managers shape their plans for Double Gameweek 33 (DGW33) of Fantasy Premier League, when Arsenal, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester City all play two matches.
Goalkeepers
An assessment of each DGW33 club’s defensive data shows why David Raya (£5.5m) can justify his lofty 31 per cent ownership in Fantasy.
Arsenal have conceded only 27 goals and 43 big chances, which are situations where the player is expected to score.
Not only are those totals better than the other three DGW33 sides, but they are also the best in the league.
DGW33 teams' defensive stats, 24/25
| Club | Goals conc. | Clean sheets | Big chances conc. |
| Arsenal | 27 | 11 | 43 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 46 | 6 | 68 |
| Crystal Palace | 40 | 9 | 78 |
| Man City | 42 | 9 | 79 |
The Gunners’ kind schedule is a factor in Raya’s favour, with a DGW33 trip to Ipswich Town prior to their home match against Palace lifting his appeal. Indeed, Arsenal are among only four sides – along with Everton, Leicester City and West Ham United – who have still to play two of this season’s promoted clubs.
If Man City’s Ederson (£5.3m) is passed fit, he could be a great differential at just five per cent ownership for matches against Everton and Villa. The Brazilian has amassed a hefty 57 points over his last nine appearances, producing his FOURTH assist of the campaign last weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s side also have a kind end to the campaign. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), each of their final six matches score no more than three.
Palace’s Dean Henderson (£4.6m) is the only budget goalkeeper with a DGW33, although the Eagles' 5-2 loss at Man City last weekend shows why he may need to rely on save points when he faces AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal.
Villa’s Emiliano Martinez (£5.0m) is one of the few secure picks at the back under Unai Emery but, similarly to Henderson, clean sheets will be hard to come by when he faces Newcastle and Man City.
Areola can make Bench Boost impact
The Bench Boost is currently the most active chip in DGW33 as many managers look to profit from players with extra matches.
However, you shouldn’t overlook single-Gameweek options such as West Ham’s Alphonse Areola (£4.2m).
His ultra-low cost of £4.2m and home match against Southampton make him a great source of value who can help free up funds for the bigger spends in attack.
Liverpool’s Alisson (£5.5m) also faces a bottom three club, visiting Leicester, but a cost of £5.5m is a little too expensive.
So, who are the best goalkeepers for DGW33?
Arsenal’s defensive data, combined with their relatively kinder fixtures, gives Raya the edge as the most likely to come out on top among the four DGW33 goalkeepers.
But that doesn’t necessarily make him the best option to own from this point onwards.
The goalkeeper position is the least likely to reward you with big hauls in Fantasy, so if you don’t own any of the DGW33 ‘keepers, there’s an argument for not spending any transfers simply to own one.
For example, if you have Nottingham Forest’s Mats Selz (£5.1m), just continue to play him. He also has a great schedule over the rest of the season and – unlike any of the DGW33 assets – doesn’t blank in BGW34.
For DGW33, though, combining Raya with West Ham’s Areola on a Bench Boost could be the most productive tactic, allowing you to target the Ipswich and Southampton matches as potential sources of clean sheets.
