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Chip Strategy 2026-02-09

DGW26 Decision Room: Wildcard, Free Hit, or Triple Captain When Arsenal & Wolves Double

FPL Admin

FPL Elite Analyst

Introduction

Gameweek 26 is a classic chip week: two Double Gameweek (DGW) teams and a fixture list that creates clear “haves vs have-nots.” With Arsenal and Wolves playing twice, your chip choice should revolve around one question: how many DGW players can you field without damaging your team long-term?

The DGW26 Schedule (The Only Thing That Matters)

Double Gameweek Teams

  • •Arsenal
  • •Wolves

Arsenal’s DGW26 Fixtures

  • •Brentford vs Arsenal (difficulty: Arsenal 3)
  • •Wolves vs Arsenal (difficulty: Arsenal 2)

Takeaway: Arsenal have two away matches, but the second fixture is notably kinder (difficulty 2). This is the standout double.

Wolves’ DGW26 Fixtures

  • •Nott'm Forest vs Wolves (difficulty: Wolves 3)
  • •Wolves vs Arsenal (difficulty: Wolves 4)

Takeaway: Wolves get one reasonable fixture and one very tough one. Their double is more about minutes and volume than pure upside.

Quick Read on the Single-Gameweek Landscape

If you’re not using a chip, you’re effectively betting that single-gameweek fixtures can keep pace with double-gameweek volume.

Notable fixtures by difficulty (lower is better):

  • •Man City vs Fulham (difficulty: Man City 2, Fulham 4)
  • •Chelsea vs Leeds (difficulty: Chelsea 2, Leeds 3)
  • •Crystal Palace vs Burnley (difficulty: Palace 2, Burnley 3)

More balanced/uncertain:

  • •Spurs vs Newcastle (3 vs 3)
  • •Everton vs Bournemouth (3 vs 3)
  • •Aston Villa vs Brighton (3 vs 3)

Trickier spots:

  • •Sunderland vs Liverpool (difficulty: Sunderland 4, Liverpool 3)
  • •West Ham vs Man Utd (difficulty: West Ham 3, Man Utd 2)

Chip Strategy for GW26

1) Free Hit (Best for “I can’t reach DGW players” squads)

When Free Hit makes the most sense

Use Free Hit if:

  • •You currently have 0–2 Arsenal/Wolves players.
  • •Your team is locked into too many single-gameweek players and you’d need multiple transfers to catch up.
  • •You want to attack DGW26 hard without committing to Wolves players long-term.

Why it works in this specific schedule

  • •Arsenal’s double includes a strong second fixture (difficulty 2), making them the premium DGW target.
  • •Wolves’ double is mixed, so Free Hit lets you take only what you need for one week and walk away.

Free Hit build principles (data-led)

  • •Prioritise Arsenal heavily (they have the best DGW profile).
  • •Add select Wolves for the extra fixture volume, but don’t overdo it given the difficulty 4 match vs Arsenal.
  • •Round out with strong single-gameweek fixtures, especially:
    • •Man City vs Fulham (2 vs 4)
    • •Chelsea vs Leeds (2 vs 3)
    • •Crystal Palace vs Burnley (2 vs 3)

Verdict: If your current squad can’t naturally get to a strong Arsenal/Wolves core, Free Hit is the cleanest DGW26 solution.

2) Wildcard (Best if you want DGW26 AND a new team direction)

When Wildcard is the right call

Use Wildcard if:

  • •You can build a squad that benefits from Arsenal’s double now and still looks good after GW26.
  • •You want to restructure around fixture quality and stability.
  • •You’re comfortable carrying Arsenal assets beyond this week (their DGW is strong enough to justify it).

The key Wildcard question: Wolves—short-term boost or long-term burden?

  • •Wolves have a DGW, but one fixture is difficulty 4.
  • •On Wildcard, you should be careful not to overload on Wolves if you don’t want them after GW26.

Wildcard build principles (based on the fixture list)

  • •Lock in Arsenal coverage: they’re the DGW team with the best overall outlook in GW26.
  • •Limit Wolves exposure to what you’re happy owning beyond the double.
  • •Keep access to strong single-gameweek upside:
    • •Man City at home vs Fulham (difficulty 2) is the standout single fixture.

Verdict: Wildcard is ideal if you’re not just “chasing the double,” but rebuilding your team with Arsenal as a core.

3) Triple Captain (High-upside, but only if you can back the DGW profile)

When Triple Captain is viable in GW26

Triple Captain is best when:

  • •You already own (or can easily buy) a premium DGW player from Arsenal.
  • •You believe two fixtures—especially with one at difficulty 2—outweigh the best single-gameweek option.

Arsenal vs Wolves for Triple Captain

  • •Arsenal: two fixtures, including a notably favourable one (difficulty 2). This is the clear Triple Captain pool.
  • •Wolves: the difficulty 4 fixture makes them a far riskier Triple Captain bet.

The main alternative: ignore the double and captain a strong single fixture

  • •Man City vs Fulham (2 vs 4) is the best-looking single fixture on the slate.

Verdict: If you’re using Triple Captain in GW26, it should be on an Arsenal player, because their DGW is the most captain-friendly by difficulty.

Recommended Chip Path (Simple Decision Tree)

  • •Use Free Hit if you can’t get to strong Arsenal + some Wolves without ripping up your team.
  • •Use Wildcard if you want to rebuild and keep Arsenal as a long-term core while still benefiting from DGW26.
  • •Use Triple Captain if you already have the right Arsenal captain option and your team is otherwise stable.

Conclusion

GW26 is defined by one thing: Arsenal and Wolves doubling. Arsenal’s double—especially with a difficulty 2 fixture—makes them the priority for every chip strategy. If you can’t reach them naturally, Free Hit is the sharpest one-week weapon. If you want a broader reset, Wildcard lets you build around Arsenal while still respecting Wolves’ mixed double. And if you’re hunting maximum upside, Triple Captain belongs with Arsenal, not Wolves.