Arsenal vs Fulham preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

It hasn’t been the most fluent of starts, but Arsenal are two from two in the 2023/24 Premier League season.

The Gunners have been forced to hold on in their victories over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, although there would’ve been great satisfaction from Monday night’s triumph given that they were unjustly reduced to ten men following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s dismissal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are still finding their feet with the manager tinkering with his system, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he reverts to last season’s dynamics on Saturday.

Arsenal host a Fulham side who have made an unconvincing start to the campaign. After Bernd Leno ensured they walked away from Goodison Park with three points on Matchday 1, the Cottagers were brushed aside by west London rivals Brentford last weekend.

With star man Aleksandar Mitrovic departing for the Saudi Pro League, it looks like it could be a difficult season for Marco Silva’s side.

Arsenal vs Fulham preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League clash against Fulham.

How to watch Arsenal vs Fulham on TV

When is kick-off? Saturday 26 August

What time is kick-off? 15:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? N/A (UK) / fuboTV, UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (US) / fuboTV (Canada)

Referee? Paul Tierney

Arsenal team news

Tomiyasu’s red card means he’ll miss Saturday’s game, but Arteta should be able to call upon the services of Oleksandr Zinchenko after he returned to action on Monday night following a lengthy layoff.

Gabriel could also come back into the starting XI with a change being made further up the pitch. Kai Havertz is the most likely to drop out given his anonymous showing in possession, which means Declan Rice could be utilised higher up the pitch with Zinchenko inverting alongside Thomas Partey.

Eddie Nketiah will probably retain his place up top with Gabriel Jesus still out.

Fulham team news

Mitrovic’s departure means Raul Jimenez will likely lead Fulham’s line at the Emirates. The Mexican, however, has been profligate since returning from a career-threatening head injury.

Tim Ream’s dismissal against the Bees means summer arrival Calvin Bassey is poised to start at the back, while Joao Palhinha will almost certainly make his first start of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Willian and Adama Traore are both in contention for the away side but are more likely to enter the fray from the bench.

Arsenal vs Fulham predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.

Fulham: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Wilson, Pereira, De Cordova Reid; Jimenez.

Arsenal’s recent form

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal (21/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest (12/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-1 (5-4p) Man City (06/08) – Community Shield

Arsenal 1-1 AS Monaco – (02/08) – Emirates Cup

Arsenal 5-3 Barcelona (27/07) – Friendly

Fulham’s recent form

Fulham 0-3 Brentford (19/08) – Premier League

Everton 0-1 Fulham (12/08) – Premier League

Fulham 2-1 Hoffenheim (05/08) – Friendly

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (30/07) – Premier League Summer Series

Fulham 0-2 Aston Villa (27/07) – Premier League Summer Series

Arsenal vs Fulham prediction

Arsenal have been forced to grind out their two wins so far, but Saturday is a chance to win pretty. I tipped Fulham for the drop before the start of the season, and last week’s showing against Brentford was an early vindication of my prediction.

While I don’t think they’ll be shelling three goals every week, especially with Palhinha returning, I just don’t know where the goals are going to come from. Their lack of a reliable goalscorer will cripple them this season.

The Gunners are bound to dominate proceedings, although I expect Silva to at least attempt to win possession high up the pitch which could play into the home side’s favour. Fulham have the pivot and speed in the backline to cope with a high-pressing gameplan, but the hosts’ build-up will surely be too slick, especially if Zinchenko starts.

However, things haven’t been clicking for Arteta’s side in the final third either so far, and while I think they’ll win pretty comfortably, it won’t be a walkover.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham