Arsenal vs Fulham: 5 key players to ensure victory

Arsenal move forth in the Premier League against Fulham, looking for their ninth total win in a row. Here are five key players to ensure we get it.

For the first time in awhile, I had to look back at Arsenal’s recent results to remember how many in row we’ve won. It’s been eight now, in all competitions, and five in the Premier League. It’s been a wide variety of wins, some ugly, some clean-cut.

Most importantly, three of the last four have been clean sheets, and the one that wasn’t Brentford, really should have been. Not to mention the one before all that, against Vorskla, which really should have been also.

There are improvements being made. The attack has already been good, and with the emergence of Alex Iwobi, it’s only going to get better. However, the defense is the main improvement here. It’s still flimsy at times, but it’s getting better and, as I always say, as long as it’s getting better, you can’t ask for much more.

Fulham is next up. Newly-promoted, they sit just out of the relegation battle, having amassed just one win. In the process they’ve given up a Premier League worst 16 goals. And, as Calum Chambers is on loan from the Gunners, he won’t be there to help bail out his temporary outfit.

This Arsenal attack should have plenty of confidence going into this, so let’s talk about the five players we will most need to ensure victory. We start with No. 5.

5. Granit Xhaka

No matter how you spin it, Granit Xhaka is going to do what Granit Xhaka is going to do, and that is be a massive, massive presence on any given match. And by presence, I mean a lot of things – being that central hub, breaking lines of defense with his passing and, yes, even play a little bit of defense when he’s able.

Fulham aren’t a team that should cause the Gunners too much trouble, especially at the Emirates, so expect to see Xhaka at the heart of everything, right where he belongs.

Onward and upward to No. 4.