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Premier League action returns this weekend as we gear up for a London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage, where we’ll be aiming to add to our lead at the top of the table.
Our last two trips to south-west London slightly tarnish what is otherwise a strong record on the other side of the Thames. We had won five consecutive matches at Craven Cottage before a 2-1 defeat on New Year’s Eve 2023 – just our penultimate loss of the season, and one that still lingers in the memory.
We couldn’t claim all three points on our most recent visit either, just under a year later. An early Raul Jimenez goal put the Cottagers ahead, before William Saliba levelled things up in the second half. Bukayo Saka looked to have snatched a late winner, only for VAR to rule it out for offside – a frustrating moment that again dented our title hopes in back-to-back seasons.
Mikel Arteta will be eager to change the narrative this time around, with the opportunity to open up a four-point gap over likely title challengers Liverpool. In a race as tight as this one promises to be, picking up early points and building a cushion over your rivals feels crucial – something only Liverpool could manage to do last season before they comfortably ran away with the title.
There’s a real sense of optimism around the club – and hopefully within it – that after three consecutive runner-up finishes, this could finally be the season that puts Arsenal back where we belong.
Interestingly, the only other side to have finished second three years in a row is actually us, between 1998 and 2001. What followed in the 2001/02 campaign? A title win – by seven points. Perhaps, a good omen for what lies ahead.
Home is where the heart is
There’s a clear contrast in Fulham’s form at home versus away so far this season. Marco Silva’s side are unbeaten in their three Premier League games at Craven Cottage, with impressive wins over rivals Brentford and newly promoted Leeds United, as well as a hard-fought draw in their opener against Manchester United – all of which underline just how tough a place it’s been to visit since the start of the campaign.
Away from home, however, Fulham have picked up just a solitary point from four matches. That poor return could highlight their reliance on home form this season – and serves as a reminder that they’ll be no pushovers come Saturday evening.
Team News
Martin Odegaard’s season continues to stutter, as he was forced off in our last league outing against West Ham with a knee injury. While it’s still unconfirmed, reports suggest he may not return until after the November international break. That opens the door for summer signing Eberechi Eze, who could potentially take on the captain’s role in the team, and show exactly what he’s capable of over the next few games.
Another new arrival, Piero Hincapie, is expected to be available again after a groin injury sidelined him for the past month. However, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus all remain out, each dealing with knee injuries.