ARSENAL will be eager to continue their immaculate start to the season TODAY when they welcome London rivals Fulham to the Emirates.
The Gunners cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Premier League new boys Bournemouth last weekend, while Fulham overcame familiar foes Brentford 3-2.
- Start time: 5.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
- Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Tosin, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Reed, Andreas, Kebano, Mitrovic, Decordova-Reed
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What time does Arsenal vs Fulham kick off?
- Arsenal will be welcoming Fulham to their side of town on TODAY – Saturday, August 27.
- It is scheduled to kick off at 5:30pm UK time.
- Emirates Stadium in North London is the allocated arena for this fixture and it can hold approximately 60,000 spectators.
- A 97th minute strike from Eddie Nketiah rescued a point for the Gunners when the sides last met in April 2021.
Fulham subs:
1. Rodak, 27. Mbabu, 5. Duffy, 31. Diop, 12. Chalobah, 10. Cairney, 35. Francois, 38. Harris, 65. Stansfield
Fulham starting XI:
The only change for Marco Silva’s side today is Neeskens Kebano comes in for Jay Stansfield.
17. Leno, 2. Tete, 4. Tosin, 13. Ream, 33. Robinson, 6. Reed, 26. Palhinha, 7. Kebano, 18. Pereira, 14. De Cordova-Reid, 9. Mitrovic
@FulhamFC Arsenal subs:
30. Turner, 17. Cedric, 18. Tomiyasu, 16. Holding, 23. Sambi, 21. Viera, 10. Smith Rowe, 27. Marquinhos, 14. Nketiah
Arsenal starting XI:
Mikel Arteta makes two changes to his side for the visit of Fulham with Mohamed Elneny and Kieran Tierney returning to the starting line-up.
1. Ramsdale, 4. White, 12. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 3. Tierney, 25. Elneny, 34. Xhaka, 7. Saka, 8. Odegaard, 11. Martinelli, 9. Jesus
Credit: @Arsenal Fulham looking to change perceptions
The Cottagers have been unable to secure back-to-back Premier League seasons since 2014, dropping straight back into the Championship following their last two promotions.
Silva’s team will be more than aware of the challenge ahead in North London this evening.
After taking the game to Liverpool on the opening day of the season, they will be confident in their ability of causing Arsenal problems today.
Fulham have Arsenal in their sights
Away games like this will not be in the plans of ‘must win’ games for Fulham this season.
In some respects, these fixtures are a ‘free hit’ to go out and express yourself.
This can make it a much harder game for Arsenal who will be expecting to pick up all three points at The Emirates this evening.
Credit: Getty Silva lining for Cottagers’ start
Having become somewhat of a yo-yo club when it comes to Premier League status, Fulham have made a solid start to the campaign.
Opening their account with draws against Liverpool and Wolves, Marco Silva’s side then beat Brentford at Craven Cottage 3-2 last weekend.
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the winning goal in the 90th minute for the West London outfit.
Gunners form on fire
Arsenal have beaten Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bournemouth so far this season and will be looking to make Fulham their fourth scalp.
Mikel Arteta’s side have showed some promising signs that they are far more capable of securing a top four spot this time out.
The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw the last time the two teams met at The Emirates in April 2021, but the Cottagers have not beaten their London rivals in the league since January 2012.
Cottagers to pose difficult challenge
The Arsenal manager was asked what he expects this evening:
A really tough match. They’ve been on an incredible run – last year in the Championship they did extremely well, and they haven’t lost a game yet in the Premier League and they’ve played against three very difficult opponents, so credit to them. I think it will be a difficult game.
Mikel Arteta
Gunners focussed after last season
Having missed out on fourth place last campaign by a meagre two points, Arsenal have made a sensational start to the season.
Arteta’s team won 22 games last season but suffered 13 defeats which ultimately cost them their place in this season’s Champions League.
This term they seem focussed on not making the same mistakes again.
Welcome to Arsenal vs Fulham
Mikel Arteta will be looking for his Arsenal team to make it four wins from four games in their start to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign as they welcome Marco Silva’s newly-promoted Fulham at The Emirates this evening.
The Gunners sit top of the table with a 100% record while visitors Fulham, who have made an unbeaten start to the season, sit in seventh place after a win and two draws.
Arsenal again will be without the services of Reiss Nelson due to a thigh problem, but The Gunners are otherwise in decent shape.
Mikel Arteta is expected to name the same starting XI for a fourth game in succession, meaning that Ben White should continue at right-back.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli will support Gabriel Jesus in the final third of the pitch, with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka playing the holding roles in midfield.
As for Fulham, Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon will again be unavailable while Neeskens Kebano remains a doubt due to a groin issue.
Mitrovic will again lead the line with support from Andreas Pereira, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Joao Palhinha controlling the centre of the park.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
