Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 24 – Arsenal defenders promise plentiful points

DREAM TEAM managers should fix their sights firmly on the Premier League title contenders in Gameweek 24.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the select group of five teams with two fixtures to fulfil, making their popular players even more appealing than usual.

Brentford and Luton are also set for double headers but while Ivan Toney (£4.9m) is a tempting differential option, gaffers who don’t need to do anything drastic should exclusively shop around the top three.

With that in mind, allow us to propose some transfer recommendations…

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William Saliba (£3.1m) and/or Gabriel (£3.7m)

News of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.2m) latest injury setback will leave many gaffers in need of defender.

While it’s frustrating to have one’s hand forced, this turn of events invites Dream Team bosses to back Arsenal’s resolute defence ahead of their favourable visit to Turf Moor on Saturday.

Burnley have the worst home record in the top flight this season while the Gunners boast the best defensive record – it’s a huge clean sheet opportunity on paper.

Then in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s men travel to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Porto.

The midweek match-up promises to be more competitive but it’s worth noting that the Primeira Liga outfit have been comprehensively outscored by Benfica and Sporting CP in the league this term.

If the combination of a friendly league fixture coupled with an additional midweek outing isn’t enough, the fact Saliba and Gabriel banked 29 points between them last time out should be sufficient evidence of their viability.

Arsenal have posed a serious threat from set-pieces this season, as evidenced by the goals scored by each of their first-choice centre-backs against West Ham last weekend.

The Brazilian is marginally ahead in the rankings on 150 points to the Frenchman’s 144 but the truth is there isn’t much between them – Saliba’s cheaper price may even make him the superior option but it’s a case of take-your-pick.

Doubling up on Arsenal defenders is a perfectly valid strategy.

On a similar theme, Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) is essentially a must-have for Gameweek 24.

The England winger is the second-most popular player in the game and the current top scorer so this suggestion should go without saying.

Gabriel Martinelli (£4m) and Martin Odegaard (£4.1m) owners will feel confident of healthy returns too…

Nathan Ake (£3.2m)

Gaffers who would rather continue stocking up on Manchester City assets – an understandable inclination given they’ve won eleven games in a row – would do well to consider their Dutch defender.

Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy is cause for concern but Josko Gvardiol’s (£3.3m) injury should ensure back-to-back starts for Ake against Chelsea and Brentford in Gameweek 24.

Granted, the defending champions haven’t kept as many clean sheets as they should have this season but they held firm against Everton last weekend and really should have kept FC Copenhagen at bay in midweek – the Danish side registered just one shot on target and 21% possession.

Ake banked 13 points in Gameweek 23 via a helpful (accidental) assist against the Toffees.

The 28-year-old is far from a short-term punt either as City play Luton and Bournemouth in Gameweek 25 – they’re also the only team with two fixtures scheduled for Gameweek 26 (Manchester United and Copenhagen).

We won’t waste any time justifying City’s blindingly obvious talents – Phil Foden (£5.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) and Erling Haaland’s (£7.3m) returns speak for themselves.

Diogo Jota (£4.3m) and/or Darwin Nunez (£4.5m)

Gaffers without a Liverpool forward in their XI will be nervous heading into Gameweek 24.

The Reds travel to Brentford on Saturday before welcoming Luton to Anfield on Wednesday.

Both opponents are capable of mixing it with bigger teams on their day but the fact remains the Bees and the Hatters are closer to relegation than Jurgen Klopp’s men at the top of the table.

Only Man City have scored more league goals than Liverpool at this stage of the campaign and they haven’t really felt the absence of Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) in recent weeks.

Jota has contributed 14 goals and six assists in 2023/24 while Nunez has provided 12 goals and 14 assists – impressive numbers to say the least.

Salah was pictured in training earlier this week and may get some minutes but the onus will once again be on the aforementioned pair to get the job done in the final third.

The Portugal international is way more efficient and methodical than the Uruguayan No9 but the latter’s unique brand of chaos typically results in plenty of points.

Like Saliba and Gabriel, it’s a toss-up between the two but backing both Jota and Nunez alongside Haaland would constitute a fantastic front three.

Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk