Haaland vs Gyokeres: Whom to pick in Your FPL Team?

If you’re torn between picking Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyokeres for your FPL team this season, you’re not alone. This season, all eyes will be on Haaland vs Gyokeres to see if the Swede can live up to the hype and give Haaland a run for his money in the race for the Golden Boot. Let’s dive into what each brings to the fantasy table, how Arsenal and Manchester City’s styles could affect their returns, and, crucially, who looks set to score the most FPL points in 2025/26.

Erling Haaland: The FPL Juggernaut

In FPL, Haaland’s name is practically shorthand for big points. Last season, even though some claimed he was below his best, he still racked up 22 goals and three assists in 31 matches for a hefty 181 points. That’s a slight dip compared to his 217-point haul the year before, but still enough to put him amongst FPL royalty.
He’s as nailed-on in Manchester City’s starting XI as anyone, and with the Norwegian fit, City’s attack is engineered to unleash him. His massive price tag in FPL this year, £14.0m, reflects his unrivalled goal threat. And while some managers hesitate at the price, history says: ignore the Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland at your own peril.

Viktor Gyokeres: The New Gunslinger at Arsenal

So, who is Viktor Gyokeres, and does he really stack up? Arsenal’s marquee striker signing has landed in London after a monstrous 2024/25 at Sporting CP, where he posted 54 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, with a stunning 39 league goals. Yes, Portuguese football is different, but those numbers are wild.
Gyokeres is expected to lead the line for Arsenal, starting most league matches when fit, and could be on penalties (he scored 12 spot-kicks last year). Arsenal’s creative engine room, featuring the likes of Ødegaard and Saka, should generate plenty of chances for him. FPL predictors are estimating a juicy 205-235 points if he adapts well, with 21 goals and seven assists put forth as realistic targets. At £9.0m, he’s a bargain compared to Haaland and offers serious differential value early in the season to build your best FPL team.

Arsenal’s Style: Built For A No.9

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have become one of Europe’s most tactically advanced sides, moving beyond the predictable to a fluid 4-3-3 that transitions into a variety of shapes in-game. Their play is all about positional dominance, pressing, and exploiting space with quick combinations, especially down the flanks and through the middle.
What does this mean for Gyokeres? Arsenal’s attack is set up to create high-value chances for a central striker. With set-piece mastery and overlapping fullbacks, Gyokeres can feast on service from multiple avenues. The high pressing and winning the ball in dangerous areas should give him more shots at easy tap-ins, a fantasy dream.

Manchester City’s Philosophy: Haaland’s Heaven

The treble-winning Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola never stands still. Across the 2024/25 season, City blended their classic possession dominance with a sharper edge, especially since Haaland’s arrival. The side typically lines up with a 4-3-3, but constantly morphs into a 3-2-5 or similar structures in possession, flooding the final third and maximising space for Erling Haaland to exploit.
With creative wingers like Doku and Savinho stretching the play, Haaland often finds himself in the perfect spots, either to run in behind or poach in the box. City scores by committee at times, and there’s always some rotation risk under Pep, but Haaland, when fit, is still at the heart of everything good City does going forward.

Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyokeres - Who’ll Score More FPL Points?

Let’s be honest, nobody is truly “safe” from a Pep roulette spin, but Haaland still carries the highest points ceiling in the game. If you can afford him, he’s a proven set-and-forget captain who’ll almost always be involved when City score, and he’s shown he can deliver monster hauls, even if the price feels eye-watering.
Gyokeres, meanwhile, presents some tantalising upside. Arsenal’s style could help him shine right away, and his price allows you to splash cash elsewhere. FPL models project roughly 205–235 points if he converts at a high rate, with a strong likelihood of outperforming budget and mid-priced forwards. Yet if we weigh track records, Haaland is still a hair ahead as a source of consistent double-digit returns week in, week out for the best FPL team.

The Final Call

If you can craft a well-balanced squad around Haaland’s premium price tag, he remains the top dog for his explosiveness and captaincy safety. But if you’re looking for a smart differential, value, or want to zig while others zag, Gyokeres is a calculated gamble that could pay off handsomely, especially if Arsenal’s style unleashes him from day one.
Our verdict? Haaland remains the must-own FPL Player if budget allows, but Gyokeres is easily the best alternative, and the only one with a realistic shot at challenging the big man for the FPL striker crown this season.