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Welcome to the 2024-2025 Fantasy Premier League season, RotoBallers! The game has officially launched for the new season, and it's time to start preparing for another year of FPL. We will have you covered from the preseason in July until the final kick of the season in May and everything else that happens in between.
Our team previews continue with Arsenal. After consecutive second-place finishes, can the young Gunners take the next step and win their first Premier League crown in over 20 years? Having had the best defense in the league last season, the only question mark remains if they need an out-and-out goalscorer. Can Kai Havertz (£8.0M) lead Arsenal to glory and will he be one of the Arsenal players to build your FPL squad around?
The first deadline of the 2024-2025 Fantasy Premier League season is August 16 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, when Manchester United welcomes Fulham to open the campaign. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League slate and UEFA Champions League game with our EPL DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
FPL Team Previews: Arsenal
Despite winning 16 of its 18 EPL games in 2024, Arsenal failed to reel in the Manchester City juggernaut. The loan deal for David Raya (£5.5M) was made permanent, but that has been it so far in terms of significant incomings. Having been so close two years in a row, it shouldn't take much for Arsenal to be able to topple City. However, it remains to be seen where that extra boost will come from.
FPL stalwarts Bukayo Saka (£10.0M) and captain Martin Ødegaard (£8.5M) will remain the headline acts. Kai Havertz now being listed as a forward makes him an intriguing play while Declan Rice's (£6.5M) career-best goal involvement tally shouldn't be overlooked.
Having won the Golden Glove Award for the most clean sheets, Raya will also be a popular addition for FPL managers. Ben White (£6.5M), William Saliba (£6.0M), and Gabriel (£6.0M) were the top-scoring defenders last season, giving fantasy managers a headache as to what Arsenal players they want to roster.
We've got some @Arsenal price reveals for you! 🚨
Who makes it into your #FPL team for Gameweek 1? pic.twitter.com/6cTGQ1velH
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 15, 2024
Last Season's Arsenal Stats
- League Finish: Second, 89 points
- Most goals: Bukayo Saka, 16 goals
- Most assists: Bukayo Saka, 12 assists
- Most FPL Points: Bukayo Saka, 226 points
Who is your favorite Arsenal defender for the upcoming FPL campaign?
Ben White was sensational last season, leading defenders with 182 points following his nine goal involvements. However, it's the other side of the pitch I will be looking at. Jurrien Timber (£5.5M) got injured in the opening game of the season and didn't play again until the final game. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.0M) was the predominant left-back before losing playing time to Jakub Kiwior (£5.0M) as the season went on.
That pair combined for 171 points, which would've ranked second among all defenders. The expectation is that Timber will be Arsenal's first-choice left-back and has the talent to reach that points total himself. He's got plenty of talent in the final third to make a difference. Providing Arsenal's miserly defense (29 goals conceded) continues in the same vein this season, Timber could easily end up providing more value than his teammates.
🗳 The votes are in...
💫 @JurrienTimber’s comeback strike has won our April Goal of the Month! 👏
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 7, 2024
Which Arsenal midfielder is catching your eye?
Saka has been a model of consistency in recent seasons while improving year-on-year. His 226 points ranked him third among all midfielders and he led Arsenal in goals (16) and assists (12). He will continue to be Arsenal's main penalty taker and set-piece taker from the right side. He'll only be 22 years old when the season begins, so he is still yet to reach his full potential. Arsenal's Star Boy is set to shine once more.
The Arsenal forward who will be bagging us some FPL points is...?
Arsenal's interest in Benjamin Šeško suggests it is still in the market for a striker. So there's every chance that the best Arsenal forward in FPL isn't currently on the squad. However, we've seen Arsenal learning from its mistakes and not panic-buying players if it can't get its first option. It's entirely possible that Havertz will lead the line for the Gunners this season.
Havertz didn't disappoint in the role last season. His 13 goals and 10 assists were career highs in the Premier League. Havertz's 180 points would have ranked him third among all forwards last season if he wasn't listed as a midfielder. If Arsenal doesn't sign a striker this offseason, Havertz will be a very popular forward in FPL and has the potential to better last year's numbers.
What run of fixtures favors Arsenal the most for the 2024-2025 FPL season?
Arsenal has a tough start to the season, but things open up after Gameweek 11. Following an international break in November, Arsenal's run of matches from Gameweeks 12-20 has plenty of appeal. The run of nine games doesn't include any of last season's top-7. It has a similar run between Gameweeks 25-35, although that includes back-to-back games against Manchester United and Chelsea.
How many Arsenal players will you have in your Gameweek 1 squad?
I generally only like having no more than two players from one team in my squad to start the season. However, with so many great options, there's every chance I'll go with three Gunners. Saka feels like a must for me and I like pairing my goalkeepers with a defender from the same team. So if I go with an Arsenal defender, it'll likely be a choice between Raya, Ødegaard, or Havertz. Although a cheaper midfield option in Rice also might help with spending bigger elsewhere. Looks like I'll definitely have an Arsenal trio then!
What is one bold FPL prediction for any Arsenal player?
Emile Smith Rowe (£5.5M) has a 100-point season. He did it in the 2021-2022 season when he was a regular starter for Arsenal (33 appearances and 21 starts). Injuries have derailed his career since then, but Mikel Arteta has resisted selling Smith Rowe despite having multiple suitors. It may take an injury or something significant to happen for Smith Rowe to get enough playing time to be a viable FPL option. If that does materialize, he's got more than enough talent to capitalize on the opportunity.
Join the RotoBaller FPL League
Fancy pitting your wits against fellow RotoBallers? Then join our free league to compete against the team and our dedicated FPL fans. Just head to the official FPL site, click the Leagues and Cups tab, and enter the RotoBaller league code; b278pa.
Go head-to-head against your friends and family in mini-leagues 🏆
Pick your squad and compete for #FPL glory now! ⬇️
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2024
Stick around for more 2024-2025 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
