Despite both teams faltering at the weekend, it’s Arsenal and Liverpool who dominate the conversation ahead of Fantasy Premier League Double Gameweek 34.
Arsenal play Wolves away on Saturday before hosting Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, while Liverpool travel to Fulham on Sunday before a Merseyside Derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Those attacking the fixtures with transfers or the Free Hit chip will be aiming to triple up on assets from these two sides.
But is it best to do that with double defence, double attack or even a triple up in attacking or defensive positions?
Arsenal attack
Arsenal’s fixtures are something of a mixed bag. The trip to mid-table Wolves puts them up against a side without a win in four, but Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight.
In 2024, Arsenal have been the best attacking side in the Premier League, scoring a leading tally of 38 goals, seven more than their title rivals Manchester City in second. Opponents Chelsea have just one clean sheet in their last 10 games, conceding 21 goals in that period. Wolves are in similar defensive form, conceding 16 goals with one clean sheet.
These numbers lead us to believe that attacking options from Arsenal are wise buys, but it would be foolish to overlook their defensive form.
Arsenal have kept a leading 14 clean sheets this season, four more than any other Premier League side. Half of those shut-outs have come this calendar year. We need to be mindful that Arsenal defenders have become very popular in the game, carrying significant ownerships and those who have doubled up have been rewarded in recent weeks.
Arsenal’s defenders have become very popular (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
While Wolves’ goalscoring form has been patchy of late, failing to score in three of their last nine, Chelsea, particularly Cole Palmer, have been unstoppable in recent games. Palmer alone has contributed 10 goals in his last five games with Chelsea last failing to score back in Gameweek 16. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw.
I think it’s important to cover the Arsenal defence with one representative given their consistency in this campaign, but the odds are stacked towards backing the attacking options.
If you are looking to buy an Arsenal defender this week, centre-back Gabriel (£5.4m) remains my preferred choice due to his goal threat. He is top for big chances among defenders with seven. Ben White (£6.0m) is in good form but is prone to rotation with Takehiro Tomiyasu now fit. The Japan international cam also play at left-back, and started in that position for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) and Jakub Kiwior (£4.3m) have also featured at left-back for Arsenal this season. Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) is the most-owned midfielder in the game, second only to Cole Palmer for fantasy points, having notched 24 goal involvements.
His routes to points are plentiful given his involvement in set pieces, including penalties. Earlier this season, he got an assist in the draw against Chelsea and scored against Wolves.
When it comes to doubling up on the Arsenal attack, keep a close eye on mid-week minutes and the availability of captain Martin Odegaard (£8.6m), he was flagged with injury after the Villa game but started against Bayern on Wednesday. Kai Havertz (£7.4m) has been in sensational form this calendar year, with five goals and six assists from 12 appearances. He has scored five fewer fantasy points than Saka in this spell.
He’s in my Free Hit squad to complete an Arsenal triple-up alongside Saka and Gabriel, with high hopes for their output.
Liverpool selection
Liverpool’s double is more challenging, given the trip to Fulham before the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had been unbeaten in their last eight games before suffering a 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Crystal Palace. They have scored 20 goals in that spell but kept just one clean sheet.
Fulham are mid-table with some very mixed results. They have three clean sheets in 10, conceding 13 goals in this period.
Everton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 games, conceding 20 goals in this spell. They’ve failed to score in three games of those games.
Liverpool’s attacking form been more prevalent here, with the focus immediately coming to their front three, headlined by talisman Mohamed Salah (£13.5m). Salah has 26 goal involvements this season, including two goals in four since the international break. He has underperformed in this spell, leading the way for shots, including six big chances.
Salah has underperformed since the international break (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Given that he’s on penalties too and is Liverpool’s best-scoring fantasy option and the most owned, he should be a lock in most sides this week, enhanced by his appeal as a captain pick.
He scored both goals in the 2-0 win against Everton earlier this season. I prefer prioritising a double-up on Liverpool’s attack, but a triple-up feels a little too much, especially since there’s a wealth of options in attacking positions.
Luis Diaz (£7.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£7.7m) have had a settled spell alongside Salah in the front three, but fit-again Diogo Jota (£7.9m) and Coady Gakpo (£7.1m) have been used as impact subs.
Given the congestion in the schedule, it’s likely that Jota will share minutes with Nunez in the central role, making Diaz the more appealing option to double-up, with three attacking returns in four.
For defensive options, Andrew Robertson (£6.4m) has made nine key passes in his last four, including three big chances created and has been on corners.
However, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) returned from injury last time out and with seven attacking returns this campaign, could be worth the risk.
It’s unlikely he will start both games across the double but he provided a goal and an assist in the reverse fixture against Fulham, and kept a clean sheet against Everton.
Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) is also worth a look for security of minutes. He has two goals and two assists this season, sitting top for shots in the box for defenders this season with 32.
I’ll be keeping an eye Trent’s midweek minutes in Europe before putting him in my Free Hit team, alongside Salah, who will be my captain, and Luis Diaz.
(Top photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
