Premier League: Questions for Both Clubs in Early Season Encounter

Arsenal vs Fulham

There’s an early Premier League derby to whet the appetite on Saturday, although there are so many teams from the capital there’s one almost every week in London!

And while the season may be in its infancy, this contest poses some questions for both clubs.

Can Arsenal continue to eke out results against sides they are expected to beat and can Fulham still make life difficult for the big boys or is the gulf between the established big hitters – (Arsenal have spent more than 230 million Euros this summer, Fulham less than 30m) – and the rest getting bigger.

What Premier League highlights await at the Emirates Stadium.

Talking Points

The Cottagers certainly have talent in the ranks, including midfield duo Andreas Periera and Joao Paulinha, and are looking to build on a fine campaign last time out – attributes which helped make the club such an attractive proposition for the team here at SBOTOP to tie in with in a club record sponsorship deal.

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Fulham started the season well, managing to keep Everton at bay before snatching a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

The manner of their home defeat to Brentford last weekend was rather more concerning, however, even if there is no doubt the match turned on the dismissal of Tim Ream just before the midway point in the second half.

So why shouldn’t Marco Silva’s men go to Arsenal and make life difficult?

Or will they have lost momentum after it was confirmed the man who spearheaded their attack last term, scoring the goals to fire them to a fine 10th place, is on the verge of being sold to Saudi Arabia.

Manager Silva last weekend confirmed that Aleksandar Mitrovic was being sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

If Mitrovic is on his way, then Fulham desperately need the man signed as his replacement, Raul Jiminez, to rediscover the form he showed for Wolves before a serious head injury in the autumn of 2020.

While Silva believed the penalty decision and Ream’s subsequent sending-off decided the game last Saturday, he may also feel they lacked a clinical edge.

Winger Adama Traore and defender Calvin Bassey both came on for their Fulham debuts in the second half and could feature from the start this weekend against opponents who have well and truly splashed the cash.

While their recruitment caught my eye this summer, one of their main trio of acquisitions has had cruel luck with Jurrien Timber already ruled out for pretty much the whole of the campaign.

Arsenal have won their last two Premier League matches — Arsenal players celebrate after beating Crystal Palace

With Takehiro Tomiyasu suspended after he was sent-off in Monday night’s win at Crystal Palace, and Oleksandr Zinchenko only just returned from a calf injury, Arsenal have a potential problem at full-back.

On saying that, they now have real squad depth and the door could open for the surprisingly out of favour Kieran Tierney to be named in the matchday squad at the very least.

History

Overall, Arsenal have tasted victory 41 times in this fixture compared to 11 Fulham successes and eight draws.

They have won eight of the last nine meetings, including the corresponding fixture last season when a late goal from Gabriel won the day after Martin Odegaard and Mitrovic had traded goals.

The return in March saw Arsenal win 3-0 with Garbriel and Odegaard again on target, along with, Gabriel Martinelli.

They have never won at Arsenal, although did manage a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium two years ago when it took a last minute Eddie Nketiah goal to prevent Josh Maja’s penalty from securing an historic win.

The last time Fulham defeated the Gunners was in January 2012 when Laurent Koscielny put Arsenal ahead before late goals from Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora sent the home fans into raptures.

They made their first visit to their London neighbours in February 1904 when they lost 3-2 in the FA Cup at the Manor Ground in Plumstead.