FPL Gameweek 25 Preview: Arsenal Priority, a Clear Captain, and Final DGW26 Preparation

Gameweek 25 is all about positioning. With Double Gameweek 26 now confirmed for Arsenal and Wolves, this is the final chance to get your squad exactly where it needs to be before the double lands. For most teams, the correct decisions this week are structural rather than reactive.

Captaincy is clearer than it has been in a while, transfer priorities are well defined, and fixture swings make it obvious where investment should be focused. This is not a week to overthink things, but it is a week to be precise.

Captaincy: Bruno Fernandes Clears the Field

Captaincy looks very different this week.

With Erling Haaland (£14.9m) away to Liverpool, he drops much further down the captaincy rankings. City face a tough fixture, Haaland’s recent run has been underwhelming, and there is growing evidence that he may not even be the most captained player for the first time this season. A lot of managers have already sold him, and many others are considering it.

The clear best captain this week is Bruno Fernandes (£9.7m) at home to Spurs. Tottenham are struggling badly, particularly defensively, and Fernandes continues to offer the most complete FPL profile in the game. Penalties, set pieces, defensive contribution points, elite minutes security, and a central attacking role all combine to give him the highest expected points this week by a comfortable margin.

Some way back are the Arsenal defenders. Gabriel (£7.1m) and Jurrien Timber (£6.4m) are very evenly matched. Both carry genuine attacking threat and benefit from a very high clean sheet probability at home to Sunderland. For managers looking for a defender captain, both are viable.

Cole Palmer (£10.4m) at Wolves away also comes into the conversation as a differential captain. The fixture is strong and Palmer’s ceiling remains high, but he trails B.Fernandes and the Arsenal defenders in the projections.

Transfers: Triple Arsenal Is the Obvious Objective

With Arsenal now confirmed to double in Gameweek 26 following their midweek victory over Chelsea, the priority is simple: get to triple Arsenal as soon as possible.

Arsenal host Sunderland this week before doubling away to Brentford and Wolves. That combination of a strong single fixture followed immediately by a double makes early investment extremely valuable.

The standout Arsenal option is Gabriel. If Bukayo Saka (£9.9m) is unavailable, Gabriel becomes the clear best Arsenal pick and is a very viable Triple Captain option in DGW26. His clean sheet probability, set-piece threat, and nailed minutes give him one of the highest floors and ceilings available across the double.

Jurrien Timber (£6.4m), Declan Rice (£7.5m) and David Raya (£5.9m) are also excellent options depending on structure and budget. Rice is particularly appealing if Saka is ruled out, as a straight swap from Saka to Rice makes sense for many teams and preserves Arsenal coverage without introducing unnecessary risk.

Outside of Arsenal, the algorithm’s targets remain consistent. Enzo Fernandez (£6.8m) continues to rate well due to role and fixtures, Elliot Anderson (£5.3m) appears frequently as a stable budget midfielder with DEFCON value, and Thiago (£7.1m) shows up in a number of transfer plans depending on structure.

There have also been a small number of teams where Tolu (£5.4m) is recommended, largely driven by Wolves’ confirmed double gameweek. This is not a blanket recommendation, but it highlights how DGW26 is already influencing optimal paths for some squads.

Fixture Runs: Where to Buy and Where to Exit

From a fixtures perspective, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace continue to sit at the top of the ticker. Their assets remain strong holds and sensible buys if you are looking beyond DGW26.

Manchester City have also moved into the top three for fixtures looking ahead. While their trip to Liverpool this week is difficult, their schedule improves significantly after that, which will likely bring their assets back into focus soon.

On the other end of the spectrum, Spurs and Sunderland have the worst fixture runs in the league over the coming weeks. This matters for both captaincy decisions and longer-term holds. Assets from these teams are increasingly hard to justify unless price or role is exceptional.

Trap to Avoid: Joao Pedro

The biggest trap this week is Joao Pedro (£7.5m).

Despite strong recent form and being the most transferred-in player this week, The Algorithm remains unconvinced. The core issue is minutes. Pedro’s role and playing time are not secure, and when expected minutes are factored in, his projected points do not justify the price.

This is a classic example of chasing points rather than buying future value. Until minutes certainty improves, The Algorithm prefers to avoid.

The Big Picture Takeaway

Gameweek 25 is not about chasing differentials or reacting emotionally. It is about getting the basics right.

Captain Bruno Fernandes if you can. Prioritise triple Arsenal ahead of DGW26. Avoid buying players purely because of recent returns. And use transfers with purpose rather than impulse.

Managers who exit GW25 with three Arsenal players and a clear captaincy plan for the double will be in a significantly stronger position than those who delay or overcomplicate things.

Want This Applied to Your Team?

This preview covers the overall landscape for Gameweek 25, but the optimal move still depends on your squad, your team value, and your transfer flexibility.

The Algorithm runs your exact team and sends personalised recommendations for transfers, captaincy, and bench order before each deadline.

👉 Get your personalised recommendations from The Algorithm