Fulham vs Arsenal LIVE - Kick-off time, TV channel, team news, live ...
Arsenal have all the pressure after Manchester City and Aston Villa’s weekend wins to overtake Liverpool before they host Newcastle United in the New Year. A trip to Fulham poses a challenge but one in which they’ve come away with comfortable wins before.
Leandro Trossard chipped in with three assists in last season’s victory. However, there are question marks over who may be starting the game considering the poor form of several of the Gunners’ forward players has given Arteta a pain.
Kai Havertz does return from suspension and will be a key asset to provide some variation that was certainly lacking in the game with West Ham United. Speaking of which, Arsenal have had multiple days less recovery time compared to the Cottagers which might have an impact on the day.
Marco Silva welcomes back his own star in Raul Jimenez from suspension. Yet Arsenal will be hoping to come out with yet another clean sheet in West London.
Tom Canton and Kaya Kaynak bring all the build-up, match commentary and reaction from Craven Cottage. Updates to follow.
15:35Tom Canton
A rain storm has arrived and it is quite the scene. The pitch is soaked with the ferocity of te water as both teams try to fight against it but the play has certainly slowed. Arsenal trying to find some openings but being fended off comfortably so far.
Kai Havertz has come off for Reiss Nelson.
15:31Tom Canton
David Raya has kept his side in this. The Spanaird saving a long-range Tom Cairney strike and forcing a corner.
Alex Iwobi is making way for Andreas Pereira. The scorer of the first goal in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates this season.
15:27Tom Canton
68 - Martinelli and White are coming off for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.
It was the Brazilian's shot which led to the goal but besides that he has been ineffective. An attacking change by Arteta though and sees both forwards stay on. Tomiyasu moves to the right and a back three.
15:24Tom Canton
63 - Bukayo Saka wastes a great chance to get the Gunners level. A poor defensive header falls to the winger in space yards left of the keeper and the volley is fired well over the bar.
He falls to the floor in frustration. It simply has not clicked at all. Changes are needed.
65 - Cairney is booked after fouling Saka just outside the Fulham box in a central area. Good chance to strike here.
15:19Tom Canton
59 - The home side take the lead. Not good at all.
The corner isn't defended by Arsenal at all and the header deflects into the path of the winger and all he had to do is hit the ball high past Raya. Arsenal defending poor again and the rain begins to fall on a must-win game for the Gunners.
15:13Tom Canton
53 - Arsenal again look promising and string a number of key passes together around the Fulham press. However as Ben White receives the ball on the right, his first-time cross is high and wide and not even in play.
Promise but the execution is again lacking.
57 - Gabriel tries a long ball for Martinelli but cannot find the target. Again that final ball remaining elusive for the Gunners.
15:10Tom Canton
50 - Fulham have looked the more alive as the half started but the Gunners want to work on the counter attack but still lack the speed they need to be more effective. Eddie Nketiah was released by Saka down the left flank but eventually Fulham clear again. Arteta did not look happy as he walked in at half-time and want more from his players than we have seen so far.
15:03Tom Canton
45 - We are off here in the second half. The Japanese international has been out in his kit warming up ready to come on. Jakub Kiwior has not done too badly and indeed Ben White has been the one having to deal with the bulk of Fulham attacks down the Gunners' right hand side.
14:49Kaya Kaynak
Raya 6
White 5
Saliba 5
Gabriel 6
Kiwior 5
Rice 6
Odegaard 7
Havertz 6
Saka 6
Nketiah 6
Martinelli 6
14:49Tom Canton
Not the response that Mikel Arteta would have wanted from his side following the midweek defeat. An opening goal from Bukayo Saka provided the lead but Arsenal never took advantage of the opportunity to press ahead with their advantage.
Arsenal do have options from the bench including the hero of last season here Leandro Trossard. Gabriel Jesus can come on for Eddie Nketiah who has had little but scraps to feed off.
14:43Tom Canton
43 - Finally, Arsenal create a chance and it is a good one. Saka and Odegaard combine down the right-hand side and find a cross. Gabriel Martinelli slips as he takes a shot with his left foot which nearly finds the corner but drifts just wide of the post instead.
Better, but more is certainly still needed.
14:40Tom Canton
40 - Arsenal cannot find the passes. Similar to the game against West Ham, the chances do not seem to be falling for the Gunners. Martin Odegaard took a knock leading to a free-kick.
The cross was not taken advantage of and as Saka looked to be fouled trying to claim a corner, nothing was given and the home side regained possession. Mikel Arteta will not be happy with his side's performance.
14:34Tom Canton
34 - The ball drops to Nketiah in the box but the connection is not clean and the shot also finds the foot of a Fulham defender. Leno gladly collects in what has been a quiet half since the goal for the former Arsenal man.
That was the first shot since Bukayo Saka opened the scoring inside the first five minutes. Arsenal needed a second and that has become glaringly evident now.
14:29KEY EVENT
14:23Tom Canton
24 - David Raya is down and pointing to his eye. Aaron Ramsdale is warming up.
Perhaps it is an issue with a contact lense or something has got caught in his eye. The play was is Arsenal's favour in a good area so the hope will be he can continue.
He can for now.
14:19Tom Canton
19 - Willian with his first sight of goal. Arsenal fail to make use of some good tackling by White and Gabriel and lose the ball carelessly. The ball is switched to the Fulham right for Iwobi who crosses.
The ball eventually lands at the former Arsenal man's feet and his strike curls like Odegaard's early effort and beats the keeper and post. Arsenal need to ensure they're far better when in possession.
21 - De Cordova Reid dives in a challenge with Saliba. But Willian's shot is deflected for a corner that Jimenez fires over.
14:15Tom Canton
15 - The home side finally make a good chance and it comes to the danger man. Raul Jimenez comes at the end of a good move down the Arsenal right as Robinson gets in behind.
His cross finds the Mexican but the first-time shot is straight at Raya. The Spaniard holds but that has encouraged the crowd.
16 - Martinelli gets another chance to break down the left and find a cross but Fulham clear before the follow-up is wasted.
14:11Tom Canton
11 - Arsenal have continued to press well after the goal. A chance again arrives down the left-hand side for Martinelli to run at the Fulham defence which has looked shaky - far more than West Ham's in midweek.
Leno collects the resulting cross well and tries a break that fails to come off. Arsenal need to keep the momentum high and not allow their opponents too much joy when they do overturn possession.
14:04KEY EVENT
05 - Saka has it in the net. This will be checked. It counts!
Arsenal break from a Fulham chance with Martinelli down the left-hand side. The Brazilian shoots and the resulting shot is parried by Leno straight into the path of a waiting Saka whose right-footed shot loops up and into the side netting. It was a very tight offside call but it is the right one.
14:03Tom Canton
04 - Arsenal build patiently and find the space on the right-hand side. Martin Odegaard has been limited to more shots from outside the box this season and we are treated to another here. Cutting inside and firing a curling shot to Leno's right top corner and it beats him but isn't curling enough to find the net.
14:00Tom Canton
00 - Here we go! Arsenal taking on Fulham knowing they need to win to reclaim the top spot before Liverpool host Newcastle in the New Year.
A big day for Eddie Nketiah who gets his first start in the league for quite some time. Kai Haverzt returning to the Arsenal starting XI will greatly benefit the Gunners who missed the German in midweek.
Let's keep fingers crossed for a big Arsenal victory!
13:36Tom Canton
The Brazilian missed two big chances against West Ham United and Eddie Nketiah is instead brought in for this game.
He will be looking to keep up his good record of scoring goals when selected in the starting XI. Jesus and Trossard could of course come off the bench in the second half.
13:29Tom Canton
Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media previewing Arsenal's London derby against Fulham on New Year's Eve. The Spaniard discussed a range of topics including the form of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as well as his side's Premier League title hopes. Below is everything he had to say.
Read the full transcript here.
13:12Tom Canton
Paul Merson has delivered his prediction for this weekend's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Fulham. The north London outfit spurned the chance to return to the top of the table on Thursday night, losing 2-0 at home to West Ham United.
It was a tough day in front of goal for Mikel Arteta's men, who registered 30 shots but were unable to find a way past the Hammers, who clinched all three points thanks to goals from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos. But it is a quick turnaround for the Gunners, who travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday to take on Marco Silva's Fulham.
Arsenal hero Merson has now given his prediction for the match, backing his former side to come out on top. He told Sportskeeda: "Fulham are another funny team. They couldn't score a goal to save their lives at the start of the season but were flying along a month ago. However, it looks like they are back to square one at the moment as they've scored just one goal in their last four games.
Read the full story here.
13:03Tom Canton
Starting XI: Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, Iwobi, Willian, De Cordova-Reid, Jimenez
Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure, Pereira, Muniz, Lukic, Diop
13:00Tom Canton
Starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Cedric, Jorginho, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Nelson, Jesus
12:52Tom Canton
Arsenal will be desperate to get back to winning ways and end 2023 on a positive note when they face Fulham in their second London derby in the space of three days.
Thursday night was one to forget for Mikel Arteta and company as the Gunners slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United in a result that cost them the chance to regain top spot from Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Despite winning on their last two trips to Craven Cottage and facing a Fulham side who have lost their last two without scoring, they did show in prior weeks that they are more than capable of finding the back of the net, so victory for Arsenal is far from a foregone conclusion.
Amid calls for the Gunners boss to rotate where necessary and freshen up his attack, here football.london takes a look at who Arteta might select in his starting lineup against the Cottagers as we are predicting as many as two changes from the team that took to the field three days ago.
Read the full story here.
12:47Tom Canton
Arsenal have been handed a huge boost as football.london understands Takehiro Tomiyasu is part of the squad to face Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Japanese international has been a key absence in recent weeks following a reoccurrence of a calf injury that had previously hampered him.
The defender was expected to be out until the new year, but he was spotted in training in the build-up to the clash with the Whites on New Year's Eve. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old will be thrown straight into action, given the key fixtures coming up for him in club and international football.
Tomiyasu is expected to meet up with his national teammates in January as the Samurai Blue look to win the Asian Cup, with their first clash coming against Vietnam on January 14.
Read the full story here.
12:27Tom Canton
Arsenal were put through their paces in training one last time ahead of their London derby against Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners are looking to bounce back following their 2-0 defeat against West Ham earlier this week.
Mikel Arteta's side dropped to second in the Premier League after losing against the Hammers, but have the chance to move back to the top of the table ahead of Liverpool's clash against Newcastle on Monday evening. Kai Havertz will be available for selection once again after he served his one-match suspension during the defeat against the Hammers.
The Gunners are in desperate need for their front three to start being clinical again with Arteta thought to be prioritising a move for a new striker in the January transfer window. So, football.london has taken a look at three things spotted from Arsenal training on Saturday afternoon.
Read the full story here.
12:13Tom Canton
Mikel Arteta can ring the changes to his Arsenal line-up for Sunday's game against Fulham to elicit an immediate response to the 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Ham United.
Following a game where the Gunners failed to score despite registering 30 attempts at goal, naturally fingers have been pointed at the attackers with Gabriel Jesus guilty of missing two big chances while Gabriel Martinelli is looking short of confidence at the moment.
Despite a three-day rest period in between fixtures and this marking an eighth game in 29 days, Arteta has insisted there are no concerns about fatigue for Martinelli - or Bukayo Saka - thus potentially hinting at keeping faith in the wide players for the trip to Craven Cottage.
Read the full story here.
