Arsenal are looking to maintain a perfect start to the new Premier League season when they face Fulham at the Emirates this weekend.
So far, the Gunners have six points in their first two games and have a great chance to maintain their 100 percent record against a Cottages team that had mixed results in the first two weeks.
You will recognize that Marco Silva's men came out of trouble with a 1-0 win at Everton, but were somewhat humiliated last weekend by a lackluster 3-0 loss to Brentford.
Meanwhile, Arsenal followed up a stunning 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Monday night.
But how will Mikel Arteta assemble his side when he takes home his London rivals on Saturday
There is some tactical flexibility in every move Arsenal makes, but Arteta's general preference is to keep his side in a 4-3-3 formation. With the Gunners laying the groundwork for attack, expect plenty of threats from large areas and an attempt to close the center of the park by pushing into midfield with reversed full-back placements. Predicted Arsenal line-up against Fulham
Goalie David Raya is still establishing himself at the Emirates, while Aaron Ramsdale remains the front-runner for both posts. The England international will face a lot of competition in the coming weeks and months, but at least he's number one for now. Defence An interesting one here, with the Gunners already facing a bit of a selection headache at left-back.
Nketsia has been in form recently
New signing Jurrien Timber sustained a long-term ACL injury on the opening weekend, and is likely to be absent for the entirety of his debut season in England. Speaking about the Dutchman recently, Arteta said: “Obviously for the team, it’s a big blow because we recruited him with clear intentions, and what he was bringing to the team was evident, and he’s not going to be in this season for us.
We have to adapt; these things happen unfortunately, and we have to move on.” The manager’s solution to Timber’s unexpected absence against Palace on Monday evening was to include Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu on the left side of his back four, but the 24-year-old was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in seven second-half minutes.
With Arsenal unable to appeal the decision, Arteta could hand Oleksandr Zinchenko his first Premier League start of the season. At the heart of defense, Ben White appears to have usurped Gabriel Magalhaes as William Saliba’s preferred partner, and at right-back, Thomas Partey should continue in a new hybrid role that allows him to advance into the center of midfield when required.
Midfield With no new injury or suspension concerns to report, Arteta is likely to continue with the same midfield trio that he has opted for in both of Arsenal’s top flight outings so far this term. Summer signing Declan Rice has settled with satisfying rapidity, while fellow acquisition Kai Havertz is showing flashes of promise in a slightly more attacking role.
Martin Odegaard registered his first goal of the new campaign from the penalty spot at Selhurst Park on Monday, and will be integral to the Gunners’ creative prospects going forward.
Attack Out wide, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli must be two of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet by this point, and the hope will be that they can continue to make good on their otherworldly potential over the coming months.
With Gabriel Jesus expected to return until September at the earliest, Eddie Nketiah will likely remain the Gunners' center-forward option. The 24-year-old scored once in the opening weekend, but missed several great opportunities against Palace earlier in the week.
Predicted XI
Aaron Ramsdale.
Thomas Party, Ben White, William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko. Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Eddie Nketiah.
Source: 3addedminutes