Date :Saturday 12th September,2020
Time: 12:30pm
Stadium Craven Cottage
Referee Chris Kavanagh (England)
Goal Scorer:
Team News:
Fulham are back in the Premier League just a year after their dismal outing in 2018/19. Under the tutelage of former midfielder turned manager Scott Parker, the Cottagers have worked their way back into the top-flight, via the play-offs, as they defeated London rivals Brentford in the final.
There are no injury-related absentees for the hosts to contend with. But, it will be interesting to see whether Parker holds the summer arrivals back or throws them into the deep end right away. The latter is likely to be the case, meaning Areola should pip Marek Rodak to the starting spot in goal.
Tete is likely to slot in at right-back ahead of Denis Odoi. However, Joe Bryan, who scored the all-important winner in the play-off finals, is likely to be retained on the left-side ahead of Antonee Robinson. Tim Ream and Michael Hector should form the central defensive partnership for the Cottagers.
Parker used a two-man midfield pivot for most of last season and is likely to persist with it. Tom Cairney and Reed ought to be the two starting midfielders, with Josh Onomah likely to slot in as the No. 10. However, there is a good chance that the manager might to go in with Lemina instead of Onomah and switch to a three-man midfield unit against a team like Arsenal.
The front three pretty much picks itself for Fulham, with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic spearheading the attack, flanked by the dynamic duo of Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro. Bobby Reid and Neeskens Kabano are other options available at the manager’s disposal.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Tete, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Reed, Cairney; Knockaert, Onomah, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic
Arsenal
Heading into the weekend game, Arsenal will have to make do without Pablo Mari, while fellow defenders Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers are also ruled out. David Luiz is also a major doubt with a neck complaint, whereas forward Gabriel Martinelli also misses out.
Emiliano Martinez has performed brilliantly in the absence of Bernd Leno. However, the German international should take up the goalkeeping slot on Saturday. Shielding him will be a three-man backline comprising of William Saliba, who will make his competitive debut for Arsenal, along with Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney.
Back at the Emirates, Ceballos is a certainty to feature in the middle of the park. He will have former captain Granit Xhaka as his partner, with Mohamed Elneny providing cover from the bench. Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are likely to be the two wing-backs on the right and left sides, respectively.
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is nailed down for a starting berth on the left flank, while Bukayo Saka, Willian and Nicolas Pepe will battle it out for the right-wing spot. Arteta could opt to go in with Saka, while Eddie Nketiah is likely to be preferred over Alexandre Lacazette for the centre-forward slot.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Leno; Saliba, Holding, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang
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Key Stats
Fulham have lost each of their last five Premier League matches against Arsenal. The last time they were in the top-flight, in 2018/19, the Cottagers shipped in nine goals in their two games against the Gunners.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against Fulham (W8 D4). That loss came way back in January 2012, at Craven Cottage.
This will be just the second time that Arsenal and Fulham are meeting on the opening day of the top-flight season. The previous instance came in 2007/08, which the Gunners won 2-1.
Fulham have lost their last ten top-flight London derbies – all of which came in the 2018/19 campaign – the longest ever run by any club in top-flight history.
Arsenal are facing a newly-promoted side on the opening matchday of a Premier League season for the fifth time. They have never lost such a fixture on the previous four occasions (W4 D1).
Fulham have lost each of their last five Premier League matches against Arsenal. The last time they were in the top-flight, in 2018/19, the Cottagers shipped in nine goals in their two games against the Gunners.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against Fulham (W8 D4). That loss came way back in January 2012, at Craven Cottage.
This will be just the second time that Arsenal and Fulham are meeting on the opening day of the top-flight season. The previous instance came in 2007/08, which the Gunners won 2-1.
Fulham have lost their last ten top-flight London derbies – all of which came in the 2018/19 campaign – the longest ever run by any club in top-flight history.
Arsenal are facing a newly-promoted side on the opening matchday of a Premier League season for the fifth time. They have never lost such a fixture on the previous four occasions (W4 D1).
Prediction: Fulham 0-2 Arsenal
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