Proactive FPL Transfers Balance Short-Term Needs With Long-Term Value

Key Quotes

"on timber arteta said it depends how he feels today it's a matter of days now there's lots of strong opinions on whether timber will start or not my opinion is the same as most people he probably will start but there is some doubt there because he wasn't in the champions league squad mid week and apparently he traveled now lots of people have kind of put that together and said well if he was that bad why would they have taken him at all but actually there was a quote after the champions league game which i didn't see until today and this was so this was after the game arteta said we had a lot of players out as well in the defensive line and we lost two this morning so it was a challenging one"

Andy, the podcast host, explains that Arsenal manager Arteta indicated Jurrien Timber's availability is uncertain, describing it as "a matter of days." Andy notes that despite Timber traveling with the squad for a Champions League match, his participation against Wolves is doubtful, suggesting that Arteta's comments about losing defensive players that morning might explain why Timber was with the team even if not fully fit.

"my prediction would be a start especially with the amount of injuries they've got like if saliba does miss out and timber is not available either with a muscular injury they're back to playing like someone like norgard at center back like they did in the champions league so i think timber will be given every chance to play but just keep in mind arteta said it's a matter of days about saliba and that was about three or four games ago so i there is some doubt there"

Andy suggests that Jurrien Timber will likely start for Arsenal, given the team's injury concerns in defense. He reasons that if both Saliba and Timber are unavailable, Arsenal might have to play a less experienced player like Norgard at center-back, as they did in a recent Champions League match. Andy cautions, however, that there remains some doubt about Timber's availability, referencing Arteta's previous comments about Saliba's recovery timeline.

"for my team it might be quite handy to be able to sell timber this week so i am kind of looking for reasons to do it so take that subconscious bias into account when you hear what i'm saying in this one but he is a doubt i think anyone that's like 100 certain timber will start is kind of kidding themselves but my prediction would be a start especially with the amount of injuries they've got"

Andy admits to a potential subconscious bias in his assessment of Jurrien Timber's availability, stating he is "looking for reasons to do it" to sell Timber from his own Fantasy Premier League team. He acknowledges that Timber is a doubt for the upcoming match and advises against absolute certainty regarding his start. Despite this, Andy still predicts Timber will likely play due to Arsenal's defensive injuries.

"if you've got a decent bench and you want to keep saliba long term absolutely fine to play him this week if your team is in a bit more trouble and it would help to sell him i still think that's okay like i guess he's not guaranteed to be back for everton but according to arteta he should be so what you do really depends on your team setup"

Andy advises Fantasy Premier League players on how to handle William Saliba's potential absence. He suggests that if a player has a strong bench, it's acceptable to keep Saliba and play him this week, especially if they intend to keep him long-term. However, Andy notes that if a team is in a more precarious position, selling Saliba might be a reasonable option, even though Arteta expects him to be available for the following match.

"i still personally believe any key player will play game week 16 and they won't go for african cup of nations until game week 17 onwards so if you've got in burmo i wouldn't be in a mad panic but i can't guarantee it like based on what amorim said there's three days to go and we still don't know whether they're going to be in the squad against bournemouth"

Andy expresses his belief that key players will participate in Gameweek 16 before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gameweek 17. He advises against panicking if a player like in-form Mohamed Amad Diallo is in their Fantasy Premier League team, but he cannot offer a guarantee. Andy highlights that even with only three days until the match, the club is still uncertain about which players will be available.

"for me obviously don't take him out for a hit or anything like that and if you want to keep him long term it's absolutely fine but i still just don't think we're going to see the minutes over the next three to four game weeks to warrant keeping mateta there especially when you can get cheaper options and free up some money so i think for most people mateta is still probably a sell"

Andy discusses Jean-Philippe Mateta's Fantasy Premier League prospects, advising against transferring him out for a penalty (a "hit") and stating it's fine to keep him long-term. However, Andy believes Mateta's expected minutes over the next few gameweeks are insufficient to justify keeping him, especially when cheaper alternatives can free up funds. Therefore, Andy concludes that Mateta is likely a sell for most players.