Fantasy Football Tips - 5 Essential Transfers For Gameweek 18

5. Per Mertesacker

Team: Arsenal Value: £6.1 million Points In GW17: 9 Arsenal have taken most people by surprise in the first half of the season, surging to the top of the Premier League and staying there for three months until being displaced this week. Only goal-difference keeps the Gunners off the summit and they will be there or there abouts in the New Year when the title race gets really interesting. And for that they owe as much to their defenders as they do attackers Mesut Ozil and Oliver Giroud, for Arsenal have the second-best defensive record in the topflight, conceding just 17 league goals. Only Everton have let in fewer as Per Mertesacker and co. have marshalled a pretty stringent back-line, so there's perhaps little wonder why the German finds himself in the Fantasy Football Dream Team. And he's yours to have now for as little as £6.1 million - a total bargain. Expect him to keep another shut-out against a West Ham side who are circling the drain at present.