2018-19 Premier League: Week 21 – Arsenal vs Fulham

Arsenal meet Fulham at the Emirates Stadium as they look to get back to winning ways in search of a top four spot. 

Fulham meanwhile know that victory over the Gunners will see them move to within a point of safety. 

 

Team news

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Arsenal will assess Mesut Ozil ahead of this match after the German sat out Saturday’s thrashing at Liverpool with a knee injury. 

Full-back, Nacho Monreal faces late checks as he battles to be match fit after a recent thigh injury. 

Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) and Hector Bellerin (calf) are both close to a first team return but won’t be risked here. 

Danny Welbeck (ankle), Emile Smith Rowe (hip) and Rob Holding (knee) are all ruled out for indefinite periods, whilst Henrikh Mkhitaryan is still sidelined until mid February with a foot fracture. 

Fulham will be without defender, Alfie Mawson after the ex Swansea player suffered a serious knee injury against Huddersfield at weekend. 

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is however expected to feature after recovering from a knee injury, with Calum Chambers ineligble to face his parent club.  

 

Form

After seeing their 22 match unbeaten run ended by Southampton just over a fortnight ago, Arsenal have struggled for form with just four points from their last three league games. 

The Gunners however are yet to lose at home since the opening day against Manchester City, scoring in each of last nine games at Emirates but netted once in three of their last five at home. 

Fulham have taken five points from their last three league games, after managing only four points out of 33 from previous 11 matches.

In his last two games, Ryan Sessegnon scored against Wolves then turned provider in setting up Aleksandar Mitrovic’s winner against Huddersfield on Saturday. 

 

Stat Attack

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five matches against Fulham (W4, D1). 
• In 27 league meetings this century between these two teams, Arsenal have lost on only three occasions with those three defeats all coming at Craven Cottage (W19, D5, L3). 
• Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in last four clashes at the Emirates with Fulham. 
• Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the league’s joint top scorer after 20 games alongside Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool with 13 goals each. 
• Fulham have made 246 shots, which is only three less shots than Arsenal’s 249 shots after 20 games so far. 
• Arsenal have scored a league high nine goals from outside the box so far this season.
• Fulham have the worst defence so far out of England’s top two divisions with 43 goals conceded after 20 games. Ipswich Town of Sky Bet Championship have also conceded that many but after 25 matches. 

 

Prediction

On paper, this is Arsenal’s to lose but their form has slipped whilst Fulham have found some momentum in recent matches.

Although the Cottagers will provide a stern test when attacking, Arsenal should have enough in them here to get the win. 

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

Jake predicts: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

Result: Arsenal 4-1 Fulham