It’s second versus eighth in the Premier League on Tuesday evening as Arsenal host Fulham at the Emirates.
Both sides need points, albeit for different reasons. The Gunners will be looking to close the gap between themselves and first-place Liverpool to nine points ahead of the Reds facing Liverpool on Wednesday. Another motivation will be to consolidate their position in the Champions League places.
Meanwhile, Fulham are just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and will be looking to propel themselves towards the European places. They are only three points behind fifth and that could also be enough to secure Champions League football next season.
ARSENAL VS FULHAM PREVIEW
Arsenal go into this game fully rested, having not played over the weekend. This is in contrast to Fulham, who were in action in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The Gunners were unbeaten in March and head into this game off the back of a 1-0 home win against Chelsea. They had drawn their previous two after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League.
However, their league form has been patchy. Before that win against Chelsea, they had only taken two points from matches against West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
Fulham, meanwhile, also won their last Premier League game, 2-0 against Spurs. However, they were unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace on Saturday. Losing 0-3 at home is going to smart and the Cottagers will be looking to bounce back quickly against another London rival.
Fulham were on top for the first 30 minutes of the game, but failed to make it count. They were stunned as goals in the 34th and 38th minute saw them losing 2-0 at the break. Eddie Nketiah’s strike 15 minutes from time put the game beyond doubt.
The reverse fixture against Arsenal at Craven Cottage saw the two sides play out a 1-1 draw. Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead in the 11th minute, with William Saliba equalising six minutes into the second half. Bukayo Saka thought he had given the Gunners all three points late-on, but his header was ruled out as he was offside in the build-up.
Last season’s corresponding fixture was another draw, 2-2, with Andreas Pereira scoring for Fulham after just 57 seconds. A Saka penalty equalised matters before Eddie Nketiah gave Arsenal the lead. The Cottagers scored a goal three minutes from time through Joao Palhinha to share the spoils.
Kai Havertz is unlikely to feature for Arsenal again this season, while Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitely out.
Riccardo Calafiori is returning to fitness, but this game may come too soon for him. Saka could feature off the bench, but manager Mikel Arteta is likely saving him for next week’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid. He has been out of action since tearing his hamstring against Crystal Palace last December.
Defender Jurrien Timber is likely to feature for Fulham after recovering from the illness he picked up with the Dutch squad.
ARSENAL VS FULHAM – PREDICTIONS
Arsenal Win
Arsenal have home advantage and the superior league position. They know they can’t afford to drop any more points in the race for the title. How Fulham react to their FA Cup defeat could be key, but they may be licking their wounds. Saka being back could also be a huge boost.
Draw
The last game between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw, while two of the last three have also ended level. The last time the teams played at the Emirates, it finished 2-2.
Fulham Win
Fulham are always dangerous and could exploit a nervy Arsenal crowd. They beat the Gunners 2-1 on New Year’s Eve 2023 and have their sights set on the European places. If they start as brightly as they did against Crystal Palace and score, the whole complexion of the game could change.
ARSENAL VS FULHAM – BETTING TIPS
Arsenal Win
It’s hard to look past an Arsenal win here, based on their league position and the fact they are at home. It’s hard to think of a more difficult game for Fulham coming back from such an energy-sapping defeat.
Both Teams To Score
Both teams have scored in five of the last six games between the two sides, including the last three. With 53 and 43 Premier League goals respectively, both Arsenal and Fulham are quite prolific scorers.
HEAD-TO-HEAD AND KEY STATS
- Arsenal and Fulham have played each other 64 times, with the Reds winning 42 encounters. Fulham have won nine, while there have been 13 draws.
- Arsenal have won eight of the last 12 fixtures between the two sides. However, they have not won any of the last three (D2, L1).
- The first fixture between the two sides saw Woolwich Arsenal beat Fulham 3-2 in the FA Cup in 1904.
