Arsenal will look to make it three wins in a row as they welcome Fulham to the Emirates. In their most recent meetings in the capital, the two teams had different outcomes. Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Crystal Palace 1-0. The Cottagers lost to Brentford 3-0 at home.
Preview (Arsenal vs. Fulham)
Arsenal struggled to get going against a well-drilled Palace defense on Monday night. They did in the second half of their opening Premier League match against Nottingham Forest. They had their backs against the wall for the final few minutes. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s controversial red card didn’t help matters. Tomiyasu received two questionable bookings in the span of seven minutes It 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.
Arsenal, one of only three teams to begin the 2023–24 Premier League season with two victories, is currently seated in third position in the early standings, trailing only champions Manchester City and early leaders Brighton & Hove Albion. Arsenal’s victory at Selhurst Park ended a four-game losing trend on Monday evenings under Arteta. The Gunners also recorded their 200th Premier League road clean sheet; only Manchester United (205) and Chelsea (204) have more. However, it is no secret that Arsenal’s defense struggles 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’s recent goal-scoring performances have not been indicative of a team that can compete with the Gunners. With Aleksandar Mitrovic’s high-profile departure to Al-Hilal, the protracted and uncomfortable transfer saga has finally come to an end.
Team News
Arsenal full-back Tomiyasu, who replaced injured ACL player Jurrien Timber, will miss this London derby due to suspension after receiving a red card for two bookable offenses in the win over Palace. There has been no update on Albert Sambi Lokonga’s muscular problem, but the Belgian will likely leave the club before the end of the month. Strikers Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun, who are reportedly transfer targets for this weekend’s visitors, are also in the hospital with knee and foot problems, respectively.
This allowed Calvin Bassey to start alongside Issa Diop while the outcast Tosin Adarabioyo tried to find a new team.
With the exception of Ream, Fulham has no further selection problems for the match on Saturday after welcoming crucial midfielder Joao Palhinha back from a shoulder injury against Brentford. If healthy, the Portugal international will undoubtedly make a quick recovery and rejoin the team.
The first two game weeks of Arteta’s new Arsenal system have seen some unavoidable teething issues, but the Gunners should have little trouble establishing their dominance versus a disorganized Fulham crop. The return of Palhinha will at least give the Cottagers’ midfield some added sturdiness, and Arsenal’s defensive record at the Emirates offers some hope as well, but the men in red will undoubtedly need to win three games in a row to start the season.
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