Arsenal will look to bounce back from defeat midweek when they visit Fulham in the Premier League. The two sides will play for the first time since August. Joao Palhinha tied the score at 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium with a goal in the 87th minute.
Preview (Fulham vs. Arsenal)
Except their third-round EFL Cup penalty-shootout victory against Everton, Fulham has had little cause for celebration over the holiday season. On Boxing Day, they lost 3-0 to Bournemouth in the Premier League, their third straight loss without scoring. For most of the first half, the Cottagers held their own until Justin Kluivert gave the Cherries the lead. After the break, Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra scored goals to condemn Marco Silva’s team to their tenth league defeat of the season.
Fulham, still in 13th place in the table and six points clear of the bottom three despite having played one more game than Luton in 18th place, is the only Premier League team to have lost more games at this point than Luton Town (11), Burnley (14), and Sheffield United (14), all of whom are in the relegation zone. Fulham is excited to play again at Craven Cottage. The home of 15 of their 21 Premier League points so far this season. Silva’s team defeated Burnley 2-0 in their most recent home game last weekend. It capped a run of three straight victories at home by an overall score of 13-2.
The Cottagers have lost all seven of their home top-flight games against teams based in London. They have lost their last 11 meetings with Arsenal. However, they have triumphed in their final league game in five of the preceding eight calendar years. A favorable outcome on Sunday should not be ruled out. The same club that shocked Arsenal with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates on Thursday night also defeated West Ham United 5-0 at home earlier in the month, ending the Gunners’ 10-game home unbeaten streak.
Team News
Former Arsenal player Willian, a winger for Fulham, is still doubtful due to a thigh injury. Adam Traore and Tim Ream are both also out with calf and thigh issues, respectively. But now that he’s completed his three-game suspension, Raul Jimenez is set to take Rodrigo Muniz’s spot up front, joining fellow former Gunner Alex Iwobi and Bobby De-Cordova Reid in the attack. Hardly probable, that Silva will start with a starting lineup that includes in-demand midfielder Palhinha and Harrison Reed, who might be called up in place of Tom Cairney.
Regarding Arsenal, the injured players Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Thomas Partey (thigh), Fabio Vieira (groin), and Jurrien Timber (knee) are still out of action while they heal. Nevertheless, Kai Havertz is eligible to play again following a one-game suspension that ended in midweek. The German will compete to start in midfield with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Havertz’s possible inclusion might force Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli to the bench, with the other being given a start on the left side of attack with Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, who scored against Fulham in the rematch.
Fulham 1-2 Arsenal
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