Defender: Gabriel vs Leicester City (H) – 5.9 points

Arsenal’s defence has been a formidable force this season, maintaining three clean sheets in five game weeks and conceding only three goals, with two of those goals occurring while they were playing with a numerical disadvantage.

Managers who remained patient with centre-back Gabriel during a challenging stretch of away fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been rewarded with his impressive performances. He has accumulated 22 points across those two matches, highlighted by a clean sheet and consecutive goals.

Gabriel stands out as one of the most attacking defenders in the Premier League, renowned for his aerial prowess from set pieces. His three big chances on goal this season, supported by Bukayo Saka‘s exceptional dead-ball deliveries, underscore the Gunners’ proficiency in scoring from set pieces.

The only potential concern for those considering investing in the Arsenal defence is the fitness of goalkeeper David Raya, who is uncertain for this game due to a muscular injury.

His presence has been instrumental, as evidenced by his 16 clean sheets last season and his current ranking as the third-best goalkeeper in terms of saves this campaign with 23. If Raya is unavailable, his absence will undoubtedly be a significant loss.

Mohamed Salah continues to be the standout midfielder in the game, having contributed seven goal involvements in the first five gameweeks. Despite the trend of selling Salah on wildcards in favour of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka to capitalize on the Gunners’ favourable fixture swing, our predictions suggest that this decision may be premature.

Salah travels to Wolves this week, a team that has struggled significantly from a defensive standpoint at the beginning of the season. With only one point on the board and 14 goals conceded from 15 big chances, Wolves have defensive vulnerabilities that Salah can exploit. The absence of defender Yerson Mosquera due to a season-ending injury further compounds their defensive challenges.

This fixture presents an ideal opportunity for Salah to excel. His impressive performances in away games, including double-digit hauls with a goal and an assist at Ipswich in Gameweek 1 and a goal and two assists against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Gameweek 3, highlight his ability to thrive on the road.

Salah’s track record against Wolves is also noteworthy, with four goals and five assists from 11 Premier League appearances. His versatility and goal-scoring threat make him a valuable asset, as evidenced by his league-leading 12 shots on target, 12 key passes, and status as the team’s primary penalty-taker among midfielders.

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood has quietly amassed an impressive start to the season, scoring three goals in five games. His recent conversion of a penalty against Brighton has further solidified his potential as a reliable penalty taker.

This form builds upon his strong goal-scoring record from the latter part of the previous season, as the team has experienced a resurgence under the guidance of manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Given the club’s decision not to sign another forward during the summer transfer window, Wood is expected to secure consistent starts, although he may be prone to early substitutions.

Nottingham Forest’s upcoming fixtures remain favorable for the next six gameweeks, with Fulham being the next team to visit the City Ground. Wood has a history of success against Fulham, having scored in their previous encounter last season, which resulted in a 3-1 victory for Forest.

Fulham has struggled defensively, conceding five goals in five games this season, making them a potential target for Wood’s goal-scoring prowess.