Arsenal are champions — and the FPL template engine
Arsenal won the 2025/26 Premier League with 85 points and +44 goal difference. Mikel Arteta enters his fifth full season under the same tactical identity, with the same set-piece coach (Nicolas Jover), the same back-line spine (Saliba, Gabriel, Raya), and a clear plan for the remaining attacking gaps. For Fantasy Premier League managers, no other club generates as much template ownership: Arsenal regularly produces 3-4 must-own assets per season, and 26/27 looks no different. The team's xG-against rank of 1st (33.56 xGA) was the best defence in the league — that is the FPL foundation Arteta has built.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel — the two must-own anchors
Two Arsenal assets sit in mandatory-own territory for 26/27. Bukayo Saka (projected £9.5-10m) is Arsenal's penalty taker, Tier 2 GW1 captain shortlist, and the highest-floor premium attacker outside the Haaland/Bruno bracket. He returns from his managed-minutes era as Arsenal's lead attacking outlet under no Champions League midweek before GW1.
Gabriel (projected £6.0m) was the only defender to clear 200 FPL points last season — an extraordinary feat that combines clean sheets, set-piece goals from corners, and elite bonus point accumulation. David Raya (projected £5.5m) is the Premier League's most reliable premium goalkeeper. The Onside model views Saka + Gabriel + Raya as the cleanest "triple Arsenal" template start, with the fourth spot variable.
Mid-price + differential options at Arsenal
Below the three anchors, the Arsenal differential bracket runs through Jurriën Timber (projected £5.5m attacking-FB, 8.0 PPG in 25/26), Gabriel Martinelli (£6.5-7m left-wing with reliable returns when fit), Declan Rice (£6.0m midfielder who takes some corners and direct free kicks), and Martin Ødegaard (£8.0m playmaker — under-rated on penalty-taker absence). Reported summer 2026 targets: Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton or Elliot Anderson at midfield; Bradley Barcola or Morgan Rogers on the left wing. Any of those completes the Arteta squad re-shape and unlocks a new differential FPL pick.
Arsenal's GW1-5 captaincy and ownership angle
Arsenal are the bookmakers' 6/4 favourites to retain the Premier League title — clear shortest odds. Combined with the no-Champions-League-midweek-before-GW1 advantage, that makes Arsenal home assets the strongest "captain in a home opener" candidates outside of Manchester City. Saka becomes a Tier 1 captain alternative to Haaland the moment Arsenal's GW1 fixture is at home against a bottom-half side.
Defensive double-up strategy (Saka + Gabriel + Raya) is the modal Arsenal exposure for top-1k squads. Even the budget alternative of Timber + Gabriel + Raya gives you three Arsenal slots at premium-value efficiency. Arsenal are the only club where four-asset exposure is statistically defensible because the xG-against engine is that strong.