Arsenal will aim to stretch their winning run to five games in all competitions as they take on a Fulham side that caused them problems last season.
Fulham have clicked into gear this season, and their midweek win over Brighton & Hove Albion has pushed the Cottagers into sixth in the standings as they get set to host Arsenal at Craven Cottage this weekend. Marco Silva will be pleased with the performances of most of his players, as well as recent results, although there is still a bit of inconsistency lingering around.
They might have won in midweek and drawn away at Tottenham before that, but Fulham also lost to Wolves at home in what was a disappointing display from Silva’s men. Their summer activity has had a telling effect on their performances this season, as some of the new recruits have shined for Silva’s side.
However, there is still a need to get some big scalps, as their inability to beat top six teams could have an effect on their ambitions to finish in a European place. As they welcome Arsenal, Silva will want to replicate their performance against the North Londoners last season at Craven Cottage, when they ran out 2-1 winners.
Arsenal were in a tricky position the last time they played against Fulham at this venue. But this time around, Mikel Arteta will be confident there is no repeat of that performance. The Gunners are coming on the back of a solid 2-0 win at home to Manchester United, as two set pieces did the trick in the midweek fixture.
That win extended their winning run to four games across all competitions, and Arteta will want to stretch it to five matches. The midweek fixtures also boosted their chances of catching Liverpool at the top, as the Merseysiders dropped points against Newcastle United. For now, the Gunners are in third, and level on points with Chelsea in second, as the Blues are only ahead on goal difference.
The season is still long, and the Gunners have seemingly favourable fixtures coming through in a thick festive period, with most of them in London. Hence, they might have to keep winning and keeping the pressure at the very top, as more lost points will create an unwanted vaccum between those above them, as Arteta will target a win at Craven Cottage next.
With so much on the line, many fans will not hold back from placing wagers here and there. Punters rely on sites such as sportarena.hr to figure out where they can get the best odds. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Marco Silva will be without skipper Tom Cairney as he serves the second of his three-match ban following his straight red card against Tottenham last weekend. Harrison Reed and Joachim Andersen are out with knee and calf problems, respectively. Reiss Nelson suffered a hamstring injury against Brighton & Hove Albion and could be set for a spell on the sidelines. He will have missed the Arsenal clash anyway due to ineligibility.
While one former Gunner misses out, there will be three others starting against the North Londoners in goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi and Fulham’s record-signing Emile Smith Rowe. The latter will want to prove a point against his ex-team, as he wil feature in the attacking midfield role under Silva.
The Fulham boss will want to make only a few alterations from the team that won in the midweek tie, meaning Rodrigo Muniz might be in line to start against Arsenal instead of Raul Gimenez. Iwobi started in a midfield role in midweek, which could change as he could replace Nelson on the right wing, and Andreas Pereira could come in to partner up with Sander Berge centrally.
Meanwhile, Harry Wilson might retain his place on the right side of the attack. At the back, Issa Diop is set to continue playing alongside Calvin Bassey in the absence of Andersen, while Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson continue in their full-back roles.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Berge; Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is sweating on the fitness of key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori, with the Gunners boss stating they will make a late assessment of the duo based on their participation in the latest training session. Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko deputised for the duo in midweek, producing exceptional displays. They could be called up once again.
Between Gabriel and Calafiori, the former is more likely to return to fitness, as the latter’s issue is still not clear in terms of return timelines. Hence, the Brazilian might start at the heart of the defence, while Zinchenko could retain his place at left-back.
Beyond that, it is not easy to see any other changes in the lineup from midweek, although there is a chance that Arteta will bring in Leandro Trossard in place of Gabriel Martinelli on the left side of the front three. Bukayo Saka will continue on the right with the support of Martin Odegaard, who will closely thread around the right-hand side of the attack.
Thomas Partey will make another start at the base of the midfield, while Declan Rice will look to improve on his already imperious display in midfield. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will complete the backline, with the duo coming in thick with crucial goals on Wednesday against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Key Stats
Fulham have won four of their seven home games this season in the Premier League.
Fulham are unbeaten against Arsenal in their last two Premier League games.
Arsenal are undefeated in 29 of their last 32 matches in the Premier League.
Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
Arsenal have won their last three games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Jurrien Timber
Embed from Getty Images
The Arsenal defender has been one of the unsung heroes of the club’s solid run ever since the international break ended. Timber has been solid defensively, taking up the right-back slot since Ben White’s long-term injury, and in truth, the Englishman has not been missed during this period.
Timber has also shown no signs of concerns especially with many thinking about the consequences of playing more since his long-term knee problem. However, the Dutchman is steadily becoming a key part of Arteta’s plans, and the Fulham encounter will be another big test for the defender to come out and shine.
Prediction
Fulham 1-3 Arsenal
The Cottagers might be coming into this clash on the back of a big win over Brighton & Hove Albion, but their inconsistencies with results are what Arsenal will take a closer look at. Marco Silva’s men might have the comfort of Craven Cottage to play, but they are taking on by far the most in-form team in the country right now.
Arsenal might be under pressure to catch Liverpool in the title race, but they have not shown any signs of it in the last three games. Mikel Arteta will demand more ruthlessness from his players, and that could lead them to a victory at Craven Cottage, as they are expected to score more than two goals on Sunday.