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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 14: Bargain goalkeeper allows gaffers to perform sneaky trick

    FOR the first time this season, all 20 Premier League clubs will play twice this coming Gameweek.Needless to say, the potential for massive returns is sky high.
    It’s therefore imperative Dream Team gaffers get their strategy just right in Gameweek 14, starting with their transfers.

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    Dream Team gaffers should be hopeful of BIG points in Gameweek 14Credit: getty
    Before we supply some fresh recommendations, it’s worth repeating last week’s advice regarding Arsenal’s defence.
    We tipped William Saliba (£3.8m) and Gabriel (£4.1m) to prosper and the Gunners’ centre-back partnership repaid our faith with a brace of clean sheets against Brentford and Lens – the pair combined for 30 points in Gameweek 13.
    Fingers crossed for something similar in the coming days with Mikel Arteta’s side set to face Wolves and Luton in quick succession.
    Caoimhin Kelleher (£1.8m)
    It’s been a while since Dream Team bosses had the option to perform a sneaky trick such as this.
    The 25-year-old Irish goalkeeper is suddenly a dirt-cheap route into one of the league’s best starting line-ups.
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    Kelleher features in 0.4% of teams at the time of writingCredit: Dream Team
    Alisson (£3.8m) is expected to be sidelined for the next fortnight with a hamstring injury, leaving the door open for his understudy to step in for some favourable fixtures.
    Barring something truly rogue from Jurgen Klopp, Kelleher is likely to start at home to Fulham on Sunday and away to Sheffield United on Wednesday night.
    Granted, the Reds’ chances of clean sheets are reduced without Alisson’s shot-stopping ability but it’s a friendly double header for Kelleher to potentially exploit.
    At just £1.8m he’s a potentially ingenious short-term selection – just make sure you’re able to swap him out easily enough when the Brazilian No1 returns.
    It goes without saying that Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures should also suit familiar favourites Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m).
    Those with Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.8m) in their XI should hold too – it’s a brilliant week to be well stocked with Anfield residents.
    Phil Foden (£4.9m)/Jeremy Doku (£4.2m)
    51 bonus points between them!Credit: Reuters
    Again, we’re repeating ourselves here as we’ve tipped this pair several times over already but Gameweek 13’s returns added an exclamation mark to the viability of Manchester City’s best midfielders.
    The Etihad’s homegrown starlet is now Dream Team’s second-best asset in his position having plundered 17 points against RB Leipzig in midweek.
    Foden now has six assists, six goals and 128 points to his name in 2023/24.
    As for Doku, he’s nothing short of a sensation.
    The tricky Belgian’s off-the-charts dribbling statistics have seen him collect 26 bonus points in the blink of an eye – no player has more at the time of writing.
    On paper, Pep Guardiola’s side face a difficult Gameweek 14 in the form of Tottenham (a bogey team in recent years) and a trip to Aston Villa, who boast a formidable home record under Unai Emery.
    However, while both opponents will pose plenty of threat in attack, their defences are vulnerable against teams with quality attackers, which City have in spades.
    Looking ahead, Gameweek 15 looks ripe for plentiful points for Foden and Doku as well if they’re to be unleashed upon Luton and Red Star Belgrade.
    Alexander Isak (£4.2m)
    Not to be underestimatedCredit: Getty
    The fact Newcastle’s No14 has averaged a goal every 79 minutes since the start of Gameweek 6 is likely to have escaped many Dream Team bosses.
    Sure, the Swedish international was injured for a while but he’s averaged 7.4 points-per-game since mid-September when available.
    Isak scored against both Chelsea and PSG in Gameweek 13 so evidently he’s no flat-track bully – a double header against Manchester United and Everton is unlikely to faze him.
    The Magpies are blighted by injuries currently but their performances this past week indicate they’re still a team to mine for healthy returns.
    Read More on The Sun
    See also: Anthony Gordon (£3.6m).

    Dream Team gaffers need to lock in their transfers before Saturday’s 2pm deadline.

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    Somebody must win £500 Amazon voucher through Score Predictor this weekend – play for free now!

    ONE savvy football fan will bag an early Christmas present this weekend courtesy of Score Predictor.If your predictions for five Premier League fixtures prove to be more more accurate than anyone else’s, you’ll win a £500 Amazon voucher!

    CLICK HERE TO PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

    Get involved now for a chance to win a £500 Amazon voucher this weekendCredit: Dream Team
    For clarity, you don’t have to predict the exact outcomes of all five games to land the top prize – that would be asking too much – you simply have to outscore your rivals, meaning somebody must win.
    Some of our previous winners this season landed amazing prizes having submitted their predictions in ten seconds through sheer gut instinct – it takes no time at all to play and it’s completely free.
    In the spirit of transparency, here are our predictions for Matchweek 16’s fixtures…
    Nottingham Forest v Everton
    These two teams would be separated by just one point in the table had the Toffees not been deducted ten for their financial indiscretions.
    Strangely, both teams will be happy this fixture is set to take place at the City Ground.
    Steve Cooper’s side are significantly better on familiar soil while Sean Dyche’s troops are notably most effective on the road – only four Premier League teams have earned more points away from home this season.
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    Everton had suffered just one defeat in six prior to their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United while Forest have won one of their last nine, albeit an impressive victory over high-flying Aston Villa.
    Our Prediction: 2-1 to Everton
    All eyes on Andre Onana ahead of Man United’s trip to St James’ ParkCredit: Getty
    Newcastle v Manchester United
    Improbably, the Red Devils are the most in-form team in the top flight right now having won five of their last six league games.
    However, the Old Trafford faithful will know better than anyone that the nature of the performances have not been particularly convincing.
    Plus, Erik ten Hag’s side have repeatedly collapsed in the Champions League of late.
    As for the Magpies, they’re in the midst of an injury crisis but a 4-1 win over Chelsea at St James’ Park last time out in the Premier League proved they still have the capacity for emphatic results.
    Both teams are likely to be fatigued from their respective midweek efforts but Eddie Howe’s men have an extra day to recover and the luxury of home advantage on Saturday night.
    No team has earned more points at home than Newcastle this campaign.
    Our Prediction: 3-1 to Newcastle
    Will the real Chelsea please stand up?Credit: PA
    Chelsea v Brighton
    The Blues have been up and down like a yo-yo of late.
    They went toe-to-toe in entertaining draws with Arsenal and Manchester City either side of a 4-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but they’ve also recently lost at home to Brentford while Mauricio Pochettino said their most recent performance (the aforementioned defeat to Newcastle) was their worst of the season.
    It’s hard to know which Chelsea will turn up on Sunday.
    As for the Seagulls, they’re unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions but, at the same time, their win over Forest last weekend was their first in the league since September.
    Unsurprisingly, Roberto De Zerbi’s have registered the joint-most draws in the top flight this term.
    Chelsea have earned just six points from seven league fixtures at Stamford Bridge, giving them a worse home record than Fulham, Wolves and Bournemouth.
    Our Prediction: 2-2 draw
    Liverpool have a 100% home record in the league this seasonCredit: Alamy
    Liverpool v Fulham
    This should be more straightforward as the Reds have won all six of their home league games this season, conceding just two goals in the process.
    Jurgen Klopp’s side average a fraction under three goals per game at Anfield.
    Marco Silva’s side have fared well against teams around them in the table but they’ve generally rolled over against the stronger sides.
    Our Prediction: 3-0 to Liverpool

    Manchester City v Tottenham
    Spurs have been something of a bogey side for Pep Guardiola in recent years – five of his last eight meetings with them have ended in defeat.
    However, the departed Harry Kane was a central figure in most those upsets.
    Ange Postecoglou’s side have lost three in row amid a flurry of injuries but they enjoyed spells of supremacy in all those defeats and their fans remain hopeful of a positive campaign.
    Son Heung-min and company should ask plenty of questions of a City defence who have failed to keep as many clean sheets as they would have liked this season but it’s the other end of the pitch that will concern the visiting fans.
    The prospect of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and friends being unleashed upon a back four made up exclusively of full-backs seemingly only ends one way.
    Our Prediction: 3-2 to Man City
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    Think you know better? You almost certainly do!
    Play Score Predictor for free now to put yourself in contention for the £500 Amazon voucher!

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    Alexander Isak’s Dream Team viability sky-high having averaged a goal every 79 minutes since mid-September

    NEWCASTLE came ever so close to an epic Champions League rearguard on Tuesday night.Eddie Howe’s side were a minute away from a win over PSG in the French capital when the hosts were given a generous penalty, one that (probably) wouldn’t have been awarded in the Premier League.
    Kylian Mbappe’s converted the spot-kick to break the hearts of many Dream Team managers who would have been delighted if the likes of Nick Pope (£4.2m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.2m) had held out for an improbable clean sheet.

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    A harsh blowCredit: Getty
    Partially lost among the chaos was Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) goal but Dream Team bosses would do well to take note of the Sweden international’s efforts.
    The former Real Sociedad forward was on hand to fulfil the role of poacher when Miguel Almiron’s (£3.4m) shot was parried into a dangerous area by Gigi Donnarumma.
    Isolated for much of the game, Isak nonetheless pouched eight points at the Parc des Princes, doubling his tally for the Gameweek – he opened the scoring against Chelsea at St James’ Park on Saturday.
    16 points has to be considered a particularly impressive return for Gameweek 13 considering Isak was an availability question mark right up until he was named in the starting line-up at the weekend.
    Deadly in front of goalCredit: Dream Team
    The 24-year-old missed five games while injured and it’s because of his spell on the sidelines that many Dream Team gaffers will not be aware of his clinical conversion rate when available.
    Isak has now scored seven goals in his last nine appearances at an average of one every 79 minutes – a run that began in mid-September.
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    This fruitful spell that has yielded 67 points at an average of 7.44 per outing since the start of Gameweek 6.
    The stats paint a portrait of a striker in fine form who will provide healthy returns so long as he can avoid further injury setbacks.
    Plus, Isak’s minutes are assured as along as Callum Wilson (£4.4m) is sidelined and, regardless, the pair have flourished even when forced to share game time in the last year.
    The Magpies are in the midst of a chronic injury crisis but their convincing victory over Chelsea, who went toe-to-toe with Manchester City before the international break, proved they remain capable of impressive performances and results.
    Their fixtures across the next two Gameweeks are far from easy – Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, AC Milan – but Isak is certainly capable of extending his points-laden streak against such opponents.
    Newcastle face a tough run but they should continue to produce pointsCredit: Reuters
    Newcastle’s No14 has scored nine goals in all competitions this season – only Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) are ahead of him among all Dream Team assets.
    Isak’s total of 91 Dream Team points is hindered by his injury lay-off but he actually averages more points-per-game than Ollie Watkins (£4.8m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
    Don’t underestimate him!

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    Phil Foden up to fourth in Dream Team rankings after 23-point haul in Gameweek 13

    MANCHESTER CITY treated their supporters to a rare thimble of jeopardy last night.The Champions League holders went 2-0 down to RB Leipzig at the Etihad via Lois Openda’s brace to briefly introduce the possibility that they might not top Group G.
    Whether any of the home fans were duped is another matter as there was a sense of inevitability about the comeback from Pep Guardiola’s side, who ended up 3-2 winners to ensure a perfect start of five wins from five European games this season.

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    Tuesday night’s big winner from a Dream Team perspectiveCredit: Dream Team
    The star of the show was Phil Foden (£4.9m).
    City’s homegrown hero was credited with two assists, for Erling Haaland’s (£7.9m) obligatory goal and Julian Alvarez’s (£4.2m) winner, while also swooping three bonus points.
    Sandwiched in between his assists was a neat goal of his own, the latest display of his deft footwork.
    When all was said and done, Foden took the Bundesliga outfit for 17 Dream Team points, his best single-game return of the campaign so far.
    Added to the six he earned against Liverpool at the weekend, the 23-year-old finishes Gameweek 13 having plundered 23 points – the most among all assets at the time of writing.
    Naturally, this impressive haul has catapulted him up the Dream Team rankings, he’s now second among midfielders having moved to 128 points overall, eight short of Bukayo Saka (£6.5m).
    Most read in Football
    Easy does itCredit: AP
    In fact, Foden is now the fourth-best performer among all players taking overtaken the likes of Kieran Trippier (£5.2m), Ollie Watkins (£4.8m) and Jarrod Bowen (£5.3m) this week.
    The latter is the only midfield asset to have scored more goals than Foden at this stage – West Ham’s top scorer has nine in all competitions to his compatriot’s six.
    Bowen and Foden are level with Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) on 18 shots on target each, the joint-most among midfielders right now.
    The secret to Foden’s continued success is he’s so much more than just a goal threat.
    Only four assets in his position have created more big chances (seven) and only three have registered more than his six assists – he’s a top-tier creator.
    Foden and Doku have 51 bonus points between themCredit: Reuters

    The so-called ‘Stockport Iniesta’ is also one of the most passionate bonus point collectors.
    At this juncture, only Jeremy Doku (£4.2m) and James Ward-Prowse (£4.4m) have more and the leading pair are just one ahead on 26 to Foden’s 25.
    With an ownership of 28%, Foden is currently the second-most selected midfielder in the game but his popularity is likely to increase further after a sparkling spell of form.
    He’s notched 61 points in six outings across the last four Gameweeks!

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    Is it time for Dream Team managers to ditch one of the game’s most-popular defenders?

    MATTY CASH (£3.2m) has been among Dream Team’s most-popular players since the first month of the season.Aston Villa’s No2 quickly established himself as the most attack-minded defender available, helped by the fact Unai Emery has deployed him as a right midfielder on occasion.
    Even now, he’s comfortably the leader in terms of shots on target (ten) among assets in his position and only Manuel Akanji (£4.5m) has scored more goals from the back.
    However, gaffers should be asking if Cash still holds the same untouchable status now as he did earlier in the campaign?

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    Cash out?Credit: Dream Team
    The 26-year-old’s returns have fallen away recently, capped by a goose egg away to Tottenham at the weekend when he was substituted at half-time after going into the referee’s book for a bad foul on Rodrigo Bentancur (£2.6m).
    Making a transfer based on one game would be something of an overreaction but Cash’s numbers have been disappointing for a little while now.
    He’s notched just eight points in four outings since the start of Gameweek 11.
    In fact, he’s earned 29 points in nine games since the start of October at an average of 3.22 per fixture – underwhelming to say the least given players receive two points just for playing more than 60 minutes.
    Cash’s form should be carefully scrutinised as he’s currently the fourth-most popular defender in the game.
    Most read in Football
    His ownership of 21.7% makes him the ninth-most selected player overall.
    Cash provided plentiful returns throughout the first two months of the campaignCredit: PA
    The Poland international’s tally of 80 points still looks impressive, just six defenders boast higher totals at the time of writing, but his recent downturn is cause for serious concern.
    Many Dream Team bosses have acted quickly as currently only the injured Jarrod Bowen (£5.3m) has been transferred out of more teams ahead of Gameweek 14.
    A sizeable proportion of those transfers would likely be reversed if Cash provided a decent haul against Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
    And many gaffers will be hesitant to ditch the affordable defender ahead of the Villains’ trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.
    However, Cash and company are also due to face Manchester City in Gameweek 14 and while that should be a competitive fixture at Villa Park, there’s always a risk of minus points when up against Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and friends.
    Villa then host Arsenal three days later.

    Villa’s home games against City and Arsenal look massive on paperCredit: Getty
    Additionally, Cash’s yellow card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was his fourth in the Premier League this season, meaning the next will result in a one-game suspension.
    Taking into account form, upcoming fixtures and his disciplinary record, it’s no wonder a fair few gaffers have already taken action to ditch Cash.
    Healthy returns against Legia Warsaw and Bournemouth would ease the pressure but such an outcome might be too little, too late.
    Over a fifth of Dream Team managers have a big decision to make.

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    Bruno Fernandes, Kieran Trippier and other Dream Team assets one yellow card away from suspension

    DREAM TEAM managers have enough on their plate at this time of the year without having to worry about suspensions.Unfortunately, there are a host of Premier League names one yellow card away from a one-game suspension, some of them among the most-popular assets in Dream Team right now.
    It’s not that these players necessarily need to be replaced as soon as possible but gaffers should be aware of which individuals are walking the tightrope as it may influence their strategy.

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    Walking the tightropeCredit: Dream Team
    PLAYERS ONE YELLOW CARD AWAY FROM A DOMESTIC SUSPENSION:

    Kai Havertz (£3m)
    Matty Cash (£3.2m)
    Lucas Digne (£2.8m)
    Douglas Luiz (£3.4m)
    Kristoffer Ajer (£1.9m)
    Christian Norgaard (£2.4m)
    Jordan Beyer (£1.6m)
    Raheem Sterling (£3.9m)
    Jordan Ayew (£3.1m)
    Jarrad Branthwaite (£1.8m)
    Ashley Young (£1.8m)
    Abdoulaye Doucoure (£3m)
    Antonee Robinson (£2.1m)
    Tom Lockyer (£1.5m)
    Issa Kabore (£1.8m)
    Marvelous Nakamba (£1.7m)
    Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m)
    Rodri (£4.1m)
    Kieran Trippier (£5.2m)
    Sean Longstaff (£3m)
    Orel Mangala (£1.7m)
    Ibrahim Sangare (£2.1m)
    Jack Robinson (£1m)
    Oliver Norwood (£2.2m)
    Rayan Ait-Nouri (£2.3m)

    The inclusion of Trippier’s name in this list will have set a few alarm bells off.
    Newcastle’s reliable right-back is Dream Team’s outright best defender having amassed 109 points and he’s the sixth-most popular player in the game with an ownership of 32.4%.
    Cash is the seventh-best asset in his position and the ninth-most selected player in the game.
    Aston Villa’s No2 is among the most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 14 having registered a goose egg against Tottenham at the weekend.
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    Digne is also one yellow card away from an unscheduled rest meaning the Villains’ could conceivably be without both their first-choice full-backs sometime soon.
    Trippier appears in almost a third of teamsCredit: Getty
    Fernandes is comfortably Manchester United’s best performer this season, the Portuguese playmaker has racked up 105 points, and his ownership of 17.6% makes him the sixth-most selected midfielder.
    The 29-year-old would be a huge miss for his owners if he incurred a suspension but at £5.7m there is plenty of cash available for a replacement if gaffers decide to get rid, if only until after his inevitable fifth yellow card.
    Similarly, Rodri’s precarious status is a headache for the 14.5% of Dream Team bosses currently backing him.
    Manchester City’s linchpin is adept at avoiding bookings but he’s also instructed to make tactical fouls when necessary, meaning a yellow card is always a possibility.
    City’s record without Rodri is dismal this seasonCredit: Getty

    There are bound to be plenty of XIs out there containing Trippier, Cash, Fernandes and Rodri – if all four were to be suspended at the same time it would be nothing short of a disaster.
    Many gaffers will feel they have to act as soon as possible to remove even the slightest chance of such a fate.

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    Affordable Anthony Gordon produces 48 points across five Gameweeks to become top-tier Dream Team midfielder

    NEWCASTLE defied their injury crisis to register an emphatic 4-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.Anthony Gordon (£3.6m) was the big winner from a Dream Team perspective.
    The 22-year-old assisted his side’s second goal and scored the fourth to bank 12 points when all was said and done, his third double-digit haul of the season.
    Gordon is enjoying a fine seasonCredit: Dream Team
    Having started the campaign sharing his minutes with Harvey Barnes (£3m), Gordon has been one of the first names on the teamsheet since the ex-Leicester winger’s injury.
    And points have flowed easily for him, particularly in recent weeks.
    The Magpies’ No10 has produced 48 points across the last five Gameweeks with another fixture against PSG to come in midweek.
    This surge of prosperous form has elevated Gordon up to joint-fifth in the midfield rankings, alongside Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) on 105 points.
    With an ownership of 20.4%, he’s currently Dream Team’s fourth-most selected midfielder and he’s also the most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 14 among all players, though it’s early days in that regard.
    Newcastle swept Chelsea aside at St James’ ParkCredit: Reuters
    Gordon’s form is not the only reason he’s a popular man in the realm of Dream Team.
    At £3.6m he’s very affordable, the cheapest midfielder among the top 12 performers in terms of total points.
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    After the weekend’s success, he’s now got five goals and five assists in all competitions but goal involvements only tell half the story.
    He ranks among the top eight in his position for shots on target and big chances created.
    On top that, the hard-working winger has earned 13 points through tackles.
    In fact, he’s made the most tackles among the Newcastle squad.
    Newcastle face some tough fixtures in the next two monthsCredit: Getty
    Gordon is perhaps not at the level where he could be considered fixture-proof but healthy returns against Aston Villa, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and now Chelsea are proof that he’s certainly no flat-track bully.
    This should encourage gaffers ahead of what is a relatively tough run for Eddie Howe’s side.
    After a trip to Paris this week, they have to face Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Villa before the end of January.
    Gaffers should be aware that all but two of Gordon’s goal involvements have come St James’ Park with the exceptions being his goal and assist at Bramall Lane against lowly Sheffield United.

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    Dream Team gaffers should target Arsenal defenders over attackers for plentiful points

    LAST season, Dream Team managers were spoiled for choice when it came to attack-minded Arsenal assets.Bukayo Saka (£6.5m), Martin Odegaard (£4.9m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) were all among the game’s best midfielders while Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) also provided healthy returns when available.
    There were times when Leandro Trossard (£3.3m) and Eddie Nketiah (£2.7m) were shrewd value-for-money options too.
    This season, however, gaffers would be wise to switch strategy and target the Gunners’ defenders in search of plentiful points.
    It’s like a throwback to the George Graham era!
    A solid partnershipCredit: Dream Team
    Saka continues to satisfy his backers having racked up 136 points, the highest tally among all players in his position right now.
    But the England winger is the only Arsenal representative in the top ten midfielders or top ten strikers.
    In contrast, William Saliba (£3.8m), Ben White (£4.4m) and Gabriel (£4.1m) are all among the top ten defenders at this stage.
    This trend was perfectly illustrated by Saturday’s result at the Gtech Community Stadium.
    Mikel Arteta’s side were not at their fluent best in attack but they beat Brentford courtesy of Kai Havertz’s (£3m) header to go top of the table.
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    The victory was Arsenal’s sixth clean sheet in the league this campaign, the most in the top flight, and their tally of ten goals conceded is the outright lowest after 13 league fixtures.
    Add in three other clean sheets across the Carabao Cup and the Champions League and it’s no wonder their defenders are among the best performers currently.
    Havertz got the job done but Arsenal’s defence deserve plenty of credit as wellCredit: Alamy
    An eight-point return against the Bees has put Saliba second in his position, behind only Kieran Trippier (£5.2m), with White now fourth and Gabriel ninth.
    The French centre-back is Dream Team’s most-popular defender with an ownership of 40.1%.
    It’s not that Arsenal have been lacking in goals as such, they’ve scored 27 in the league, the sixth-highest tally, but it’s clear their defence is the reason they’re once again competing for the title this time around.
    A closer look at the underlying numbers reinforces this point.
    The Gunners have generated 22.5 xG in the top flight, only the seventh-highest total, but they’ve conceded just 10.3 xG, making them the best defence according to this metric.
    Essentially, they’ve done very well to restrict the quality of their opponents’ chances this season.

    Looking forward, it seems reasonable to expect more points from Arsenal’s defenders in Gameweek 14 against Wolves and Luton.
    And there’s a midweek meeting with Lens to fulfil before this Gameweek is complete.
    Look back, not forward, when weighing up Arsenal’s options.

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