Premier League: Now Arteta is looking for West End Cheer!

Fulham vs Arsenal

Title chasers Arsenal are back in action on Sunday when Mikel Arteta leads his team down to West London to take on Marco Silva’s Fulham.

The Gunners did the business at home to Manchester United on Wednesday, with a comfortable 2-0 win and, after Newcastle United held Leaders Liverpool to a 3-3 draw, the gap at the top was cut to seven points. Last week Arteta said his team could close a nine point deficit and you have to say, ‘so far so good’.  

But Arsenal cannot afford to slip up themselves and they face a strong opponent in Marco Silva’s Fulham, and there is always that little bit more spice in a derby. The Cottagers host Brighton on Thursday so they have a day fewer to prepare, but the home crowd will do all they can to give their side an advantage.     

Premier League: Fulham vs Arsenal is another chance for the Gunners to confirm their title credentials, while Silva’s team is pushing for a European slot and that makes this a compelling fixture. 

 

Talking Points

Silva happy with Fulham’s progress

After a goalless first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week, the Cottagers’ clash with Spurs came to life with two second half goals and a red card, with Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney in the centre of the action. After Brennan Johnson gave the hosts a lead Cairney climbed off the bench to fire home a brilliant leveller with an assist from Alex Iwobi. It was Cairney’s first goal away in the Premier League in 14 years but his historic performance took a turn for the worse when he was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Dejan Kulusevski.

That point left the Cottagers in tenth place but after the early midweek games they had dropped to 12^th. In a congested chasing pack a win over the Seagulls on Thursday could lift Fulham as high as sixth in the table, and Silva is delighted with his team’s progress, saying, after the Spurs game: “I am proud because I can feel it around the place, that we are all confident. We all know the identity that we have been creating over the last few seasons, adding new players, but we all share the same confidence.

“We are in a very good shape again now and more consistent, dominant in most games. If we play any side and are at our best then it is difficult for them.”

Silva will try to make it tough for Arsenal without the suspended Cairney, who is out for three games, while Sasa Lukic is also missing after picking up a one match ban having accumulated five yellow cards. But Andreas Pereira is available again and the ever productive Adama Traore and Iwobi are sure to start if fit.

 

Just don’t give the Gunners any corners!

The Fulham vs Arsenal highlights are sure to provide plenty of goalmouth action and if the hosts give their opponents too many dead ball opportunities I really don’t fancy their chances, no matter how much progress the Cottagers have been making! The Gunners beat Manchester United at a canter but, once again it was their deadliness from corners which won the game. Even without injured centre back Gabriel, Arteta’s men picked up their sixth and seventh goals of the season from set piece deliveries.  Jurrien Timber scored the first, flicking on a brilliant corner from Declan Rice and then, when Thomas Partey nodded a Bukayo Saka corner back into the mix the ball bounced in off William Saliba’s backside!    

Saka was simply sensational against the Hammers the previous week and he has made ten assists already this season, and with Martin Odegaard back in the side after a lengthy injury the Gunners have a finely tuned and highly inventive creative group and they are adept at winning corners, 13 in total against the Red Devils.    

 

History

The Gunners have won 23 of their head to heads with Fulham this century, losing just four, but the Cottagers enjoyed this fixture last season with a 2-2 draw at the Emirates followed by a 2-1 victory at home with goals from Bobby Reid and Raul Jimenez.

Over the past six games Fulham have two wins, two draws and two defeats while the Gunners have four wins, one defeat and one draw.

 

Betting Tips

When Fulham faced Tottenham last week I said there would be goals and I was right…well almost. We didn’t get the goal rush I expected but we did get two, and the woodwork was rattled another two times. 

Who will win this all London clash? Well Arsenal are at SBOTOP odds of 1.50 and with an extra day to prepare they are the hot favourites, with the Cottagers at 5.03 and the draw is at 3.83. While the Fulham vs Arsenal betting odds are pointing to an away win I don’t think it will be easy for the Gunners against a team which played well against Spurs last week.

I’m sticking with my convictions and, with two attacking sides ready to rumble, I’m going for goals again. 

   

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