Here’s a question most FPL managers get wrong: who actually takes the penalties at your club? Most of us chase form, fixtures, and ownership percentages — but ignore one of the most consistent point-scoring opportunities in fantasy football. Set piece takers, especially penalty takers, are printing points week after week while flying under the radar. That’s where real value lives.
Gameweek 32 offers a perfect case study. With matches spread across four days and several teams playing higher-difficulty opponents, set-piece dominance could separate your mini-league rivals from the rest. Let me break down exactly who’s taking what, and why this matters for your transfers.
Why Set Piece Takers Matter in FPL
A penalty is worth 5 points. A goal from open play is 4 points (for outfielders). That’s a 25% boost just for being the designated penalty taker at your club. If your club takes 2-3 penalties per season, that’s 10-15 guaranteed extra points compared to a non-penalty taker in the same role.
But it’s not just penalties. Corner and free-kick specialists accumulate assists quietly — especially defenders and midfielders. A defender scoring from a corner gets 10 points. A midfielder gets 5. When you’re hunting for bargain assets with high upside, set-piece takers often have better expected assist values than their shot maps suggest. They’re specialists at creating chaos in dangerous areas.
The real leverage, though, is ownership. Most FPL players obsess over the Haalands and Semenyo types. But look at the FPL360 Stats page — you’ll notice role-specific ownership gaps. Set-piece specialists often sit at 10-20% ownership while pulling 6-8 points per gameweek on average. That’s your edge.
FPL Penalty Takers by Club
Let’s get specific. Here are the confirmed penalty takers for Gameweek 32’s main contenders:
Man City & Man Utd
Erling Haaland (Man City, £14.4m) is the designated penalty taker — and at 197 points already, he’s cemented his role as the season’s dominant force. He’s taken 22 goals and likely 2-3 penalties already. The problem? 54.9% ownership means you can’t differentiate yourself owning him. B. Fernandes (Man Utd, £10.3m) handles penalties for United when he’s on the pitch — 8 goals, 17 assists, and form of 11.0 tells you he’s the creative heartbeat. His ownership (44.4%) is more reasonable, though hardly cheap at £10.3m.
Arsenal
This is where it gets interesting. Gabriel (Arsenal, £7.2m) has 173 points and isn’t primarily a penalty taker, but he’s a set-piece machine — 3 goals, 4 assists from corners and free kicks. More importantly, his 43.1% ownership is moderate. Rice (Arsenal, £7.3m, 26.2% owned) is the midfield heartbeat and takes free kicks in certain situations, but spot-kicks go to designated penalty specialists. The real value play here is understanding that Arsenal’s set-piece dominance flows through multiple players, not just one.
Chelsea & Liverpool
João Pedro (Chelsea, £7.8m) has been a points machine (164 points, 14G 9A) but he’s being transferred out massively (92k outs). Why? Fixture difficulty spikes after Gameweek 32. But here’s the thing — he takes penalties when available. Liverpool doesn’t have a singular penalty master in the current setup; the role rotates based on who’s on the pitch and the match situation. This is why checking team sheets matters more than chasing ownership.
Brentford & Fulham
Thiago (Brentford, £7.3m) is a pure finisher — 19 goals, only 1 assist, but he’s not the primary penalty taker. Brentford’s penalties typically go to Bryan Mbeumo or their designated striker, depending on the lineup. Wilson (Fulham, £6.1m, only 25.0% owned) is a midfielder with excellent set-piece positioning — 10 goals, 8 assists shows he’s finding space consistently. His low ownership makes him a classic FPL value play if Fulham faces teams giving up corners.
Corner & Free-Kick Specialists
Forget penalties for a moment. Who’s actually dangerous from set plays?
Gabriel (Arsenal) and J. Timber (Arsenal, £6.3m, 26.8% owned) are nightmare matchups for defenders because they’re both tall, physical, and positioned to attack headers at the back post. Tarkowski (Everton, £5.7m, only 11.5% owned) is absolutely underrated — 142 points from primarily defensive duties means he’s scoring from set pieces. His 7.0 recent form and massive transfer influx (82k in) suggests smart money is recognising this value.
Senesi (Bournemouth, £5.1m, 19.9% owned) has 137 points without a single goal — pure assists and clean sheets. That’s a defender who’s dangerous in the box. When you’re looking at your Fixture Difficulty tool, identify which defences are vulnerable to set-piece goals, then target the specialist takers from teams with good fixtures.
This Gameweek’s Set-Piece Opportunities
Gameweek 32 has three interesting fixtures for set-piece hunters:
Arsenal vs Bournemouth (Sat 11 Apr, 11:30): Arsenal (difficulty 5) at home is a chaos match. Bournemouth (difficulty 3) will likely be defending set pieces all afternoon. Gabriel and Timber are your targets if you’re looking for defensive points. Rice might grab an assist from a free kick — Arsenal’s midfield control should create opportunities.
Chelsea vs Man City (Sun 12 Apr, 15:30): Both are difficulty 4 matches (meaning they’re strong). João Pedro has been transferred out (92k), which usually signals smart money rotating away. But if he stays fit, he’s still Chelsea’s penalty taker. Manchester City’s Haaland dominance means fewer penalties go elsewhere, but midfield set-piece opportunities exist.
Man Utd vs Leeds (Mon 13 Apr, 19:00): Man Utd (difficulty 4) against Leeds (difficulty 2) is a classic mismatch. United should dominate possession and free kicks. B. Fernandes is the key — he’ll take dead-ball situations and create chances. Leeds’ relegation-form (they’re in the bottom half) makes them vulnerable to set-piece chaos.
Use the Captain Impact tool to model scenarios. If Arsenal play Bournemouth and you captain Gabriel, a clean sheet (4 pts) plus a header goal (15 pts) = 19 points. That’s a differential if only 10% of your mini-league owns him.
Value Plays: Set-Piece Assets You’re Missing
Let’s talk bargains. Tarkowski (Everton, £5.7m) has been transferred in 82k times this week — that’s smart money recognising value. He’s a defender with 142 points already, recent form of 7.0, and Everton play Brentford (difficulty 4) and Brighton (difficulty 3) soon. Set-piece specialist defenders are underowned because people focus on clean sheets, but Tarkowski is scoring from attacking output too.
Garner (Everton, £5.2m, only 4.3% owned) is a midfielder with 139 points. That’s absurd ownership for that output. He takes set pieces for Everton when Fernandes isn’t on the pitch, and he’s a pure value play — cheap, consistent, and flying under the radar.
Bowen (West Ham, £7.6m) has only 8.8% ownership despite 143 points. He’s West Ham’s penalty taker and set-piece specialist. The Hammers play Wolves (difficulty 2) this week — a match they should dominate. At 8.8% ownership, Bowen is a differential captain pick if West Ham gets multiple set pieces.
Check FPL360’s Price Changes page — Bowen’s ownership is rising but his price is stable. That’s usually a sign smart money is loading up before price rises. Jump on him before the deadline.
How to Identify Set-Piece Takers
Don’t just trust my word. Here’s how to verify who takes what at your target team:
Watch the first 3-5 minutes of recent matches. When a team gets a free kick or corner, who steps up? Do they take it every time, or does it rotate? Consistency is key. A player who takes 70% of set pieces is better than one who takes 40%.
Check injury lists and squad rotation. B. Fernandes takes Man Utd penalties, but if he’s injured, the role moves to someone else. This is why watching team news matters. Set-piece roles are more flexible than you think, especially in injury crises.
Understand your club’s set-piece profile. Does Arsenal dominate possession and get lots of free kicks? Yes. Do Leeds? No. Target specialists from teams that will get multiple set pieces in a given week. Use FPL360 Dashboard to track which teams are getting the most corner kicks and free kicks each week — that’s your signal.
Set-Piece Takers vs. Ownership: The Edge
Here’s the pattern I’ve noticed over 10+ years of FPL:
The moment set-piece specialists get noticed, they’re transferred in en masse, ownership spikes, and their point output stays the same — meaning you get no differential. The trick is finding them before the hype.
Tarkowski and Garner were flying under the radar three weeks ago. Now they’re being transferred in massively. The smart play is looking for the next Tarkowski — a defender or midfielder at a mid-table club who’s been overlooked because their team’s form is poor, but who takes set pieces consistently.
Look at the Live Table each week. Identify teams with upcoming easy fixtures who also have set-piece specialists. That’s where value emerges before the masses notice.
FAQ: FPL Set Piece Takers
Who takes penalties for Man City in FPL GW32?
Erling Haaland is Man City’s primary penalty taker. He’s taken the vast majority of City’s spot kicks this season, contributing significantly to his 22 goals. At 197 points and 54.9% ownership, he’s a must-have, though not a differential.
Are set piece takers good value in FPL?
Absolutely, especially when underowned. A penalty taker at 10-30% ownership with consistent form is a genuine edge. You’re getting 5 guaranteed points instead of 4 for open-play goals, plus assists from free-kick specialists. The key is timing — grab them before ownership spikes.
Who takes corners for Arsenal in FPL?
Arsenal’s corners are typically taken by defenders (Gabriel, Timber) and midfielders (Rice) depending on the situation. Gabriel and Timber are the primary attacking targets from set pieces — they’re both tall, physical, and positioned at the back post. Rice occasionally takes set pieces but is more focused on midfield control.
Can set piece roles change mid-season?
Yes. Injuries, tactical shifts, and managerial changes all affect set-piece duties. Always check team news before Gameweek deadlines. A player who’s been taking penalties might be benched or rotated, shifting the role to a backup. This is why staying engaged with your team’s current lineup matters.
The Bottom Line
Set-piece takers are FPL’s most underrated value source. They offer guaranteed point-scoring opportunities (penalties), consistent assist potential, and often sit at 10-40% ownership while delivering 6-9 points per gameweek on average. The teams printing value right now are Tarkowski and Garner at Everton, Bowen at West Ham, and Rice at Arsenal.
For Gameweek 32 specifically, target set-piece specialists facing weaker defences — Arsenal’s corners against Bournemouth, Man Utd’s free kicks against Leeds, and West Ham’s set pieces against Wolves. Model these in the Captain Impact tool before the Friday 17:30 deadline.
The edge in FPL isn’t rocket science. It’s noticing what everyone else misses. Set-piece takers are right there, scoring quietly, waiting for you to notice.
