Arsenal will be looking to immediately bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League and end 2023 on a high when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.
The Gunners were handed a 2-0 defeat by West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday evening, missing the chance to replace Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and failing to pull away from Manchester City as a result. It was a frustrating night for Mikel Arteta’s team, who had 30 shots compared to West Ham’s five.
The Spanish tactician will now expect a rousing response from his boys at Fulham, who were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Arsenal Team News
There are several injury concerns at such a congested time of the year, with Mikel Arteta still unable to call upon the likes of Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber. Mohamed Elneny and Jorginho returned on the bench against Liverpool last weekend and were included in the squad in the midweek defeat to West Ham.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz is available again for selection after serving a one-game suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Fulham (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya should get the nod over Aaron Ramsdale again, despite the Spaniard yet to fully convince with his performances in goal.
Defence
Mikel Arteta is expected to name an unchanged back four that started in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham, meaning Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Ben White all start here.
Saliba and Magalhaes will continue in central defence, hoping to keep things tight at the back. Zinchenko and White must start as the full-backs, and the duo have to be defensively diligent first before contributing going forward.
Midfield
Free from suspension, Kai Havertz should walk straight into Arteta’s starting XI. He will take up the box-to-box role alongside Martin Odegaard, with Declan Rice, who was poor against his former club in midweek, holding the fort in the centre of the park.
The trio will look to take control of the game as quickly as possible and create opportunities for the forwards in the final third. Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny will provide cover for midfield positions from the bench.
Attack
Gabriel Martinelli has been poor for some time now, and Arteta could decide to bench the Brazilian on Sunday. Leandro Trossard may replace Martinelli on the left flank, with Bukayo Saka hoping to bring energy, dynamism and flair from the opposite flank.
Gabriel Jesus was wasteful in front of goal against West Ham, and while Eddie Nketiah is pushing for a recall, Arteta is set to stick with the Brazilian up top.
