(Football news) In their most recent meetings in the capital, Arsenal and Fulham had quite different outcomes. Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Crystal Palace by a score of 1-0, while the Cottagers lost to Brentford by a score of 3-0. In the final few minutes of Monday night’s game, Arsenal found it difficult to get going against a well-drilled Palace defence, much like they did in the second half of their opening Premier League match against Nottingham Forest. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s controversial red card didn’t help matters either.
After Tomiyasu received two questionable bookings in the space of seven minutes, which sparked much discussion following the game, a composed Martin Odegaard penalty gave Arsenal the lead. However, the Gunners’ love of London derbies came to the fore as they continued their undefeated start to the new season.
Arsenal is currently sitting pretty in third place in the early standings, trailing only champions Manchester City and early leaders Brighton & Hove Albion. They are one of just three teams to start the 2023–24 Premier League season with two victories.
Arsenal’s victory at Selhurst Park ended a four-game losing trend on Monday evenings under Arteta, who also oversaw the team’s 200th Premier League road clean sheet – only Manchester United (205) and Chelsea (204) have more – but it’s no secret that they struggle defensively at home.
Even though Arteta’s team has only recorded one shutout in their previous eight Premier League games played in front of the Emirates faithful, Fulham has not recently shown the kind of goal-scoring ability that would be expected of a team that may challenge the Gunners for the title.
Fulham manager Marco Silva is busy making plans for life after the talismanic marksman, which has not gotten off to the best of starts, now that the protracted and unwelcome Aleksandar Mitrovic transfer saga has finally come to an end with the Serbian’s high-dollar move to Al-Hilal.
After a smash-and-grab victory at Everton’s stadium, which could have easily gone the Toffees’ way on another day, Silva’s team suffered a 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Brentford. A brace from Bryan Mbeumo and a goal from Yoane Wissa did the damage at Craven Cottage, where Tim Ream was also made to walk the walk of shame.
Before their trip to the Emirates, where many will expect their recent run of road victories to continue, this week’s shot-shy visitors are languishing in an unfortunate 13th place in the table due to summer signing Raul Jimenez’s lack of ability to fill Mitrovic’s boots during his early days with the Cottagers.
In fact, Fulham has a road record of losing, winning, and losing since the beginning of May. Only two of their away games in the 2022–23 Premier League season ended level, with the most recent being a scoreless draw with Chelsea in early February.
The Fulham supporters would probably accept a scoreless draw at the Emirates if it were offered to them prior to kickoff, but the Cottagers lost this match 2-1 in August 2022 before losing 3-0 at Craven Cottage, where Leandro Trossard’s masterful playmaking extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run against their opponents to 10 games.
Premier League Form
Arsenal W W
Fulham W L
Due to his red card for two bookable offences in the victory over Palace, Arsenal full-back Tomiyasu will miss this London derby due to suspension and will join Jurrien Timber, an ACL casualty, on the injured list.
On the plus side, Gabriel Jesus has resumed full training after sustaining a knee injury and is “ready to go,” according to Arteta, while Folarin Balogun is about to be sold to Monaco for a sum that could set a club record. Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga, two midfielders, are still in the hospital.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, who came off the bench against Palace, is also back to full fitness and should be a simple replacement for Tomiyasu on the left side, where Kieran Tierney is still unable to get a look in and is now likely to make a shocking loan move to Real Sociedad.
When it comes to defensive suspensions, Arsenal and Fulham can relate because Ream was also suspended after receiving two cautions in the defeat to Brentford. This allowed Calvin Bassey to start alongside Issa Diop while the outcast Tosin Adarabioyo tried to find a new team.
Apart from Ream, however, Fulham has no other significant selection problems for Saturday’s match. The team welcomed vital midfielder Joao Palhinha back from a shoulder injury against Brentford, and the Portugal international will undoubtedly slot right back into the side if fit.
Both Willian and Bernd Leno might cross paths with their former employers this week, but only the latter is assured a spot in the squad as Willian has emerged as a doubt due to an unidentified concern. Adama Traore will also be taken into consideration for his full Premier League debut for Fulham after a late cameo last weekend.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Traore, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez
