Match preview – Arsenal v Fulham
Sat 2 May, KO 5.30pm – Sky Sports Main Event
Arsenal have the chance to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League before title rivals Man City play their next league match.
After this game, Arsenal will have three league games left to play, and Man City five.
It’s another home game for the Gunners and they got back to winning ways when beating Newcastle 1-0 at home last Saturday, also in a 5.30pm kick-off.
They would maybe settle for the same again, although goal-difference or even goals scored could be decisive in deciding which side becomes champions.
This is a London derby, and such games can have a flavour of their own. Add in the fact that Fulham are chasing a place in European football next season and the game is set up nicely.
It is worth a mention that, since March 1, Arsenal have played 14 games and Fulham, eight.
ARSENAL’S STRONG HOME RECORD
Mikel Arteta’s record in April with Arsenal is ten wins from 52 games (19.2%); however, they won at home last Saturday, 1-0 versus Newcastle.
Arsenal have lost five league games all season, although two of those defeats have come in their last five games.
This said, their home record in the league this season is impressive – 13 wins, two draws and two defeats, with 37 goals scored and eleven conceded. They are strong at home.
Arsenal had to travel to Spain on Wednesday for a Champions League semi-final first leg v Atletico Madrid, which they drew 1-1.
GOAL-SHY FULHAM
In their last eight league games, Fulham have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 2. It will be a week since they last played whereas Arsenal had a Champions League semi-final first leg to contend with on Wednesday.
However, in their last eight league games away from home, Fulham have won just one of them, losing four of them, although three of those defeats have come at Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City.
Fulham have failed to score in four of their last six league games, and four of the six games had one goal or less scored in them; just one of them produced over 2.5 goals (3-1 at home v Burnley).
In their last 18 league games, they have scored more than one goal on just seven occasions and have kept five clean sheets, although they have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two league games.
They have drawn just six of their 34 league games this season, and just four of their last 32 games in the league this season.
They have won just four of their away games this season in the league, scoring 16 goals on the road in 17 matches and conceding 27.
INJURY NEWS
ARSENAL
Bukayo Saka was on the bench against Newcastle last week and came on as a sub against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, so he is back in action, which is good news for the Gunners.
Mikel Merino (foot) will miss the match, although he is now walking without crutches.
Jurrien Timber (groin) didn’t feature midweek and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said ahead of the Atletico Madrid match that he does not know when he will be available.
Kai Havertz didn’t play against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday owing to a groin injury. He remains a doubt for the Fulham game.
FULHAM
Ryan Sessegnon was substituted late in the Aston Villa game last Saturday, in which he scored the winning goal, with an unspecified injury. We are awaiting further updates from the club.
Antonee Robinson has recovered from injury, but Alex Iwobi is reported to be out with a thigh injury.
POTENTIAL GOALSCORERS
Arsenal
Kai Havertz (3 goals in Arsenal’s last eleven matches, all comps, only six of which he has started) and Viktor Gyökeres (11 goals in his last 21 matches, all comps, only 14 of which he has started) have been their key players recently.
Havertz, though, will miss the match.
FULHAM
Raul Jiminez has scored two goals in his last four appearances against Arsenal. He has scored three goals in his last eight appearances for Fulham, only five of which he started.
HEAD TO HEADS
There have been 18 meetings this century between the sides in the league with Arsenal as the home side.
Arsenal’s record in these games is 12 wins, 6 draws, with 38 goals cored and 15 conceded.
Arsenal have scored in 15 of the 18 games but have kept just five cleans sheets.
In 13 of the 18 games both teams scored.
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 12 of the 18 meetings.
There have been under 2.5 goals in just 5 of the 18.
Arsenal have scored at least two goals in 15 of the 18 fixtures referred to.
In 13 of the 18 games at least one goal was scored in the first half.
Both teams have scored in the last five league meetings versus played at Arsenal, and in seven of the last eight.
This century, home or away, Fulham have beaten Arsenal just three times in the league in 37 meetings.
PREDICTION
Based on the stats, it is impossible to oppose Arsenal in this fixture.
Arsenal’s greater workload and the fact that Fulham are chasing a place in Europe next season can be used as arguments in support of Fulham, but we like to stick with stats.
As such, a score of 2-1 or 3-1 to Arsenal is predicted and, should he get to start the match, Viktor Gyökeres as a first or anytime goalscorer.
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