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Key events
19 min: Jimenez and Willian come to the fore, the striker spreading the play. Iwobi’s ball across finds Willian, who steps inside and misses the target.
17 min: More Fulham targeting of the Kiwior corner. This time, Castagne can’t get to it.
16 min: Martinelli scampers to the corner but Nketiah commits a foul in chasing down the loose ball.
14 min: Fulham build up an attack quite beautifully, eventually sending Robinson down the flank, his ball inside to Jimenez and a shot from the Mexican forces a save from Raya.
12 min: Arsenal dominating possession, Fulham finding it tough to string any passes together. They’re targeting the Arsenal left, with Castagne pushed right up against Kiwior. So far the Pole has done his job well enough.
10 min: Kiwior sends the lively Martinelli down the left. He can’t get the ball through to Nketiah.
8 min: Raya rushes out to stop a Castagne pass that was aimed towards Fulham’s forwards, who have been absentees so far.
6 min: That was easy for Arsenal. They will be relieved to score after what happened against West Ham. Fulham were opened up like a tin of beans.
Goal! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal (Saka, 5)
From one end to the other. Fulham attack, lovely ball from Iwobi to the back post and Castagne gets the ball. He can’t beat Raya, and Arsenal spring into the attack. Martinelli speeds away, cuts back in and the ball spills to Saka who deflects it in. Was he offside? VAR checks: given.
3 min: Kiwior is replicating the Zinchenko role of tucking in at full-back. Odegaard meanwhile leads the press and then finds himself with a shooting chance. He narrowly misses the target when Fulham’s defenders had stood off him.
And away we go….
1 min: Arsenal push up on their London opposition from the start. They have something to prove after losing to West Ham.
Pat gets in touch: “Why is that big central upper stand at Craven Cottage empty? Surely they could find a few people eager to brave the rain and wind.“
The short answer is that the contractors went bump and the job isn’t yet finished.
The teams take the long walk from the Craven Cottage dressing room, and in front of the still half-empty new stand. The musical interlude you get down there reminds of attending a West End musical like Time or Cats. A very odd overture greets the teams.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports: “We played less than 72 hours ago and are going to need a lot of energy to beat Fulham. I fully trust my players. We are generating so many situations and when that happens goals will come. Today, hopefully we will be more efficient.”
Ian Colvin gets in touch: “Now that all teams have worked out that you can nullify Saka and Martinelli by putting two defensive players on each of them, surely this should leave a massive defensive shaped hole in the middle of the pitch to allow Jesus/Nketiah to nonchalantly stroke the ball into the onion bag? Or does my analysis of this go someway to explain why have always sucked at Football Manager?”
Who do you want your club to sign?
Arsenal
FFP is a factor here. If we can’t count on the fitness of Thomas Partey, perhaps the Saudis can tempt him. I’m hoping we’re not forced to flog the homegrown likes of Emile Smith Rowe, but frankly, with everyone chasing a proven goalscorer, selling Fábio Vieira etc won’t make much of a dent in the fee demanded for Ivan Toney or Dominic Solanke. Elsewhere, Douglas Luiz won’t be the only Villa player coveted by plenty of clubs, but I just can’t see how we stump up £100m for him. Based on his impressive pre-season form, I’d settle for Jurriën Timber’s early recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in the opening game; he’ll feel like a new signing and might well energise our squad in the finishing straight.
Fulham
Some media outlets seem to have a vested interest in João Palhinha leaving, such is their eagerness to link our under-contract midfielder with all and sundry. As for incoming deals, another combative midfielder – André of Fluminense – is reported to be on our radar. The former fan favourite Fábio Carvalho, currently on loan with Red Bull Leipzig from Liverpool, has been linked with a return. Like several other youngsters before him, Carvalho has found that the grass isn’t always greener. But it’s strikers that we need most – preferably of the “proven” variety. Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis of Alkmaar is apparently a target (oo-er, shades of Mitroglou?). One other telling signature would be that of Tosin Adarabioyo. Our centre-back will be out of contract next summer and has starred recently.
Bernd Leno lines up today for Fulham against his old club.
Last time out didn’t go so well for Arsenal.
Three changes for Arsenal: Oleksandr Zinchenko is replaced by Jakub Kiwior at left-back. In midfield, Kai Havertz returns after suspension and replaces Leandro Trossard. Eddie Nketiah replaces the benched Gabriel Jesus.
Jimenez AND Willian return for Fulham and Timothy Castagne replaces Kenny Tete.
The teams
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Iwobi, Willian, Jimenez. Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure,
Andreas Pereira, Rodrigo Muniz, Lukic, Diop.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli. Subs: Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Gabriel Jesus
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
Preamble
Arsenal’s title challenge took a hit last time out, with West Ham winning at the Emirates. Bad defending and panicky finishing let them down. Here’s a chance for redemption, and Fulham look to be ideal opposition, judging by recent results. It doesn’t seem too long ago that Marco Silva’s men were smashing in the goals but then came defeats to Burnley and Bournemouth. Perhaps Raul Jimenez’s return might alter that though Willian’s continuing absence is probably a greater problem. A London derby by the Thames to close out 2023: soccer!
Kick-off at 2pm, join me.
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