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Arsenal ready for 'Big challenge' vs. Fulham

Arsenal face Fulham in the Premier League knowing the threat that Marco Silva's team present.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham at the weekend, the team that beat the Gunners in the corresponding fixture last season 2-1.

Fresh off a 2-0 win over Manchester United in which every person on the planet has had their say about the Gunners' potency from corners, Arteta's side must maintain the rage that has seen them win three games on the bounce if they are to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool, who face Everton this weekend.

Despite Fulham being 12th in the league and only winning one of their last three games, but at home, they are a tough proposition, and Arteta knows that this matchup will be anything but easy for his team.

"It’s going to be a big challenge which we experienced last year when we lost five points against them," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "I have been very complimentary about them, the coach and what they do, so it’s always a really tough place to go."

Andreas Pereira

So the Gunners return to where they lost one of their five games last season, but there is another key layer to this game that will pull at the heart strings of Arsenal fans.

Against Fulham, Arsenal will face former Gunners Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, all of which have combined for a total of nine goals and six assists in all competitions.

Nelson is doubtful to face the Gunners, given he suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Brighton, but still, there is enough of an Arsenal contingent to give this game some extra spice.

"I’m really happy for them," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "Reiss is still one of our own but the rest as well, and it will be great to see them."

Given the Gunners' poor stretch prior to the international break, they find themselves seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, so there is little margin for error, and three points are a must.

But playing away, against a team that beat you there last season and took five total points off you, while also facing three ex-players, it all adds up to a perfect storm for Arsenal.

But can Arteta's team calm that storm and make it four wins on the bounce? It looms as a difficult task but one they are more than capable of.

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