Seeking to continue their streak of dominance in London derbies, Arsenal welcome Fulham to the Emirates Stadium in game-week three of the 2023-24 Premier League season on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides posted differing results in their most recent capital clashes, as Mikel Arteta’s men put Crystal Palace to the sword 1-0 while the Cottagers went down 3-0 at home to Brentford.
Team News
Arsenal
- Owing to his red card for two bookable offences in the win over Palace, Arsenal full-back Tomiyasu will sit this London derby out through suspension. He joins the man he replaced – ACL victim Jurrien Timber – on the absentee list.
- However, on an extremely positive note, Gabriel Jesus is back in full training following his knee injury. According to Arteta, he is “ready to go”. Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun is on the verge of a potentially club-record sale to Monaco. Midfield duo Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny remain in the infirmary.
- Oleksandr Zinchenko is also back to full fitness after coming off the bench against Palace. He ought to be a straight swap for Tomiyasu on the left-hand side, where Kieran Tierney still cannot get a look-in and is now set for a surprise loan switch to Real Sociedad.
Fulham
- Arsenal and Fulham can empathise when it comes to defensive suspensions, as Ream was also given his marching orders after receiving two cautions in the loss to Brentford, opening the door for Calvin Bassey to start alongside Issa Diop as the ostracized Tosin Adarabioyo attempts to secure a move away.
- Ream aside, however, Fulham have no other serious selection concerns for Saturday’s game, having welcomed integral midfielder Joao Palhinha back from a shoulder injury against Brentford, and the Portugal international will certainly come straight back into the side if fit enough.
- Both Willian and Bernd Leno may reunite with their former employers this week. But only the latter is guaranteed a place in the squad – Willian has emerged as a doubt due to an unspecified concern – while Adama Traore will also be considered for his full Premier League debut for Fulham after a late cameo last weekend.
Possible Lineup
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Fulham: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Traore, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez
Prediction Analysis
Arteta has tinkered with a new Arsenal system in the opening two gameweeks, leading to some inevitable teething problems, but the Gunners should have no trouble asserting their dominance over a disjointed Fulham crop.
The return of Palhinha will at least add some steel to the Cottagers’ midfield, and Arsenal’s defensive record at the Emirates offers some hope too, but a third successive win to kick off the campaign surely awaits the men in red.
Our prediction is Arsenal 2-0 Fulham