FPL GW12 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups

Welcome to our FPL GW12 Scout Picks blog! The international break is finally over, and we’re straight back into the action with what promises to be an absolutely cracking round of fixtures. The North London Derby takes centre stage on Sunday afternoon, but there’s plenty more to get excited about across this weekend…

Our Scout Picks had a tough time of it in FPL GW11, with our XI scoring just 39 points, 16 shy of the Official FPL picks’ total of 54. That makes it 6.5-4.5 to us going into FPL GW12.

	GW1	GW2	GW3	GW4	GW5	GW6	GW7	GW8	GW9	GW10	GW11
AAFPL Team	62	58	57	68	34	60	77	67	58	73	39
Official FPL Team	56	50	57	90	43	57	67	63	41	78	54

As always, our Scout Picks will be based on the eye test, stats, and analysis. But before we discuss player picks, let’s take a look at the fixtures for FPL GW12.

Link to all our FPL GW12 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 GW12 Fixtures

Teams to target in FPL GW12:

• Chelsea
• Crystal Palace
• Arsenal
• Manchester United

FPL GW12 Scout Picks

FPL GW12 Scout Picks – Goalkeeper

Raya (5.9m) returns to our AAFPL Scout Picks team as Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates for the first North London Derby of the season. Now, I know what you’re thinking – Spurs at home isn’t exactly a banker for a clean sheet. But hear me out…

Arsenal’s defensive record this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. They’ve conceded just 5 goals all campaign, keeping 7 clean sheets along the way. Their 7.77 xGA is still comfortably the best in the division, and, even after shipping two at Sunderland last weekend, they remain the team to target defensively. The Gunners haven’t lost at home all season (4 wins, 1 draw), and while Spurs have been excellent on the road under Thomas Frank (joint best away record in the league), you have to go back almost 15 years to find the last time they won a Premier League match at the Emirates…

With Gabriel ruled out this week, and other defensive positions potentially up for rotation considering the packed schedule Premier League teams competing in Europe face, Raya offers a guarantee of 90 minutes in that excellent Arsenal defense. Spurs may have a great away record, but their underlying numbers away from home (and at home for that matter) are by no means excellent, so they should not be considered such a difficult opponent. It’s not the best fixture, but it’s not the worst, so we’re continuing to back the Arsenal defense in FPL GW12!

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FPL GW12 Scout Picks – Defenders

Our three defenders for FPL GW12 are Timber (6.1), Munoz (5.7m) and Chalobah (5.1m)…

Timber completes the Arsenal defensive double-up, and what a season he’s having! The Dutchman has quickly established himself as one of the most essential defenders in FPL, offering the perfect blend of defensive security and attacking threat. His underlying numbers are exceptional – 1.11 shots and 1.31 key passes combined puts him near the very top of the charts for defenders in terms of attacking numbers.

He ranks 2nd behind only Gabriel for points scored among all defenders this season and has blanked just once in his last 5 appearances. For the reasons mentioned above, an Arsenal defensive double up feels like the right move and Timber is the obvious pick!

Munoz is our second defensive pick, with Crystal Palace traveling to Wolverhampton on Saturday afternoon. The Colombian has firmly established himself as an essential FPL assets this year, combining excellent defensive stats with genuine goal threat from right-back. He ranks 5th overall for points scored among defenders and has registered four attacking returns so far this campaign.

Top Defenders for Expected Goal Involvement this season:

• Munoz- 2.8
• Timber- 2.5
• Calafiori- 2.3
• Van De Ven- 2.1
• Gabriel- 1.9

Wolves remain winless all season and have just appointed Rob Edwards as their new manager, and while one should always be wary of a new-manager-bounce, Palace are a formidable opponent… Munoz at just 5.7m offers fantastic value, and with a fixture run that includes Manchester United, Burnley, Fulham, and Leeds in the next six gameweeks, he’s one to hold long-term.

Finally we have Chelsea defender Chalobah. Moresca’s side face Burnley away in the early kickoff on Saturday, a fixture we should always be targetting. Burnley are one of the worst sides in the division, ranking 19th for xG only above Wolves. They’ve lost their last two matches and 3 of their last 5 whereas Chelsea go into this game having won their last 2 and 4 of their last 5!

Chelsea’s defensive numbers have improved dramatically in recent weeks, and Chalobah has been a big part of that, playing back-to-back-to-back-to-back (that’s four games) 90 minutes prior to the international break. Chalobah remains a rotation risk long term, but looks like a good option this week, and is a far cheaper option than some of the other available Chelsea assets.

Further Read: Best Defenders/Gabriel Replacements for FPL GW12 & Beyond

FPL GW12 Scout Picks – Midfielders

We’ve gone for a midfield quartet of Sarr (6.7m), Enzo (6.7m), Mbeumo (8.5m), and Saka (10.1m) for FPL GW12…

Sarr keeps his place in the team in spite of another fairly underwhelming performance, from an FPL perspective, in FPL GW11. The Palace winger has continued his excellent form from last season into this, racking up 46 points so far and establishing himself as one of the premier midfield options in FPL. His underlying numbers are outstanding – 0.58 xGI/90 puts him amongst the elite midfielders in the division, and he’s been getting into dangerous positions week after week, including in FPL GW11…

Only a great save from Brighton’s ‘keeper kept Sarr from scoring a crucial goal for Palace in FPL GW11, with the winger taking 2 shots and creating 2 chances in that game but coming back to FPL managers empty handed…

Palace travel to Wolves in FPL GW12, one of the standout fixtures of the weekend from an attacking perspective. Wolves have been absolutely dreadful defensively, conceding almost 2.5 goals per game this season and 3 in each of their last 3 games. They rank 17th for xGA and bottom for goals conceded. Palace’s attack, on the other hand, has been sensational this season – they rank 4th for xG and have been creating a ridiculous number of chances for their front two of Sarr and Mateta. Sarr is central to everything they do going forward, and with Wolves in complete disarray, he looks like an interesting captaincy option for those feeling brave…

Enzo joins Chalobah in the team but faces a race against time to be fit for the match against Burnley this weekend. The Argentine has been quietly putting together exceptional numbers since Palmer’s injury, thriving in a more advanced role for the Blues. His 0.75 xGI/90 is the highest xGI/90 amongst midfielders. That’s right, Enzo is one of the most attacking midfield assets in the league! That being said, he has been slightly unlucky with returns, having scored 3 goals and 2 assists despite his impressive underlying numbers.

The big question mark over Enzo is fitness. He didn’t join up with Argentina during the international break due to a long term injury he’s been managing for several months. Early reports suggest he’ll be fit to face Burnley, but this is one to monitor closely in the build-up to the deadline. If he’s fit, Enzo looks like an excellent pick – Burnley rank bottom of the league for xGA, so are certainly one to target, but if not fit then managers should look elsewhere.

Latest Update on Enzo(Presser on 11/21): Maresca said Badiashile, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez are all available for Burnley.

Mbeumo makes his return to our Scout Picks team with Manchester United hosting Everton on Monday night. The former Brentford winger has been slowly finding his feet at Old Trafford, and while his output hasn’t quite matched expectations yet, his underlying numbers suggest he’s due a haul. His 0.63 xGI/90 is excellent, and he’s been getting into dangerous positions regularly, recording 6 shots and 5 key passes in his last 3 appearances.

United face Everton in FPL GW12, and while the Toffees aren’t the easiest opposition on paper, they’re far from the defensive juggernauts they once were. Everton have conceded 8 goals away from home this season and rank 11th for xGA on the road, making them decent targets. United, meanwhile, have been improving under their new tactical setup, ranking 5th overall for xG this season.

At 8.5m, Mbeumo offers great value, and if he can continue his pre-international break form into FPL GW12, he could quickly become an essential midfield asset.

Bruno Fernandes is still the most nailed United attacker, and remains a great option, but Mbeumo’s potential to explode into United’s main attacking threat makes him the more exciting option for those with the funds and the midfield space.

Finally, we have Saka. The Arsenal star boy completes the Arsenal triple-up, and while his underlying numbers haven’t quite hit last season’s heights yet, he remains Arsenal’s most dangerous and consistent attacking threat.

His 0.69 xGI/90 is decent, if unspectacular considering his price tag, but he’s been steadily improving as the season has progressed, recording 2.20 xGI/90 in his last two appearances in the Prem. He’s in red hot form!

Merino and Trossard should also be considered for those looking to add an Arsenal player to their midfield roster, but due to his nailed-ness and improving form Saka is clearly the best option. It’s unlikely Arsenal’s star boy is rotated for a game against North London rivals considering his recent form against the Gunners’ cross city rivals. Saka has 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 3 appearances against Spurs, an excellent record and one that he’ll be looking to add to this weekend!  Saka remains one of the best midfield options in FPL, and with Arsenal’s fixtures easing up after the Chelsea and Spurs games, he’s one to hold for the long haul.

Further Read: FPL GW12 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats

FPL GW12 Scout Picks – Forwards

Spearheading the team for FPL GW12 is a front three of Haaland (14.6m), Mateta (7.9m), and Joao Pedro (7.5m)…

Haaland retains the captaincy for the umpteenth consecutive gameweek, and honestly, why would we look elsewhere? The Norwegian has now scored 14 goals in 11 matches thus far in the league, and while Newcastle away is by no means the easiest fixture on paper, Haaland has proven time and time again that fixture difficulty is largely irrelevant when it comes to his output.

His underlying numbers are, as always, absurd, he’s a goal-scoring machine playing for a team that creates chances for fun – what more do you want?! Newcastle’s defensive record is actually pretty decent (they have the third best xGA in the league!), but they’re coming up against a City side that desperately needs a win to keep the pressure on title rivals Arsenal. Pep’s side have looked vulnerable at times this season, but Haaland continues to deliver regardless of the team’s form, so he’s an obvious choice for the AAFPL GW12 Scout Picks team!

Mateta is our second forward pick, with Crystal Palace traveling to face Wolves on Saturday afternoon. The Frenchman has been a decent FPL pick so far this season, but has under performed his underlying numbers, much to the annoyance of the FPL managers that put their faith in him! Palace’s attacks revolve around Mateta, and the Eagles have been creating a ridiculous number of chances this season (see section on Sarr…), so it makes sense to target their attackers this weekend when they face bottom of the league Wolves!

Wolves away is about as good a fixture as you can get right now. The Midlands side are winless all season, have conceded 25 goals, and look completely devoid of confidence. A new manager bounce could be on the cards, but they’re surely still one to target. Mateta was kept pretty quiet by Brighton’s defense in FPL GW11, so we’re hoping that the international break (in which he played just 80′ for France) has given him a chance to rest and recover in time for the Eagles’ trip to Birmingham this weekend.

Finally, we have Joao Pedro. The Brazilian had been putting up pretty poor numbers in FPL for a time, but a change in position and a bit of confidence has transformed him back into a decent little FPL asset! JP has now returned in back-to-back appearences having blanked every GW between GW5 and GW9. His 0.63 xGI/90 is alright for a premium forward, he remains Chelsea’s most nailed attacking option, and he continues to get into dangerous positions, especially when playing in a slightly deeper role. What makes JP appealing is his versatility – he can play as a number 9, as a 10, or out wide, which gives Moresca flexibility and ensures he’s almost always in the starting XI.

Chelsea face Burnley away in FPL GW12, which is one of the best fixtures you could ask for. JP has 7 goal involvements this season despite his recent blanks, and he’s surely overdue a haul… Chelsea have scored in every game bar one (FPL GW1 against Palace) so far this season, so goals are likely, and doubling up on Enzo and JP, the two most nailed and consistent attackers for the Blues, feels like a good use of funds this weekend.

Further Read: Best GWs to Use Your Free Hit & Triple Captain Chips (GW12–19)

FPL GW12 Scout Picks Full Team

Further Reads from ALLABOUTFPL Ahead of FPL GW12

Premier League Players who will miss PL due to AFCON 2025
Top FPL Gameweek 12 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
FPL Gameweek 12 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold, & Sell
Top FPL GW12 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of GW12 Deadline
FPL GW12 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
FPL GW12 – Fixtures & Players to Target for Gameweek 12
Best Defenders/Gabriel Replacements for FPL GW12 & Beyond
FPL GW12 Transfer Targets & Watchlist Based on Eye Test & Stats
Best GWs to Use Your Free Hit & Triple Captain Chips (GW12–19)
FPL GW12 Ultimate Guide: Tips, Differentials, Captaincy & More

Link to all our FPL GW12 blogs, including buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 12 of the 2025/26 FPL Season?

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