Arsenal vs. Wolves: A Clash of League Leaders and Bottom Dwellers
Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday in a match that sees the league leaders face off against the team at the bottom of the Premier League table. This encounter will showcase the second most potent attacking team in the league against the weakest defense.
As second-placed Manchester City prepares to visit Crystal Palace, who currently occupy a top-four spot and have lost only once at home this season, there is speculation about whether it might be time to consider switching the captaincy from Erling Haaland to Bukayo Saka.
Saka's value has risen to £10.2 million following a string of impressive performances. The Gunners' upcoming fixtures in December, which include a trip to Everton and home matches against Brighton and Aston Villa, could offer further opportunities for Saka to shine.
In contrast, Haaland has struggled recently, scoring just once in his last four league appearances. His performance against Leeds and Sunderland, where he had only one shot in the box, was notably poor, reminiscent of his disappointing display during City's opening home defeat to Tottenham.
This leads to the question: Is Saka a viable alternative to Haaland as a permanent captain this weekend? This week's Fantasy Premier League (FPL) expert and contributors from The FPL Podcast by BBC Sport are discussing this topic.
Haaland remains the most selected player in FPL, featuring in 73% of teams. However, he has only accumulated six points over gameweeks 12, 13, and 15 due to a decrease in significant scoring opportunities. Given Pep Guardiola's tendency to avoid rotation, is it too risky to drop him from captaincy?
Andy from @Let’s Talk FPL expressed his support for Saka, stating, “I’m almost certainly in the camp for Saka. Watching Wolves against Manchester United confirmed my decision. They were so poor, and Arsenal are significantly better than United; there could easily be four, five, or six goals. He has to be the number one choice for that fixture. For me, it’s Saka or nobody.”
Statman Dave echoed this sentiment, saying, “Saka is already my captain.”
There is a growing momentum among serious FPL managers to select Saka as captain as Arsenal faces bottom-placed Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. This match is considered the best attacking fixture of the season, as Wolves have yet to keep a clean sheet, conceding a league-high 33 goals, including four against Manchester United in their last outing.
Saka has delivered attacking returns in three consecutive league games, with impressive underlying stats, including 12 shots and three big chances. His potential for scoring points is bolstered by his responsibility for set-pieces, including penalties, and his ability to contribute defensively for bonus points.
Having been rested against Brentford, where he scored after coming off the bench, Saka is expected to play significant minutes in this crucial match for the Gunners, especially following their defeat to Aston Villa, which allowed Manchester City to close the gap at the top to just two points.
Nonetheless, Haaland remains a strong captaincy option and is likely to be the most favored player again this week. Ignoring him could be risky; if he performs well, managers who do not captain him may face negative impacts on their rankings.
Although a trip to Crystal Palace appears challenging, Haaland has scored in all three of his previous visits to Selhurst Park. Manchester City has been prolific, scoring a league-leading 15 goals in the last four gameweeks. However, Haaland has blanked in three of those matches, with his only goal and two assists coming in a dramatic 5-4 victory away at Fulham. His underlying statistics remain strong, with 11 shots in the box and five big chances.
For managers who have invested heavily in City, particularly those doubling up on attacking options with Phil Foden, not assigning the captaincy to Haaland this weekend could be a strategic move.