Fulham make a short trip across London to play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a high-stakes match.
Arsenal have two wins in two matches in the Premier League so far and are only separated from the top two of Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City by goal difference.
Fulham are 13th on the log after being stung thrice by The Bees from Brentford last weekend. They will hope for a positive result as they seek not to fall farther down the table.
Although short, the trip to the Emirates Stadium is never easy for Fulham. The Cottagers have never won a match at Arsenal’s home ground. The best they have managed is six draws, with Arsenal winning the other 24 meeting.
Fulham manager Marco Silva knows this and has referenced last season’s Arsenal performance in his pre-match press conference.
“Everything they did last season was impressive and they were able to improve the squad. You can see that they have a plan,” Silva told reporters before adding that Fulham have “a great group of players” that “are always giving their maximum for the shirt.”
Mikel Arteta, who has never lost to Fulham both as an Arsenal player and manager, was also full of praise for Fulham’s performance last season as they finished 10th saying that it was incredible.
“I think what Marco and the coaching staff have done is remarkable. The way they played last season, where they finished in the Premier League and especially the way they did it, it was incredible.”
As such, the Spaniard expects a tough match against Fulham tomorrow.
“They have really clear ideas of what they want to do, and you can see his (Marco Silva’s) team exactly in the way that he wants them. Tomorrow, we’re going to have a tough match.” Arteta said.
Team news
Arsenal have been boosted by the good news of the return of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, and Arteta has said he is ready to go.
Jesus has missed Arsenal’s last two matches due to a knee injury. Apart from Jurrien Timber, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny, every other player is available for Arteta to select.
For Fulham, Silva said that former Arsenal player William Borges is a doubt for this match, but João Palhinha trained all week with his teammates so he could feature.
