FPL GW31 Tips – Gabriel Replacements, Players to Target, Premium Mids & More

Welcome to StatsmanFPL’s Weekly Tips & Preview for FPL GW31. In this article, we cover updates on Gabriel, Aina, and their potential replacements, Players to Target, GW31 Fixture Analysis, and Thoughts on Premium Midfielders.

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Link to all our FPL GW31 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, best forwards, and more. Completely free to access as well!

FPL GW31 Tips – Key Questions/Dilemmas Answered

Gabriel/Aina injury status – possible replacements

The latest news is that Gabriel is out for the rest of the season after requiring surgery on his injured hamstring. The Brazilian defender has potentially been Arsenal’s player of the season and will be sorely missed in defence. With Calafiori injured, Timber with a niggle and Ben White still yet to return, we are likely to see Kiwior deputise in Gabriel’s place in Gameweek 31. This hurts the overall Arsenal clean sheet prospects, and in a tricky Everton away fixture, a clean sheet is now less likely than before.

Ola Aina update: “He has had the scan and he is going to be out for a while. It is a calf problem. He is not going to be available. Some players take more time, others less. We will assess him.

He will definitely be out for Villa(GW31), and for Everton(GW32), he will be a doubt. Beyond that, we will assess him. I am positive that we will see him again (before the end of the season).” – Nuno in today’s PC

Ola Aina is off for scans after what appeared to be a lower leg injury over the weekend. He has the potential to also miss many weeks or the remainder of the season, but we do not have that information yet.

The best immediate replacements are Newcastle defenders. Their tough recent run has seen few clean sheets, but before this, they kept four clean sheets in a row against Leicester, Ipswich, Aston Villa & Manchester United.

Coming up against Leicester this week, before a double gameweek 32 of Manchester United (H) & Crystal Palace (H), is prime time to invest in Newcastle.

Further Read: Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season

Best FPL Replacements for Gabriel/Aina:

Livramento & Burn are my favourite two picks due to their reliability for starts, thanks to their versatility. Trippier is an interesting pick as he has the potential to get forward and provide greater attacking returns. However, his age is a factor, and with a double gameweek on the horizon, he is the most likely to see rotation out of the three.

Note: Burn is on 8 yellow cards, 2 away from suspension, with the count resetting only at the end of DGW32 for Newcastle(3 more games). If you feel it’s risky to get him with the suspension threat, you can go for Livramento, who costs 4.5 million and is also nailed for the remainder of the season.

Aston Villa defenders are also a good option to bring in. Their price point is very reasonable, and their upcoming run includes a Southampton fixture and a double gameweek. Konsa appears to be the most reliable choice, while Digne is a choice with high upside but greater risks involved with substitutions and benching. 

Further Read: FPL GW31 Wildcard Team- Tips, Players to Target and Best Drafts

Players To Target In GW31 If On BB33 And FH34

Gameweek 31 provides a great opportunity to target players with great immediate fixtures as well as a good medium-term fixture schedule.  

The double gameweek fixtures in gameweeks 32 and 33 should be at the front of your mind as having an extra fixture is your greatest chance at earning extra points and adding value to your transfers.

Free Hit 34 strategy allows you to ignore the upcoming blank and focus solely on putting out your strongest team and taking advantage of the fixtures.

As mentioned above, Newcastle assets should be in your decision-making, which includes their defence. You should already have Alexander Isak in your team, which could be accompanied by either Jacob Murphy or Anthony Gordon(If available), and then balancing this with a defensive asset of Burn/Livramento/Trippier.

Eddie Howe’s team news ahead of Monday: “We’ll wait and see today, I will see them [Kieran Trippier and Alexander Isak] for the first time today. We don’t think we have any big injuries from Wednesday night, but we have a few niggles. We are monitoring Anthony [Gordon], he is still recovering. He has done individual training, not group training, We will have to wait and see.”

Gordon returns from suspension and looks to be shaking off an injury he received on international duty. His minutes are not fully secure due to this, so Jacob Murphy could be the safe option. 5 goals and 9 assists to his name across 22 starts is an impressive return, and he doesn’t look like slowing down currently. As mentioned earlier, the fixtures allow for Newcastle’s defence to be a great choice at the moment.

Crystal Palace should also still be at the front of your decision-making. Although Brighton is not the best fixture in Gameweek 31, back-to-back double gameweeks for the Eagles will see plenty of minutes and expected value for a side that does not often see rotation under manager Oliver Glasner. Mateta, Eze, Sarr, Munoz & Henderson would be my favourite and most reliable picks.

Aston Villa assets should also be considered. Their front 3 or 4 attackers will see more rotation due to the additions of Asensio and Rashford in the winter transfer window. Rogers is likely to see the most minutes due to his role and his youth, allowing him to recover quicker. A gameweek 32 fixture against Southampton and a double gameweek in 33 are prime fixtures that could see the likes of Konsa and Martinez provide great value.

Further Read: Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season

Saka v Palmer v Foden – Which Two To Own Ahead of FPL GW31?

Palmer returned to some form with an assist against Tottenham. The return of Nicolas Jackson has had a clear impact, and with Noni Madueke also returning, we could see Palmer return to his best form. Upcoming fixtures against Brentford and Ipswich are two good attacking fixtures, and I would hold Palmer if you own him.

Saka returned from a long spell on the sidelines to score a decisive goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham after starting on the bench. Saka will likely start soon, but don’t expect 90-minute performances as Arsenal have two crucial Champions League ties against Real Madrid in the upcoming midweek. Arsenal’s double gameweek 33 fixtures could be the perfect time to shift from Palmer to Saka, as the European quarter-finals will have concluded for Arsenal.

Foden is my least recommended of the three premium midfielders being discussed. He has complained recently of mental and physical fatigue and was an unused substitute against Leicester. His minutes are too sporadic, and his form this season has been lacking. He is okay as a differential, but you’re best off sticking to Palmer & Saka for the foreseeable future. 

Further Read: FPL GW31 Wildcard Team- Tips, Players to Target and Best Drafts

FPL GW30 Key Fixture Analysis

Leicester v Newcastle. Leicester v Newcastle is shaping up to be a key fixture for FPL managers in Gameweek 31

Those who own Isak will not enjoy the news that he was withdrawn early midweek due to “not feeling 100% in his groin”. In what could have been a great differential captaincy, it now poses an availability and expected minutes risk to captain Isak against the struggling Leicester outfit. 

Leicester have incredibly, once again failed to score in a Premier League fixture. That is seven fixtures in a row and nine of their last ten fixtures ending with no goals scored. A Newcastle defender for this reason would be a shrewd inclusion.  

Everton v Arsenal. The Gunners travel to Goodison Park, where Everton fans will be cheering on the Toffees in one of their last home games at Goodison before moving to their new stadium. The big news for Arsenal is that Gabriel requires surgery on his hamstring injury. This is also coupled with Jurrien Timber being withdrawn due to a knee issue. 

The toffees had scored in nine fixtures in a row before coming up goalless at Anfield. They were unlucky to score as Beto hit the post in the opening half.

David Moyes has breathed new life into Everton’s attack, and Beto has shown to cause issues for defenders. With Gabriel out, it could be a tricky away fixture for the Gunners, especially for their clean sheet hopes.

Further reads from AllAboutFPL ahead of FPL GW31:

2024/25 Ultimate Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to play all Chips & Combinations
FPL GW31 Wildcard Team- Tips, Players to Target and Best Drafts
FPL GW31 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
Top FPL GW31 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of Deadline
FPL Gameweek 31 Transfer Tips- Players to Buy/Hold/Sell
FPL GW31 Tips – Gabriel Replacements, Players to Target, Premium Mids & More
Premier League GW31 Predictions and Prizes- Sleeper Pick’em
FPL GW31 Tips & Ultimate Guide: Differentials, Captaincy & More 
Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season

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