Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action we’re on hand to provide our best advice for Fantasy Premier League, selecting four options we believe should be the leading contenders for your crucial captaincy.
There’s a double gameweek for the top two, as Arsenal and Manchester City meet each other in a huge clash at the Emirates in midweek. The title-chasing duo must first navigate games with Brentford and Aston Villa, respectively.
Elsewhere Leeds and Manchester United renew rivalries for the second time in four days, West Ham and Chelsea face off in the capital, and there’s a Monday night Merseyside derby.
Ahead of Gameweek 23, we look at four of the best captaincy options in Fantasy Premier League.
Erling Haaland vs Aston Villa (H) and Arsenal (A)
It’s a difficult to look past Erling Haaland for the captaincy this weekend, even given the furore that followed his blank at Tottenham last weekend.
Jamie Carragher even went as far as to claim Haaland might have signed for the wrong club as Manchester City failed to bring the best from the Norwegian, who failed to register a shot on goal for the first time in his Premier League career.
4️⃣th @premierleague hat-trick for @ErlingHaaland! ???? pic.twitter.com/hfe0fO8JrU
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 22, 2023
Haaland has, however, scored at a frightening rate this season. We’re only into the second week of February and the 22-year-old has already enjoyed the most prolific debut Premier League season from a foreign footballer ever, outscoring the totals needed to win the Golden Boot in every campaign since 2017/18.
He has scored 25 goals in just 21 league games this season, at an average of 1.37 per 90 minutes and a goal every 66 minutes of action. Haaland has blanked in successive games on just one occasion this season and followed that with four goals in two games, including a hat-trick against Wolves last month.
He has two bites at the cherry to bounce back from his struggle at Spurs, as City host Aston Villa before their crunch clash with leaders Arsenal at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka vs Brentford (H) and Manchester City (H)
Back-to-back home games for the Premier League leaders make Arsenal assets attractive in Gameweek 23, despite testing opposition arriving at the Emirates.
A Brentford side unbeaten at nine cross the capital at the weekend, before Arsenal host Manchester City in a game which will have huge ramifications on the title race. Back-to-back wins for Mikel Arteta’s side will put them in complete control, as the Gunners hunt down a first Premier League crown since the Invincibles paraded around the Highbury pitch in 2003/04. For Arsenal fans, that has been a long wait.
Bukayo Saka represents the best option in the Arsenal side. His share of set-pieces – including penalties – and proven track-record against Gameweek 23’s opposition will make the winger a popular pick.
Saka has provided an attacking return in each of his three previous appearances against Brentford, while he scored as Arsenal hosted Manchester City last season. The 21-year-old has a fine record against ‘Big Six’ sides, with 16 career goals and assists against the Premier League’s top clubs.
Marcus Rashford vs Leeds (A)
Marcus Rashford’s remarkable form continued with goals against Crystal Palace and Leeds during Gameweek 22, extending his recent run to seven goals in eight games.
Rashford rewarded his backers with a 20-point haul during Manchester United’s double gameweek, with many of those having used the Triple Captain chip on the in-form star with great success.
Marcus Rashford has now scored 20 goals in all competitions this season. Erling Haaland is the only Premier League player with more (31):
Erling Haaland – 31
MARCUS RASHFORD – 20
Harry Kane – 19
Mohamed Salah – 17
Ivan Toney – 14Goal machine. ???? pic.twitter.com/0sWkvO8Kx1
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 8, 2023
Rashford is red-hot right now and will be confident of continuing his streak at Leeds this weekend. United face their northern rivals for the second time in just four days, following an entertaining 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in midweek.
Elland Road will present a different challenge and raucous atmosphere, but there could be space for Rashford to exploit with a greater emphasis on Leeds to push forward. United lead the Premier League for counter-attack goals (6) this season, while only four clubs have conceded more on the break than Leeds.
Harry Kane vs Leicester (A)
Harry Kane celebrated a memorable moment after becoming Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer last weekend, scoring his 267th goal for the club in the 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Kane’s goal was also his 200th in the Premier League, joining Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney as the only players to have achieved the feat. The 29-year-old is enjoying a superb season and has now scored 17 goals in 22 league games, already matching his tally from the 2021/22 campaign.
THERE IT IS!!
Harry Kane breaks the record as Tottenham's ALL-TIME top scorer! ????⚪ pic.twitter.com/FhMGSgeDsZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 5, 2023
Kane has seven in his last nine and this week takes on his favoured Premier League opponent. The England captain has scored a staggering 18 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against Leicester, including two hat-tricks.
That form includes seven attacking returns in his last four against the Foxes. He provided a goal and assist as Spurs thrashed Leicester 6-2 earlier this season.
Read – Remembering the playing career of all 20 Premier League managers
Read Also – Six Football Manager wonderkids who moved clubs in January