Introduction
Fantasy Premier League managers face crucial transfer decisions heading into Gameweek 10, with Arsenal’s defensive assets dominating projections and Crystal Palace entering a favorable fixture swing. This comprehensive guide breaks down the best players to target across all positions, backed by underlying statistics and expert analysis.
Goalkeepers: Arsenal’s Raya Leads the Way
David Raya tops the goalkeeper projections for Gameweek 10 with 4.2 expected points, facing a struggling Burnley side away from home. The Spanish keeper has emerged as the second-highest scoring goalkeeper this season, recording six clean sheets in nine appearances.
Arsenal’s defensive statistics paint an impressive picture:
- Only 3 goals conceded in 9 games
- One big chance conceded every 176 minutes (essentially one per two games)
- 167 minutes per expected goal conceded (xGC)
Newcastle United maintains the second-best xGC metric at 7.33, with Manchester City third at 9.1. Surprisingly, newly-promoted Leeds and Sunderland occupy fourth and fifth positions respectively, showcasing remarkable defensive organization.
Alternative Options: Bernd Leno projects 4.0 points against Fulham, while Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bart Verbruggen, Nick Pope, and Aaron Rorefsall tie at 3.7 projected points. Robert Petrovic drops from consideration this week due to Chelsea’s away fixture at Manchester City, though his next-five projection of 17.3 keeps him relevant for future gameweeks.
FPL Defenders: Arsenal Assets Dominate Projections
Arsenal’s Defensive Fortress
Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber emerge as the top defensive picks for Gameweek 10. Arsenal has achieved a historic milestone: 100 consecutive games across all competitions without conceding three goals, becoming only the second English team to accomplish this feat after Manchester United’s 107-game streak from October 2016 to August 2018.
Injury Concerns: William Saliba was substituted at halftime last gameweek, though manager Mikel Arteta provided limited details. Riccardo Calafiori also departed due to discomfort but appeared comfortable leaving the pitch. Both players face fitness doubts, making Gabriel and Timber safer options until further updates emerge from training sessions and Friday’s press conference.
For managers not yet invested in Arsenal’s backline, the question becomes: what more evidence do you need? Double defense strategies currently outperform double attack approaches, with some managers even deploying triple Arsenal defenders successfully.
Crystal Palace: The Emerging Value Play
Crystal Palace enters a favorable fixture run extending through the New Year:
- Brentford
- Brighton
- Wolves
- Manchester United
- Burnley
- Fulham
Daniel Munoz (£5.6m) ranks fourth for projected points over the next five gameweeks, recording 4 goal involvements in 9 games this season. For budget-conscious managers, Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) and Chris Richards (£4.5m) offer excellent value, with Richards providing the best points-per-million ratio among Palace defenders.
Defensive consistency metrics reveal:
- Marcos Senesi leads with 12.76 defensive contributions per 90 minutes
- Lacroix averages 11.1 per 90
- Richards contributes 10.8 per 90
Kieran Trippier projects 4.5 points but faces rotation risk when Tino Livramento returns, making him avoidable despite favorable fixtures.
Best FPL Midfielders for Gameweek 10
Liverpool’s Salah Chases History
Mohamed Salah tops midfielder projections with 6.4 expected points, despite Liverpool’s concerning form. The Egyptian superstar returned to the scoresheet last match, though Liverpool suffered their fourth consecutive league defeat.
Liverpool became the first Premier League team to win their opening five matches and then lose the next four consecutive games. Despite the team’s struggles, Salah continues producing individually, standing just one goal contribution away from Wayne Rooney’s record for a single club (275 combined goals and assists).
Future Outlook: Liverpool’s Gameweek 12 fixtures (Forest, West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds) could represent a prime triple captain opportunity, though promoted teams’ impressive defensive metrics warrant caution.
Crystal Palace Midfield Assets
Ismaïla Sarr represents exceptional value at £6.5m, recording 4 returns in 7 starts with strong underlying numbers. His 3.54 expected goal involvements (xGI) demonstrate consistent attacking threat during Palace’s favorable fixture swing.
Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) offers even cheaper exposure to Brighton’s attack. The youngster has started every game this season, accumulating:
- 3.22 xGI (just behind Sarr)
- 14 shots (13 inside the box)
- 3 big chances created
Brighton’s upcoming fixtures include Leeds, Palace, Brentford, Forest, Villa, and West Ham.
Premium Options Worth Holding
Bruno Fernandes passed the eye test against Brighton despite blanking, recording 0.57 xGI and forcing an excellent save from Verbruggen. Anthony Gordon projects well this week despite frustrating recent returns, though reduced minutes (averaging 69.75 minutes over the last four games) create concerns.
Cody Gakpo emerges as an intriguing differential for Liverpool’s favorable fixture run. His 4.7 non-penalty expected goal involvement ranks fourth league-wide and second among midfielders, demonstrating elite underlying numbers independent of penalty-taking duties.
Other Notable Options: Enzo Fernandez (4.5 points), Iliman Ndiaye (4.2), Mohammed Kudus (4.2), and Antoine Semenyo (3.9) all present viable alternatives depending on budget and team structure.
FPL Forward Rankings and Recommendations
Haaland Remains Essential
Erling Haaland dominates forward projections with 6.7 expected points, maintaining his status as FPL’s most reliable captaincy option. Viktor Gyokeres ranks second facing Burnley, who possess the league’s worst clean sheet odds at 10%.
Despite five consecutive blanks, Gyokeres’ favorable fixture makes this the worst possible time to sell. Burnley has conceded 18.5 expected goals—rock bottom across the league—making this an ideal bounce-back opportunity.
The Mateta Switch
Bryan Mbeumo leads transfer activity this week, while Jean-Philippe Mateta claims second position. The Palace striker projects strongly during the club’s favorable fixture swing, making him an attractive alternative to struggling premium forwards.
Joao Pedro has recorded zero shots on target across his last five Premier League games, accumulating just 0.07 xG during that period. Despite five consecutive blanks, he somehow remains the third-highest scoring forward—highlighting the position’s overall struggles.
Deniz Undav projects 3.98 points for Palace away with 85 estimated minutes, having scored an impressive 6 goals in 9 appearances. His underlying metrics support continued production.
Conclusion: Making Smart FPL Transfers This Week
Gameweek 10 presents clear opportunities: Arsenal defenders against Burnley, Crystal Palace assets entering a favorable run, and Mohamed Salah chasing history despite Liverpool’s poor form. Prioritize these moves while monitoring injury news from Arsenal’s midweek fixtures and Friday press conferences.
What transfers are you planning this week? Share your strategy for FPL Gameweek 10 and join the discussion about differential picks that could separate you from the pack. Don’t wait—make your moves before price changes lock in your targets.