Arsenal was one of the best performing teams in FPL last gameweek. Managers who jumped into GW1 without an Arsenal asset were badly damaged. Many of them are planning to buy a few for their GW2 team. Our experts see that as a risky kneejerk, here is our explanation!

Arsenal’s phenomenal FPL results

Arsenal started the season at home against the no-Neto-no-Cunha Wolves. Everyone expected a really good result for the former runner-up (DFantasy also included Saliba and Havertz for our Team Selection).

The result turned out to be even better than anyone’s expectation: a 2-0 win with CS-points for either Raya, Saliba, Gabriel or White while two most selected players in the frontline Saka and Havertz scored a goal and assisted for the other. The duo then claimed the full 3 and 2 bonus points and ended up the opening fixture with a solid 12 points.

No popular pick from Arsenal blanked in GW1 cause anyone who didn’t own them had a really rough start!

Why non-Arsenal owners shouldn’t be kneejerk?

Disclaimer: This article is only for managers who didn’t have an Arsenal asset and why you shouldn’t buy one. If you already have one, that’s great! Congratulations for your GW1’s performance! Just keep them and ignore anything in this article. Arsenal is a title contender, they will score points no matter what happens, it’s just not the best time to BUY them, no worry about HAVING them!

When to make a move?

FPL is a marathon, not a sprint! Any decision you make is for a long-term strategy and should stay with you for at least a couple GW! Of course, there are some situations where you sell or buy an asset immediately but it doesn’t have to be every single week!

Even if you instantly sell/buy one, it should be based on a logical reason. When you buy (or not buy) a player, try to define a reason why you make that decision. You can use underlying data, eye-tests, FPL results, form – fixtures – situation analysis… to make your final decision. Not necessary all but try to use as much as you can to support your logic.

Sometimes players over-performed and score a double-digit, many people buy them and fall into a knee jerk. Other times your players just under-perform or are so unlucky that they get a blank. When you define such a strong logic, it’d be way easier to decide when to buy or sell a player. Tips to not fall into that kind of trap: if your logic still stands, give them some opportunities, if something in the logic changed, that’s the moment to consider.

For example: Solanke didn’t score but you buy him cuz he nailed as a striker for Spurs – who plays really aggressive and provided him a lot of chances; cuz they have a decent run of fixtures; cuz he has a great price! Things still stand: his price is still great, the fixtures are still okay and he got a lot of chances from the attacking system. It’s just about time – keep him!

Arsenal – the logic still stands!

Everyone should expect a really huge score for Arsenal in GW1 cuz they are Arsenal and they played against one of the weakest teams in the league (c’mon, Wolves without their best players is a really weak team!). You 100% know that and you decided to take a risk due to your logic (fixtures, other great assets…). GW1 result from Arsenal might be slightly worse than you expect but no surprise, nothing out of control and nothing changed in your logic. You didn’t go for Arsenal against the easiest fixture at home in their first 10, what made you go for them in an away fixture against the top 4 team who beat them twice last season?

Non-Arsenal DEF still works in GW1

Arsenal fixtures are bad!

Yes, we’ve talked about Villa. They are such a great team who slightly counter Arteta’s system as they beat Arsenal twice last season! An away fixture against them is not a good time to buy an asset in FPL.

GW2-5 fixtures are really horrible for Arsenal!

Take a look at the longer term, Arsenal will have 2 of the hardest away fixtures back-to-back against Spurs and City in GW4 and GW5. Even the “easiest” fixture, the one you guys called “green” fixtures is against Brighton. Did you remember how Brighton was 2 years ago when they didn’t have to face 10,000 injuries a season? Brighton is leading the table after torturing Everton – the top 4 best defensive teams in the league last season – 3-0 in an away fixture. They also won almost every single pre-season friendly with outstanding performances.

Arsenal’s performance against Wolves

Yes, Arsenal was great against Wolves! My point is they weren’t that great. Despite played against one of the weakest, Arsenal seems like they didn’t have the control they should at some points. In the beginning of the second-half, Arsenal were uncomfortably given Wolves the ball and played pretty passively until Saka scored the second goal.

As a Gooner, that was a convincing performance to start a season. But there are a few things that Arteta should do if he wanna win the league. I don’t expect too many double-digit results in the next 4 GW tbh.

The transfer is still in your bank!

FPL gave you a bigger bank this season! You can roll up to 5 FTs so you won’t lose your transfer by not using it immediately. Every transfer is so valuable and shouldn’t be used without a really convincing reason. Unless you have a serious reason, otherwise GW2 is the best time to roll your FT. Save it until you have enough information and a better vision about the market. Arsenal assets should be great options from GW6: use the saved FT or activate your WC are the really easy way to get them without risking in the tough run of fixtures from GW2 to GW5.

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