Holly Shand’s FPL Gameweek 4 Tips: Sell Saka And Hand Haaland The Armband

FPL pundit Holly Shand is back with some Gameweek 4 tips on SportsCasting, and she thinks it’s time to part ways with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka ahead of the North London Derby.

Hey FPL managers, Holly Shand here, and I’m back with some more tips ahead of Gameweek 4!

You might know me from my YouTube channel, where I’ve got over 30,000 subscribers, or perhaps you’ve seen my articles for The Athletic. I’m also a regular contributor to Sky Sports and the FPL Green Room Pod, so hopefully you’re familiar with my FPL takes!

I am also a regular guest on the Premier League’s official FPL Show, and I’ve recorded six Top 100k finishes and two Top 10k finishes across over eight years of playing FPL.

With Gameweek 4 on the horizon, I’ve got three tips to share as I take a look at who to sell, who to keep, and who to hand the captaincy to.

Three Tips For FPL Gameweek 4

Sell Bukayo Saka… For Now

It’s not very often in FPL where we can justify a fire sale for a premium player, especially when the candidate is one of just four assets to deliver an attacking return in each of the opening three gameweeks. However, there is a window of opportunity to release Bukayo Saka, especially in a move to afford both of the big two players: Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal have their two toughest games of the season up next: a trip to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the North London Derby, followed by a visit to the Etihad to meet their title nemesis Manchester City. It’s possible to sell Saka for the short-term and then look to reinvest back in Arsenal on a Gameweek 6 wildcard.

Add into the mix that Declan Rice is suspended for Gameweek 4 and captain Martin Odegaard limped off during international duty with an ankle injury, the stakes are not in favour of Arsenal during this period. Saka has also played 156 of a possible 180 minutes over the international break for England after a gruelling schedule last season.

Keep Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak looks set to be the most transferred out player ahead of the FPL Gameweek 4 deadline, despite being among the top ten scoring forwards in the opening three games of the season, with a goal and an assist for Newcastle United.

His winning goal against Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 3 was enough for him to scoop all three bonus points. It hasn’t been the most convincing start to the season for him or the Magpies, but he’s had eight shots on goal and faces Wolves next, who have conceded nine goals this campaign.

Isak was interviewed on international duty for Sweden about FPL and when asked whether he should be a captain pick this weekend, he said that he wants to try to score two goals to punish his sellers in the game. More returns are on the way for the Newcastle United talisman, who is also on penalties.

Hand Erling Haaland The Armband

When it comes to captaincy in FPL Gameweek 4, despite a favourable home game for Mohamed Salah, it’s hard to look past Erling Haaland. He’s had a sensational start to the season, with seven goals in three games to make an early quest for a third consecutive Golden Boot, with back to back hat-tricks doing wonders for his confidence.

His underlying numbers suggest that this elite finishing has been no fluke. Haaland comfortably leads all other players at the top of the key goal threat metrics, with ten shots on target, 12 shots in the box and seven big chances. The summer off has been advantageous for him.

A home game bodes well for yet more returns, with his standout performance to date coming at the Etihad, the backdrop for seven of his eight Premier League hat-tricks. Significantly, he’s also on penalties too. Haaland scored the only goal of the game the last time Brentford visited Manchester City.

You can follow @HollyShand on X for more analysis, and be sure to explore the best FPL tipsters offering their weekly advice on SportsCasting.