Match Preview: Arsenal

CRAVEN COTTAGE | 12:30 KO

Image: James Williamson - AMA/Getty

We are back in the Premier League and this time we need to stamp our authority early. The team that stands in our way of a winning start are Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal…

Despite many ups and downs in the Championship, our win in the Playoff final against Brentford ensured a return to the Premier League. This season will be very challenging but under Parker, I feel optimistic we could have a good go at staying up. Admittedly not signing a centre back to partner Hector before this game does worry me but hopefully, we have one before the end of the window. Arsenal are a side looking to build on their FA Cup and Community Sheild success under Arteta and Champions League football is definitely a possibility for the Gunners. This will be a very challenging first game that is for sure.

In terms of starting eleven, we have a number of new players to choose from and by the time this comes out we will probably have two more in Kenny Tete and Ola Aina. I don’t think will be ready to start against Arsenal on Saturday so are out of my thinking. I would start new boy Areola in goal with a back four of Bryan, Ream, Hector and Odoi. I would then start with a midfield three of Reed, Lemina and Anguissa. Upfront I would then play Cavaleiro on the left, Mitro in the middle and Kamara on the right. I still think we need a centre back and a winger to maximise our chances of staying up.

I think we will lose 3-1 to Arsenal with Mitrovic scoring the goal.


Head To Head

  • Fulham Wins – 8
  • Draws – 10
  • Arsenal Wins – 39
  • Goals Scored – 64
  • Goals Conceded – 127
  • Biggest Wins – Fulham 6-1 Woolwich Arsenal (1913/14), Arsenal 5-1 Fulham (1950/51), Fulham 1-5 Arsenal (2018/19)

Last 5 Games

  • Arsenal 4-1 Fulham
  • Fulham 1-5 Arsenal
  • Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
  • Fulham 1-3 Arsenal
  • Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Last Time Out

Image: Javier Garcia/ BPI/ REX

Arsenal 4-1 Fulham (2018/19)

In our last match against Arsenal, we lost 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Xhaka put Arsenal in front before Lacazette doubled their lead. Kamara pulled one back but two late goals from Ramsey and Aubameyang ensured they left with three points. I don’t know what was more surprising the scoreline or the fact that we started Ibrahima Cisse in midfield.


Players in Common

Image: Getty

Luis Boa Morte, Calum Chambers, Andy Cole, John Coleman, Bill Dodgin, Andrew Ducat, Thomas Eisfeld, Emmanuel Frimpong, John Graham, Julian Gray, Junichi Inamoto, John Lambert, Archibald Macaulay, Malcolm MacDonald, Peter Marinello, Brian McDermott, Ronnie Rooke, Rui Fonte, Ian Selley, Phillipe Senderos, Steve Sidwell, Peter Storey, Brian Talbot, Bobby Templeton, Moritz Volz, Malcolm Webster.


Score Predictions

Fulham View: Ivan Berry (@Ivan_berry)

Fulham 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal View: Arsenal Editor (@Arsenal_Editor)

Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Former Player: Maik Taylor (@maiktaylor1)

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal


Battle To Watch

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs Denis Odoi

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a Gabon international and is thought of as one of the best players in the Premier League. Since joining Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 Aubameyang has scored 71 goals in 110 appearances. The forward has been deployed out on the wing in recent seasons for Arsenal and last season came second in the Premier League Golden Boot. Denis Odoi will need to have the best game of his career to keep him quiet but realistically he won’t and Aubameyang will score a hattrick.


PREDICTED LINE-UP