Arsenal’s attack, which has dismantled teams like Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Sporting Lisbon recently, faced stiff resistance against Manchester United. However, set-piece brilliance from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba secured a deserved victory, showcasing the impact of their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. Now, Mikel Arteta's squad is aiming for a fifth consecutive win across all competitions and keeping the pressure on league leaders Liverpool.
Currently third in the table after Chelsea’s thrashing of Southampton, Arsenal has been dominant in London derbies, winning seven of their last eight. Their recent away form includes scoring at least five goals in five different road games this year—a feat unmatched by any English club. However, their last visit to Craven Cottage ended in a costly 2-1 defeat on New Year's Eve 2023, with Fulham also earning a point at the Emirates earlier that season.
Fulham, bolstered by former Arsenal players like Alex Iwobi, continue their push for European qualification. Iwobi starred in their 3-1 win over Brighton, scoring twice as the Cottagers climbed to sixth in the table, just one point behind Brighton and four away from a Champions League spot. Fulham’s attack has been relentless, scoring in 15 straight matches since the opening day but still seeking their first home clean sheet of the season.
Both teams excel in capital clashes, Fulham are unbeaten in their last eight London derbies, their best streak since 2001. However, their previous nine-game run was ended by Arsenal at Craven Cottage, setting the stage for another fiercely contested derby this Sunday.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes, who were subbed off early against West Ham last weekend, missed Arsenal's midweek game against Manchester United and weren’t spotted in Friday’s training session. However, they could still be in contention for Sunday’s London derby.The Gunners’ only confirmed absentees are Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, both recovering from long-term knee injuries. With a Champions League match against Monaco just days away, Mikel Arteta may make a few changes to his lineup.
Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino who made his return from a knee issue midweek are strong candidates to start, while Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko might step aside if Calafiori and Gabriel are fit to return.
For Fulham, Reiss Nelson, on loan from Arsenal, is unavailable to face his parent club. Even if eligible, he’s nursing a hamstring injury picked up in the win over Brighton and could be sidelined for a while. Harrison Reed (knee) and Joachim Andersen (calf) also remain out, while Jorge Cuenca and Ryan Sessegnon face late fitness tests but are unlikely to start.
Tom Cairney is still serving a suspension after his red card against Tottenham, but Sasa Lukic returns from his yellow-card ban to provide another midfield option for Marco Silva.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Fulham possible starting lineup:Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
EXPERT PREDICTION
Fulham 1-3 Arsenal
That said, the Gunners could have scored more in their midweek win, and if needed, they can always count on their well-drilled set-piece routines to edge out a Fulham side that has struggled to maintain consistency.
