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Who are the best FPL Challenge GW37 picks? Goalkeepers will be awarded 10 points for a clean sheet this week, in addition to four points for every three saves they make. We use Opta data to find the top players to target in the Premier League.
We’ve reached the penultimate Gameweek of the season, and the decision makers at FPL Towers can perhaps be forgiven for running a little low on fresh ideas for themes.
Gameweek 37 of FPL Challenge is themed The Golden Glove, with goalkeepers receiving an increased return of 10 points for clean sheets, rather than the usual four points. In addition, they will be awarded four points for every three saves they make, up from one point.
As this week’s theme only affects one of the six players we will be choosing, there’s little difference to the regular FPL game mode. If this theme is used again next season, they could perhaps allow us to pick multiple goalkeepers for one week.
Despite the increased reward, we don’t want to target saves this week, as we’ll lower our chances of securing a clean sheet in the process. Our focus should instead be entirely on finding a clean sheet.
So, which goalkeepers have kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season?
With two games to go, Arsenal’s David Raya leads the way with 18 clean sheets, and he has already been named as the winner of the Golden Glove as the result – for the third season in a row.
Goalkeeper
David Raya: Arsenal vs Burnley (H)
We’ll cut to the chase and jump straight in to naming David Raya as our goalkeeper selection this week. The Spaniard has the fourth-best rate of goals conceded per match of goalkeepers to have played at least 100 games in the Premier League (0.79), behind Petr Cech (0.72), Edwin van der Sar (0.76) and Ederson (0.78).
It’s incredibly impressive considering he had two full top-flight seasons with Brentford before joining the Gunners.
This may have been an interesting debate in a different Gameweek, but with Arsenal facing an already-relegated Burnley side at Emirates Stadium, where a win would take them tantalisingly close to the title, there is little room for discussion – it has to be Raya.
Double down and pick him as your captain.
Defender
James Tarkowski: Everton vs Sunderland (H)
Ahead of Raya, we’ll be selecting one defender, three midfielders, and one forward.
Our defensive selection is James Tarkowski, whose Everton side host Sunderland this weekend.
With the potential for an increased number of Premier League teams in Europe next season, Everton still have an outside chance of qualifying with two games to go, so they’ll have to remain fully switched on for their final home game of the season.
Everton’s defensive record hasn’t been great of late – they’ve conceded multiple goals in five consecutive games – but they host a Sunderland side who have scored just 14 goals away from home this season. Only relegated Wolves have scored fewer (7).
Tarkowski has still found a way to earn points despite his team’s defensive lapse; he has been involved in four goals in his last seven Premier League appearances, more than he managed in his 93 previous appearances in the competition combined (3).
Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest (H)
Despite failing to create a goal in consecutive games, we’re sticking with Bruno Fernandes as he hunts down the competition’s all-time single-season assist record.
Fernandes remains on 19 assists with two games to go, needing one to tie the Premier League record, and two to beat it. This week, against a Nottingham Forest side who are now safe from relegation, is his best chance to create history.
Manchester United have only failed to score in two of their 19 home games in all competitions this season, while they’ve scored in every home game under Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Casemiro, who Fernandes has assisted a league-high six times this season, is expected to be back after missing out against Sunderland last week through injury.
Bruno Guimarães: Newcastle United vs West Ham (H)
From one Bruno to another, our next selection is Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães.
Newcastle have improved since Guimarães returned to the starting XI after a two-month injury lay-off. They ran Arsenal close in his first start back, defeated Brighton 3-1 after that, and then came within minutes of beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last time out. Next up is a desperate West Ham side at St. James’ Park.
It’s at St. James’ Park where Guimarães truly comes to life. Indeed, he is averaging 11.4 minutes per point in home games this season, the best return of any player with at least 500 minutes played at home.
Including fantasy assists, 14 of his 16 goal involvements have come at St. James’ Park this season (88%), which is bad news for West Ham, but great news for Tottenham.
Jérémy Doku: Manchester City vs Bournemouth (A)
Our final midfield selection has to be Jérémy Doku, who is arguably playing the best football of his career right now.
Doku assisted Manchester City’s only goal against Burnley (22 April), scored and assisted from the bench against Southampton in the FA Cup (25 April), scored twice against Everton (4 May), and then broke the deadlock against Brentford next time out (9 May).
It’s a four-game stretch that rivals anything we have seen in England this season – and don’t be swayed by his quiet cameo against Crystal Palace last time out, that game was already won by the time he came on.
Against Bournemouth, Doku will likely be up against a 35-year-old Adam Smith, who – with all due respect – will not be relishing facing the Belgian.
City have the FA Cup final against Chelsea at the weekend before they face the Cherries on Tuesday night, so keep heed of potential injuries.
Forward
Igor Thiago: Brentford vs Crystal Palace (H)
Our final selection is Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who continues to fight for a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Seleção manager Carlo Ancelotti named a preliminary 55-man squad on Tuesday featuring 16 attackers, with Thiago among them.
Ancelotti has used various players up front for Brazil, including João Pedro, Matheus Cunha, and even Gabriel Martinelli, but Thiago will surely feel well-placed to make the squad given his profile – he could just do with a strong finish to the season to get over the line.
A final home match against Crystal Palace offers a strong opportunity, then. It’s fair to say Palace’s focus right now is on preparing for their UEFA Conference League final match against Rayo Vallecano on 27 May, and their European success has been the priority for some time.
Their Premier League form has been poor, conceding 11 goals across their last four matches. Thiago, who has scored 13 goals in his 18 home league games this season, is ripe for a return.
GW37 Honourable Mentions
Casemiro will play his final game at Old Trafford for Man Utd on Sunday. He has returned points from either goals or defensive contributions in eight of his last nine matches.
Any player facing Wolves has to be under consideration, and Harry Wilson will be a popular pick this week as a result. But be warned, his last away goal was back in Gameweek 16 against Burnley.
Beto is proving many a doubter wrong for Everton, with five goals across his last five games. Only Morgan Gibbs-White (7) can better his six goals since Gameweek 28.
Opta Analyst’s Team Reveal: Gameweek 37 FPL Challenge Picks
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