After Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Sheffield United on Monday night, it saw the Gameweek average shoot up from 43 to 63. However, that was mainly thanks to Arsenal’s many young attackers thriving as Manchester City and Liverpool alongside Tottenham fumbled their bags. The only one who didn’t was Ollie Watkins as the Englishman hit the net yet again this season.
It does make the forward a top candidate for captaincy ahead of Gameweek 28 but don’t rule out a few other options especially since it is a Double Gameweek. Both Bournemouth and Luton Town are the two sides who play twice, which add to the list of enticing FPL top captain picks.
Dominic Solanke (£7.1m)
Dominic Solanke is making waves this season as one of Bournemouth’s top goal-scorers and he is currently the joint fourth-highest goal-scorer in the league. Despite finding the net regularly, Solanke is going through a rough patch right now. This wasn’t helped by an injury before Bournemouth’s recent 2-1 win over Burnley which meant he wasn’t fully fit. Yet he played and still managed to cause significant trouble for the Clarets although he never found the net.
It does make the Englishman an interesting option as a captain especially since the Cherries play Sheffield United (who conceded six goals against Arsenal) and Luton Town. The forward has played 50% part in every goal his side has scored this season which, while concerning for Bournemouth, shows just how consistent he has been. Now sure, his recent injury issues does make him a risky bet but given that he plays twice, it’s a tough choice to make.
Also Read: Best Forward Picks in FPL Gameweek 28
Bukayo Saka (£9.2m)
Only one player has collected more FPL points than Bukayo Saka this season, with the Arsenal forward outscoring Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Heung-Min Son. He has 13 goals and 10 assists already, having played a part in 26 of the 27 games the Gunners have played. Not only that, Saka’s on par to break his career-best season of 14 goals and 12 assists, and few would bet against him.
But as an FPL captain? Well, let’s put it this way. Any manager who had given Saka the captain’s armband and simply turned off the game from Gameweek 20 would have raked in the points. The forward has collected 66 points which means the total doubles with the armband. That run includes 8 goals and two assists in eight games, and he could have had more against Sheffield United. But since Mikel Arteta did substitute him at half-time, it does mean Saka’s more or less guaranteed a start against Brentford.
Phil Foden (£8.2m)
While he is having a great season, unlike the other left-footed attacker on this list, Foden hasn’t been on fire lately although the Englishman has put up consistent numbers. He already has 11 goals and 7 assists to his name, has started all but two games this season and has netted thrice in his last two games. It puts the youngster up there with the best on the form chart and his ownership has only soared since the Manchester Derby.
Over 100,000 new managers have brought in Foden, making him the sixth most-bought player ahead of Gameweek 28. That’s despite the fact that Manchester City faces Liverpool, and has a blank gameweek before facing Arsenal and Aston Villa in back-to-back games. But few would blame managers because as of right now, Phil Foden is an undroppable star for City and one in fine form. Something FPL managers should capitalise on.
Heung-Min Son (£9.8m)
After missing three games, Heung-Min Son returned to football with a game-winning assist despite being on the field for less than half an hour. Since then, things haven’t gone exactly according to plan for Spurs but Son was on the scoresheet when the North Londoners picked up a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. Not only that, the South Korean has been very active in front of goal of late, contributing to an xG of just over 1 with an xGi (expected goals involvement) of just under 2.
What does all that mean? Well, it means that Son is on his way towards a nice run of form and there’s every chance that the forward does well against Aston Villa and then Fulham. The Villians are a tough opponent to face though but even then, would anyone bet against Heung-Min Son?
Erling Haaland (£14.5m)
Despite the fact that he has contributed to six goals in his last six games, the talk surrounding Erling Haaland has been the fact that the Norwegian looks out of form. That could be, partly, right especially after the horrific miss against Manchester United even though he did score in that game. Yet, given the fact that this is the man who shattered the 38-game season goal record and broke the record for most points in an FPL season, you can’t look away from Haaland as a captain.
The Cityzens do have a tough run of fixtures as they face Liverpool next, with a blank weekend after and then host Arsenal and Aston Villa following that, in what will be a run of games that might decide the title race. And there’s little doubt that a fully fit Haaland won’t feature.