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Arsenal’s new signings attract Fantasy Premier League attention ahead of Coventry clash
18th August, 2026 02:33 PM
Fantasy Premier League managers are making their final preparations ahead of the start of the 2026/27 campaign, with Arsenal’s opening fixture against Coventry City just around the corner.
The new season gets underway at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening, August 21, 2026, shortly after Arsenal secured the Community Shield by beating Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side will now turn their attention to defending their Premier League crown, while newly promoted Coventry prepare for their first season back in the top division in 25 years.
Guimaraes emerges as a popular choice
Arsenal’s summer recruitment has given FPL managers several new names to consider, with Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis among the most popular additions.
Guimaraes, priced at £7.0 million (Ksh1.2 billion), arrives from Newcastle United after producing more than 100 FPL points in each of his previous four seasons.
Although the Brazil international regularly shared penalty responsibilities during his Newcastle career, he also offered plenty from open play while collecting points through his defensive work.
The 2025/26 campaign was particularly productive for the midfielder. He accumulated 154 FPL points from 29 league appearances, including 27 starts, setting a new personal record.
That total narrowly surpassed the 153 points he registered in 2023/24, while he managed 135 points the following season.
His nine Premier League goals and seven assists last term played a major role in his impressive Fantasy return. At £7 million (Ksh1 billion), his valuation has already attracted around 9.4 per cent of FPL managers.
A strong beginning to his Arsenal career could see his popularity increase rapidly, potentially resulting in a higher price in the future.
Tzolis attracts growing interest
Christos Tzolis has also generated significant excitement after an impressive pre-season following his move from Club Brugge earlier in the summer.
The Greek winger found the net during Arsenal’s preparations before producing two assists in their Community Shield triumph.
Despite being listed as a midfielder in Fantasy Premier League, Tzolis has previous Premier League experience, having represented Norwich City during the 2021/22 campaign.
He made 14 appearances for the Canaries during that season and showed encouraging signs despite the club ultimately being relegated to the Championship.
His impressive start in north London has already caught the attention of FPL managers, with the Arsenal No. 17 included in approximately 12 per cent of teams.
His £6.5 million (Ksh1.14 billion) price is particularly attractive given his remarkable production in Belgium last season, when he registered 40 combined goals and assists across all competitions.
Arsenal offer plenty of midfield options
Bukayo Saka remains Arsenal’s leading premium midfield selection at £9.5 million (Lsh1.6 billion)and has been chosen by roughly 10 per cent of Fantasy managers.
Declan Rice is available for £7.5 million (Ksh1.3 billion) and has proved particularly popular, with more than one in five teams including the England international after his impressive 184-point return last season.
The £6.5 million (Ksh1.14 billion) bracket also contains several Arsenal options, including Tzolis, Ebere Eze, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
Mikel Merino provides another alternative at £6 million (Ksh1 billion) , while Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman and Martin Zubimendi are all available for £5.5 million (Ksh965.8 million).
Raya and Gabriel headline defensive selections
David Raya is among the most sought-after goalkeepers in this season’s game. Following his third consecutive Golden Glove, the Spaniard has been priced at £6 million (Ksh1 billion) and has already been selected by around a third of all FPL managers.
Gabriel, meanwhile, commands an £8 million (Ksh1.4 billion) price tag, making him only the third defender in Fantasy Premier League history to reach that valuation.
His high cost reflects his outstanding 2025/26 campaign, when he surpassed 200 FPL points and joined Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes as the only three players to achieve that mark.
Riccardo Calafiori is another popular defensive option at £5.5 million (Ksh965.8 million). His early goal against Manchester City in the Community Shield, combined with his willingness to attack from left-back, has boosted his appeal.
Calafiori features in more than 24 per cent of FPL squads, while fellow £5.5 million (Ksh965.8) defender Cristhian Mosquera has been selected by approximately 12 per cent of managers.
Limited choices among forwards
Compared with the abundance of midfield options, Arsenal’s forward selections offer fewer alternatives.
Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz are both valued at £7.5 million (Ksh1.3 billion).
Gyokeres collected 128 FPL points during his first season with Arsenal, while Havertz returned 36 points from seven starts after dealing with lengthy injury absences.
With the opening weekend approaching, Fantasy managers have only a short window left to make unlimited changes to their squads.
The Gameweek 1 deadline is scheduled for 6:30 pm UK time on Friday, August 21, 2026, just 90 minutes before Arsenal begin their campaign at the Emirates.
