Gameweek 22 of Dream Team presents a unique captaincy conundrum, with double gameweeks for Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham offering enticing opportunities for substantial point hauls. The traditional wisdom dictates prioritizing players with two chances to score, thus narrowing the focus to assets from these four clubs. However, fixture difficulty and current form add layers of complexity to the decision-making process.
Mohamed Salah, the leading Dream Team points scorer with 339, emerges as the immediate frontrunner. Liverpool face Bournemouth and Tottenham, a seemingly favorable double gameweek on paper. However, Bournemouth’s recent resurgence, including impressive victories over Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, combined with their robust home defensive record, presents a significant challenge for Salah and Liverpool. While Salah boasts a remarkable 10.6 points-per-game average, the Bournemouth fixture carries risk. The subsequent match against a Tottenham side likely weakened by their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle offers a better chance for returns, especially if Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp prioritizes the Premier League. Therefore, Salah represents a safe, albeit not entirely risk-free, captaincy choice.
Alexander Isak, Newcastle’s prolific striker, provides a compelling alternative to Salah. Despite facing difficult opponents in Fulham and Arsenal, both matches are at home, a significant advantage for the Magpies. Isak’s impressive 230 points, achieved through 19 goals, places him among the elite Dream Team scorers, second only to Salah and Erling Haaland. His recent 13-point haul against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg further strengthens his case. While Newcastle’s double gameweek isn’t straightforward, Isak’s exceptional form and home advantage make him a serious contender for the armband.
Arsenal’s double gameweek against Manchester City and Newcastle presents a more complicated scenario. While players like Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz have recently contributed significant points, the daunting nature of these fixtures makes predicting individual returns difficult. Bukayo Saka’s absence through injury further complicates matters, removing a key attacking threat from consideration. Therefore, selecting an Arsenal captain requires a degree of speculation and arguably greater risk compared to Salah or Isak.
Tottenham’s double gameweek, featuring matches against Liverpool and Manchester United, also poses challenges for potential captains. While Son Heung-min, Pedro Porro, and Dejan Kulusevski have delivered impressive points tallies throughout the season, their consistency against top-tier opposition remains a question mark. Moreover, the Liverpool fixture, sandwiched between the Carabao Cup semi-final legs, could see a rotated Spurs side, further diminishing their appeal as captaincy options. Thus, compared to the more reliable Salah and Isak, Tottenham players represent a riskier, albeit potentially high-reward, choice.
Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s recent acquisition, presents a more speculative captaincy option. His impressive 29-point haul in Gameweek 21 undoubtedly caught the attention of Dream Team managers. However, relying on a single, albeit exceptional, performance for captaincy selection is inherently risky. While Gakpo’s potential is evident, his consistency remains unproven, particularly against challenging opposition like Bournemouth. Furthermore, Salah’s established pedigree and consistent returns make him a more reliable choice within the Liverpool squad.
In conclusion, Gameweek 22’s captaincy decision hinges on balancing risk and reward. Salah offers the safest option, backed by consistent high scoring and a potentially favorable second fixture. Isak provides a compelling alternative, with home advantage and exceptional form offsetting the difficulty of his opponents. Arsenal and Tottenham players present higher-risk, higher-reward options, with unpredictable fixtures and potential rotation impacting their reliability. Gakpo, while intriguing, remains a speculative choice due to his limited track record. Ultimately, the optimal captaincy decision depends on individual risk tolerance and the willingness to gamble on potentially explosive, yet less predictable, returns.
