FPL clubs to target: Arsenal can make fast start

The Scout assesses the sides with the most favourable opening schedules in 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League.

Arsenal

The north London side have an extended run of kind fixtures at the outset of the season, facing just one of last term's top-six sides in the first eight Gameweeks.

A pair of back-to-back matches against promoted duo AFC Bournemouth and Fulham in Gameweeks 3 and 4, followed by a home encounter with Aston Villa, looks particularly appealing for their key players.

Arsenal's opening GWs

Gabriel 

The Brazilian centre-back was joint-top for goals scored among defenders in 2021/22, matching Reece James' tally of five for Chelsea.

A major threat for Arsenal at set-pieces, Gabriel produced 26 shots in the box, a total bettered by only six other players in his position in Fantasy. 

The Gunners kept 13 clean sheets, the fifth-best record in the division, recording all of them in the 35 matches Gabriel started.

A further 16 bonus points, just two behind Bukayo Saka, show the defender's all-round potential in Fantasy.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal's standout player in 2021/22, the winger claimed a career-high 179 points to finish seventh among midfielders. 

Saka's goal threat improved significantly after a change in tactics by Mikel Arteta in Gameweek 15.

He scored nine of his 11 goals last season from that point on, as well as supplying six of his nine assists.  

Furthermore, his 73 shots and 51 shots in the box both ranked second among midfielders during that time.

Although Saka is expected to increase significantly from his initial cost of £6.5m last term, his output suggests he can still be worth the investment. 

Gabriel Martinelli

The Brazilian looks set for his breakout season in Fantasy in his first campaign as a regular under Arteta. 

After starting only two of Arsenal's opening 13 fixtures in 2021/22, Martinelli was named in the first XI in 19 of their subsequent 25.

Although he finished some way behind Saka on 110 points, Martinelli played over 1,100 minutes fewer than the England star.

Indeed, when selected, he was involved in 38 per cent of their goals, compared with the 39 per cent of Saka.

If he is priced considerably cheaper than his fellow winger, Martinelli may well be the best-value route into Arsenal’s attack.

Martinelli's goal v Watford

Also in this series

Part 1: Profit from Man City's kind start
Part 2: Invest early in Liverpool trio
Part 4: Double up on Chelsea duo
Part 5: Wolves trio can reward owners