FPL Blank & Double Gameweek Guide 2025/26: DGW26 Arsenal & Wolves Strategy

Double Gameweek 26 is confirmed! Arsenal and Wolves will both play twice in Gameweek 26 after their fixture was brought forward, creating the first major double gameweek planning opportunity of 2025/26. Both teams will then blank in Gameweek 31 during the Carabao Cup final.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about navigating DGW26 and BGW31, including the best players to target, chip strategies, and long-term planning.

📅 Confirmed Blank & Double Gameweeks

Double Gameweek 26 ✅ CONFIRMED

Arsenal fixtures:

vs Brentford (A)
vs Wolves (A)

Wolves fixtures:

vs Nottingham Forest (A)
vs Arsenal (H)

Why it's happening: Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final, reaching the final. With no Champions League playoff commitments, the Gunners have a free midweek, allowing their GW31 fixture against Wolves to be moved forward to GW26.

Blank Gameweek 31 ⚠️ PARTIALLY CONFIRMED

Confirmed blanks:

❌ Arsenal (Carabao Cup final)
❌ Wolves (fixture moved to GW26)

Additional blank (TBC):

❌ Man City vs Crystal Palace OR
❌ Newcastle vs Sunderland

What's happening: The Carabao Cup final is on the GW31 weekend. Arsenal will face either Man City or Newcastle (second leg Feb 5, City lead 2-0). Whichever team reaches the final will blank in GW31, along with their potential cup opponents (Palace or Sunderland).

Most likely scenario: Man City to reach the final, meaning Man City and Crystal Palace both blank in GW31.

Future Blank & Double Gameweeks

Gameweek	Type	Cause	Status
GW26	Double	Arsenal/Wolves fixture moved	✅ Confirmed
GW31	Blank	Carabao Cup final	⚠️ Partial
GW33	Double	Postponed fixtures rescheduled	🔮 Expected
GW34	Blank	FA Cup semi-finals	🔮 Expected
GW36	Double	FA Cup-related postponements	🔮 Expected
GW37	Blank	FA Cup final	🔮 Expected

🎯 Arsenal Players to Target for DGW26

Arsenal's double gameweek creates premium opportunities, though both fixtures are away from home (Brentford, Wolves).

Gabriel (DEF, £7.0m, 39.8% owned)

The Premium DGW26 Pick

129 total points - 4th highest in FPL
5.8 form - excellent current performance
Two away fixtures, but Arsenal's defense remains elite
Set-piece goal threat (3 goals, 1.72 xG this season)
Already highly owned - template player

Verdict: Essential DGW26 asset. Two clean sheet opportunities + attacking threat = huge captain potential.

Declan Rice (MID, £7.5m, 32.1% owned)

Midfield Security with DEFCON Upside

129 points - tied with Gabriel
2.5 form - quieter recently but DGW value
DEFCON potential across two matches
Nailed starter, guaranteed 180 minutes
Box-to-box threat (season: impressive underlying stats)

Verdict: Safe DGW26 hold. Two games maximize DEFCON scoring opportunities. Consider but don't chase.

Jurrien Timber (DEF, £6.3m, 28.4% owned)

Value Defender Alternative

115 points - excellent for £6.3m
4.2 form - consistent performer
Cheaper route into Arsenal's double defense
Same clean sheet potential as Gabriel
£0.7m cheaper than Gabriel

Verdict: Budget-friendly Arsenal defensive coverage. Ideal for managers priced out of Gabriel.

Bukayo Saka (MID, £10.0m, 13.1% owned)

High-Risk Premium Differential

101 points - solid but underwhelming for price
1.5 form - recent struggles
Two away fixtures not ideal
13.1% ownership - differential appeal
Arsenal's main attacking outlet when firing

Verdict: Risky DGW26 punt. Form concerns and away fixtures make this speculative. Only for the brave seeking differential captains.

Martin Zubimendi (MID, £5.2m, 2.3% owned)

Budget Enabler with DGW Upside

91 points - exceptional for £5.2m
4.8 form - consistent underlying performer
DEFCON potential doubled across two games
4 goals this season from deep
Virtually unowned (2.3%)

Verdict: Brilliant budget enabler for DGW26. Two games of DEFCON + clean sheets + surprise goal threat. Perfect 5th mid spot.

David Raya (GKP, £5.9m, 33.4% owned)

Template Goalkeeper Play

99 points - elite GK returns
4.8 form - Arsenal's defensive rock
Two clean sheet opportunities
Save points potential

Verdict: If you have Raya, hold through DGW26. If not, rotation risk with other GKs makes this optional.

🐺 Wolves Players to Target for DGW26

Wolves' double fixtures are interesting but come with significant caveats: Forest (A) and Arsenal (H). The Arsenal fixture is extremely difficult.

João Gomes (MID, £5.3m, 0.1% owned)

Deep Differential DGW Play

60 points - modest but for context
3.2 form - below our usual differential threshold
Virtually invisible ownership (0.1%)
DEFCON potential across two matches
Extremely risky given fixtures

Verdict: Only for desperate differential seekers. Arsenal (H) will be brutal. Forest (A) offers opportunity but form concerns linger.

Hugo Bueno & Santiago Bueno (DEF, £4.3m-£4.4m)

Budget Defense Gamble

52 points each - rotation risks
Very cheap enablers
Clean sheet vs Forest possible
Arsenal fixture kills upside

Verdict: Avoid. Too risky for DGW26 with rotation concerns and one terrible fixture.

⚠️ Wolves Warning

Wolves' underlying numbers and form don't justify chasing their DGW26. Arsenal (H) is FDR 5-level difficulty, and Forest away isn't guaranteed returns. Skip Wolves players unless desperate for differentials.

🎴 Chip Strategy for DGW26 & BGW31

Should You Use Triple Captain in DGW26?

Arguments FOR:

✅ Only Arsenal and Wolves double - easy to captain concentrate
✅ Gabriel offers elite floor (clean sheets + goal threat)
✅ Early-season chip usage frees planning later
✅ Arsenal's defensive numbers support clean sheet doubles

Arguments AGAINST:

❌ Both Arsenal fixtures are away
❌ Limited to 2 teams (Arsenal/Wolves only)
❌ Bigger doubles expected later (GW33, GW36)
❌ BGW31 immediately follows - planning complexity

Our Recommendation: HOLD your Triple Captain. DGW26 is small (2 teams only) and Arsenal's away fixtures reduce ceiling. Bigger, better doubles are coming in GW33 and GW36.

Should You Use Bench Boost in DGW26?

Arguments FOR:

✅ Can maximize Arsenal defensive coverage (Gabriel + Timber + Raya)
✅ Budget players like Zubimendi gain double value

Arguments AGAINST:

❌ Only 2 teams double - most of your bench won't play twice
❌ Requires heavy Arsenal/Wolves investment
❌ BGW31 looming means transfers wasted

Our Recommendation: SAVE Bench Boost for a larger double where 5-6+ teams play twice. DGW26 doesn't justify the chip.

Should You Use Free Hit in BGW31?

Current BGW31 Teams:

Arsenal (blank)
Wolves (blank)
Man City or Newcastle (blank - TBC)
Crystal Palace or Sunderland (blank - TBC)

Arguments FOR Free Hit BGW31:

✅ If you load up on Arsenal for DGW26, you'll have blanks in GW31
✅ 4+ teams potentially blanking
✅ Removes need to transfer out Arsenal assets

Arguments AGAINST:

❌ Only 4 teams confirmed (possibly 6 max)
❌ Can navigate with transfers
❌ Bigger blanks expected GW34, GW37

Our Recommendation: Save Free Hit unless you're holding 3+ Arsenal/Wolves/City players through GW31. Most managers can transfer out 1-2 Arsenal players and field 10-11.

Should You Use Wildcard Before DGW26?

If You Have a Wildcard Available:

Use it IF:

✅ Your team structure is broken
✅ You want to load 3-4 Arsenal players for DGW26
✅ You can plan GW25 → GW26 → GW31 seamlessly

Don't use it IF:

❌ Your team is functional
❌ You only want 1-2 Arsenal players
❌ You need WC for later (injuries, price drops)

Our Recommendation: Only wildcard if you're restructuring anyway. Don't wildcard solely for a 2-team double.

📊 Optimal DGW26 Strategy by Team Structure

Strategy 1: Template Approach (Recommended)

Arsenal coverage: 2 players

Gabriel (DEF) - essential
Rice (MID) or Timber (DEF)

Logic: You get DGW26 upside from Arsenal's best assets without overcommitting before BGW31.

GW31 Plan: Transfer out 1 Arsenal player, field 10-11

Chips: Save all chips for later doubles/blanks

Strategy 2: Aggressive DGW26 Exploit

Arsenal coverage: 3-4 players

Gabriel (DEF)
Timber (DEF)
Raya (GKP)
Zubimendi (MID)

Wolves coverage: 0-1 players

Maybe Gomes as ultra-differential

Logic: Max out on Arsenal, ignore Wolves' tough fixtures

GW31 Plan: Use Free Hit OR wildcard GW30-31 OR take -4/-8 hits

Chips: Potential Triple Captain on Gabriel

Strategy 3: Conservative Approach

Arsenal coverage: 1 player

Gabriel (DEF) only

Wolves coverage: 0 players

Logic: Don't disrupt team for small double, focus on GW25 template

GW31 Plan: One transfer handles blank easily

Chips: Save everything for bigger gameweeks

🗓️ Transfer Planning Timeline

GW25 (Current):

Build best team for GW25 fixtures
Don't transfer FOR DGW26 yet (waste of value)
Consider Arsenal players if they have good GW25 fixtures too

GW26 (Double Gameweek):

Use transfers to add Gabriel if not owned
Consider Timber/Zubimendi if budget allows
Captain Gabriel (safest) or Saka (differential)

GW27-30:

Hold Arsenal assets through good fixtures
Monitor cup final opponent for BGW31

GW31 (Blank):

Transfer out 1-2 Arsenal players before deadline
Replace with form players from teams with fixtures
Free Hit if you're stuck with 3+ blanks

🎯 DGW26 Captaincy Rankings

Player	Team	Safety	Ceiling	Ownership	Verdict
Gabriel	Arsenal	🟢 High	Medium	39.8%	Safest DGW26 captain
Rice	Arsenal	🟢 High	Medium	32.1%	Safe, lower ceiling
Saka	Arsenal	🟡 Medium	High	13.1%	Risky differential
Timber	Arsenal	🟢 High	Low	28.4%	Budget safe option
Zubimendi	Arsenal	🟡 Medium	Medium	2.3%	Ultra-differential

Our Captain Recommendation: Gabriel - Two clean sheet opportunities, set-piece threat, elite floor with attacking ceiling.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overloading on Wolves

Wolves have two tough fixtures (Forest A, Arsenal H). Don't chase DGW points from a struggling team.

2. Using Triple Captain Too Early

DGW26 is small (2 teams). Bigger doubles are coming. Be patient.

3. Forgetting About BGW31

Loading 4+ Arsenal players for DGW26 creates chaos in BGW31. Balance is key.

4. Transferring for DGW26 in GW24

Wait until GW25 deadline. Don't waste transfers early.

5. Ignoring Single Gameweek Value

Gabriel and Rice are good picks regardless of DGW26. Don't force Saka just for the double.

📈 Long-Term Planning: GW26-31

Optimal Path:

GW25: Standard team, eye Arsenal coverage
GW26: 2-3 Arsenal players, captain Gabriel
GW27-30: Hold Arsenal through good fixtures
GW31: Transfer out 1-2 Arsenal, navigate blank with 10-11 players
Post-GW31: Reassess for GW33 double

Chips Timeline:

Triple Captain: Save for GW33/GW36 larger doubles
Bench Boost: Save for GW33/GW36 larger doubles
Free Hit: GW34 or GW37 blank (FA Cup)
Wildcard: Use if team broken, not solely for DGW26

🔮 Future Planning

Expected Later This Season:

GW33 Double (Expected):

Multiple teams (4-6+) playing twice
Postponed fixtures from early season
Prime Triple Captain opportunity

GW34 Blank (FA Cup Semi-Finals):

4 teams blank (semi-finalists)
Potential Free Hit target

GW36 Double (Expected):

Large double (6-8 teams)
Prime Bench Boost opportunity

GW37 Blank (FA Cup Final):

2 teams blank (finalists)
Easy to navigate with transfers

✅ Final Recommendations

Best DGW26 Approach:

Bring in Gabriel (or hold if owned) - Essential DGW26 asset
Consider Timber as budget Arsenal defender
Keep Rice if owned, don't chase if not
Add Zubimendi if you need a £5.2m enabler
Avoid Wolves unless desperately seeking differentials
Captain Gabriel - Safest DGW26 armband
Save all chips - DGW26 too small to justify usage

BGW31 Approach:

Don't panic - Only 4-6 teams blank
Transfer out 1-2 Arsenal players in GW30-31
Field 10-11 players - Acceptable for one week
Save Free Hit for GW34 or GW37

📚 Key Takeaways

✅ DGW26: Arsenal (2 away games), Wolves (1 easy, 1 hard)
✅ BGW31: Arsenal, Wolves, + 2 more teams blank
✅ Best picks: Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi
✅ Captain: Gabriel (safest DGW26 option)
✅ Chips: Save all for later gameweeks
✅ Strategy: 2-3 Arsenal, 0 Wolves, navigate BGW31 with transfers

Successfully navigating blanks and doubles separates good FPL managers from great ones. DGW26 offers a modest opportunity with Arsenal's double, but the real value comes from not overreacting and saving chips for bigger gameweeks ahead.

🔗 More FPL Planning Tools at fpl-lab.com

Sources:

Fantasy Football Hub DGW/BGW Guide
FPL API (verified player stats and fixtures)
Ben Crellin fixture forecasting

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