The key battle in Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Fulham

I still can’t believe that Aleksandar Mitrovic is only 27 years of age. That means he was, what, 20 when he first showed his face in the Premier League with Newcastle. Mental.

Anyway, Arsenal vs Fulham, eh? Should be fun.

Mitrovic will have a big role to play on Saturday evening as the Cottagers visit the Emirates looking to preserve their unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season against the only perfect side that remains in the Premier League.

The Serbian striker has started the new campaign with a chip on his shoulder after he bagged an extortionate amount of goals in the second tier last season – 44 to be precise. While Mitrovic is clearly good enough to compete at the very highest level, his form in the top flight has come under scrutiny. He’s been relegated three times with two different clubs and he scored just three goals during his last Premier League campaign (2020/21) amid a miserable season for Fulham.

The key battle in Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Fulham

The bullish forward certainly has something to prove and through three games, Mitrovic has arguably been the star of the top flight who isn’t called Gabriel Jesus. Not only is the 27-year-old joint-second in the scoring charts, but he’s almost won seven more aerial duels than anybody else in the Premier League, had the most shots (15) and headed efforts (seven), while only Jesus has had more touches in the opposition’s box.

That’s quite the start and next on Mitrovic’s agenda is an Arsenal backline that is as stable as it’s been in well over a decade following the return of William Saliba and arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

Saliba has already faced a myriad of challenges since donning the Gunners strip for the very first time, but Mitrovic is a unique proposition. The Serbian international is mightily aggressive and his role as Fulham’s focal point means he’s crucial to their success under Marco Silva. The Cottagers dominated the ball in the second tier, but they’ve smartly evolved into a direct, transition-based outfit to start 2022/23. It’s a style that’s more conducive to Premier League success considering their qualitative inferiority.

Thus, Saturday could be a tricky match-up for the Gunners. Fulham will look to bypass Arsenal’s effective press by going direct into Mitrovic, which means the Serb’s battle with Saliba and Gabriel will be pivotal in determining the dynamics of the contest. Will the hosts be able to sustain pressure, or will Mitrovic and Fulham win enough first and second balls to get up the pitch?

Manchester United were hugely successful with their long ball ploy against Liverpool on Monday night. The Red Devils disrupted the rhythm of their bitter rivals, who so often rely on pressing as a means of suffocating their opponents and creating chances.

Fulham will surely look to do something similar at the Emirates. They’re the most direct team in the division through three games, and they’ll be well aware of Mitrovic’s efficacy in the opposition’s box. The Serb is brilliant at peeling off his centre-back and onto the full-back at the back post and should Fulham enter the final third, I’d expect to see the Serb occupy the diminutive Zinchenko as much as he can. That’s where the visitors could have plenty of joy.

Thus, there are two key battles that Arsenal must win against Fulham on Saturday evening with Aleksandar Mitrovic at the heart of both. The Gunners must win the second ball when Fulham go long into the Serb, and they must limit the striker’s opportunities from crossing situations.