We bring you the team news as Arsenal host Fulham in the fourth game week of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
The North London side will be looking to cement their spot at the top of the table with a good result against Fulham. The Gunners have been the only team to win all three games this season, with a win over AFC Bournemouth last week.
Two goals from club captain Martin Odegaard inside the opening 11 minutes set the Gunners on route to a comfortable win. Arsenal controlled the contest for long stretches and finished with William Saliba’s sensational left-footed strike early in the second half, which ended any chance of a Bournemouth comeback.
Meanwhile, Fulham have started well after their return to the Premier League, picking up five points from three matches, including an impressive 2-2 draw against Liverpool. The Cottagers beat Brentford last week 3-2.
Injury/Suspension List:
No major changes are expected in the Arsenal starting lineup which is performing exceptionally since the start of the season. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe made substitute appearances and might be in contention for a starting spot. Fabio Vieira is still waiting for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. Meanwhile, Reiss Nelson continues his recovery in the treatment room.
Player To Watch Out For: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Mitrovic is absolutely deadly in the prime area between the penalty spot and the goal, and he’s quite good at finishing off chances while facing the keeper head-on. Mitrovic has improved his movement in the box and his fitness is a reason for his strong start to the campaign.
Although Arsenal have the second-best defensive record in the division behind Brighton & Hove Albion, they will be severely tested by Mitrovic who has proven to be a handful in Fulham’s first few games. The Serbian’s attacking stats are exceptional: he ranks top among all players for shots (15), shots in the box (14), and shots on target (8).
Arsenal Form:
WWW
Fulham Form:
WDD
Probable Arsenal Starting Lineup Vs Fulham (4-2-3-1):
Aaron Ramsdale (GK); William Saliba (RB), Ben White (CB), Gabriel (CB), Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB); Granit Xhaka (CDM), Thomas Partey (CDM); Bukayo Saka (RW), Martin Ødegaard (CAM), Gabriel Martinelli (LW); Gabriel Jesus (ST)
Predicted Score: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Arsenal are expected to continue their good start to the season with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli putting them 2-0 up, with a late consolation goal from in-form striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
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While Fulham have also started brightly, there is no denying the gulf in quality between these two teams. The Cottagers also have a bad record against their London rivals, having won just once against Arsenal in their last 12 meetings.
The Gunners have carried their positive pre-season vibes and are playing with a lot of confidence. Mikel Arteta’s team has showcased their formation fluidity and quick combination play while going on the attack.
Arsenal have also shown the ability to press high and win the ball back quickly, which really irritates the opposition who are then forced to chase the game for long stretches. Fulham have been out-possessed in all three of their matches this season so far and they depend only on the counter-attacks to score.
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