Gameweek 13: Palace Defender Explodes & Essential Arsenal Star Revealed

Welcome back to Who Got The Points? - your daily FPL briefing delivered straight to your inbox. Thanks for being part of our community of savvy FPL managers who want the analysis without the waffle.

Gameweek 12 delivered some absolute bangers, and we're here to break down exactly what it means for your Gameweek 13 squad. We're talking about a Palace wing-back on fire, an Arsenal midfielder who just announced himself as essential, and the budget defenders quietly racking up clean sheets while everyone sleeps on them.

Nottingham Forest's defensive assets are genuinely flying under the radar right now. Murillo grabbed 17 points in Gameweek 12 with a goal and clean sheet. The Tricky Trees face an improving Manchester United side next, but their defensive structure remains solid and worth your attention.

Crystal Palace continue their impressive defensive run with six clean sheets this season. Dean Henderson and the back line face Newcastle away - a tougher test, but one where their organization could absolutely pay dividends.

Arsenal's Eze has exploded into life with 20 points in Gameweek 12 after his hat-trick heroics. With Arsenal keeping six clean sheets defensively and now attacking returns flowing through him, Arsenal assets are becoming essential ahead of their home fixture against Fulham.

Everton secured their fourth clean sheet of the season as Michael Keane continues to deliver exceptional value at just £4.5m. David Moyes has clearly tightened things up at the back.

📊 The Numbers: 230,000+ transfers in | 20.1% ownership | 74 total points

Gameweek 12 Performance: 14 points with a goal, clean sheet, and three bonus points

Season Stats: 2 goals, 3 assists, six clean sheets in twelve games

The Colombian wing-back is playing as a winger in all but name under Oliver Glasner. He's got the attacking freedom to bomb forward constantly while Palace's defensive organization keeps the clean sheets coming. Yes, Newcastle away isn't ideal, but their defensive solidity makes him a strong asset regardless of fixture.

Expected Points GW13: 8.7

✅ VERDICT: ESSENTIAL. At under £6m, he's the best defender in the game right now for points per game. If you don't own him, fix that immediately.

📊 The Numbers: 282,000 transfers in | 15.4% ownership | 61 total points

Gameweek 12 Performance: 20 points from a hat-trick

Season Stats: 4 goals, 3 assists - returned in four of his last five matches

Playing centrally in Mikel Arteta's attack with creative freedom, Eze is recording consistent returns while benefiting from Arsenal's six clean sheets this season. He faces Fulham at home where Arsenal should dominate possession and create chances by the bucketload.

Expected Points GW13: 9.3 - tells you everything you need to know

✅ VERDICT: ESSENTIAL. At this price point with Arsenal's fixtures, he's a must-have midfielder for the next month. The form is there, the fixtures are there, the underlying numbers are there.

📊 The Numbers: 18,000+ transfers in | 1.6% ownership | 65 total points

Gameweek 12 Performance: 9 points with a clean sheet and bonus point

Season Stats: 2 goals, four clean sheets

David Moyes has tightened up Everton defensively, and at £4.5m, Keane offers incredible value for your fifth defender slot. He's a genuine differential at just 1.6% ownership but delivers consistent returns.

Expected Points GW13: 9.3 vs Manchester United at home

✅ VERDICT: GOOD. If you need budget enablers to fund your premium picks, this is smart business. He won't get huge hauls, but consistent returns at that price are absolute gold.

📊 The Numbers: 106,000 transfers out | 12.6% ownership

Just one point in Gameweek 12, and he's blanked in three of his last four matches. Only two goals and three assists all season isn't good enough at that price point. With Thiago now the focal point of Brentford's attack and fixtures turning, Mbeumo's value has diminished significantly.

🚫 VERDICT: SELL. That £7.3m is better used on Eze or holding for premium strikers. He's not delivering consistent returns anymore.

📊 The Numbers: 60,000+ transfers out

Just two points in Gameweek 12 after coming off the bench for only 16 minutes. His minutes remain a major concern under Ruben Amorim. Yes, four goals and two assists this season sounds decent, but the lack of guaranteed starts makes him impossible to own. At nearly £9m, you need every minute of every match.

🚫 VERDICT: SELL. Too expensive for a rotation risk. Wait until Amorim's system settles and Rashford nails down a starting spot before reconsidering.

📊 The Numbers: 48,000 transfers out

He played 69 minutes in Gameweek 12 but delivered just two points with no goal or assist. Three goals all season from a striker priced at nearly £6m isn't acceptable. Everton's attacking output remains poor, and even with David Moyes improving their defensive shape, the goals aren't flowing.

🚫 VERDICT: SELL. That £5.9m gets you much better options. Thiago at £6.5m is a far superior choice for just half a million more.

These are the players flying under the radar but delivering serious points. Perfect for managers looking to gain rank with smart picks that aren't template.

📊 Ownership: Just 4.7% | 67 total points

Gameweek 12: 11 points with an assist, clean sheet, and two bonus points

Season: Six clean sheets and 2 assists from defense

Playing as the right-sided center back in a back four, he's aggressive in possession and gets forward on set pieces. Palace's defensive form makes their backline serious options, and at £5.0m, he's cheaper than Muñoz if you want Palace defensive coverage. Could easily return another double-digit haul.

📊 Ownership: Just 3.1% | 50 total points

Gameweek 12: 9 points with an assist and clean sheet

Playing in central midfield with license to push forward, he's recording defensive contributions while also creating chances. 21,000 transfers in shows people are catching on. Forest's defensive structure means midfielders like Anderson can rack up points through tackles, interceptions, and the occasional assist.

📊 Ownership: Just 2.1% | 30 total points

Gameweek 12: 17 points after scoring and keeping a clean sheet with three bonus points

The Brazilian center back is Forest's most aggressive defender, winning aerial duels and pushing into the box for corners. 26,000 managers brought him in after that haul. At £5.3m with Forest's upcoming fixtures against Ipswich and Aston Villa, he's a serious differential who could haul again.

EZE (ARSENAL) - £7.7m

Playing at home against Fulham with 9.3 expected points, fresh off a hat-trick, and Arsenal needing to maintain pressure at the top of the table. He's on penalties, takes set pieces, and is the focal point of their attack.

Safe captaincy with huge upside. This is the obvious choice this week and sometimes obvious is exactly what you need.

Don't overlook defensive contributing midfielders this week. Players like Elliot Anderson are delivering clean sheet points plus attacking potential while flying completely under the radar. Check defensive stats when picking your midfield, not just goals and assists. These players can quietly outscore flashier options.

Gameweek 13 deadline is Saturday at 1:30 PM. Get those transfers done early and avoid the last-minute panic. You know how this goes - international break injuries always pop up at the worst possible time.

That's your complete breakdown for Gameweek 13. Make your moves wisely, and we'll see you back here tomorrow with more FPL insights to help you climb those ranks.

Good luck this weekend!

Stay ahead of the game - subscribe at whogotthepoints.com for daily FPL insights delivered straight to your inbox.