Fulham at Arsenal

Fulham versus Arsenal will be the featured Premier League match this week. You can catch the game on either NBC or Peacock with kickoff at 12:30 EDT.

Everyone is well aware that Arsenal has come out guns blazing this season. They have easily dispatched their three prior opponents - Bournemouth, Leicester, and Crystal Palace - by a combined score line of 9-2. At this point last year Arsenal had earned zero points including an opening day loss to newly promoted Brentford. The turn-around has everyone raving about just how good Arsenal have become. Those early assessments may be slightly overblown - Arsenal have yet to face a top-tier team - but Crystal Palace is still pretty good and Arsenal didn't have much trouble with them so this will likely be the toughest match so far for Fulham.

Fulham is coming off an inspirational win against Brentford but they'll head into this match still short three wingers and on the heals of poor performances from Duff and Diop during the Carabao Cup. Expect then to see the same lineup as the team that started against Brentford with Bernd Leno getting the start against his former club. If Leno can keep a clean sheet through the first half (something no one has done against Arsenal this season) and Fulham can sneak in an early goal then Arsenal could find themselves in a tough spot for the first time and who knows how they will react. However, I don't think that is how the match will end up and instead I think we'll see Fulham's first loss of the season.

 

I'm super excited about this match. I expect the same starting 11 as against Brentford. I might prefer Rodak because he won't be distracted by having just left the other club, but I think Silva will pick Leno. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for no more injuries this weekend and for the foreseeable future.

I, too, think that a loss is the likely result, but I hope Fulham comes out with pride, unafraid, and the players show their quality. After Arsenal, we have Brighton, Tottenham, and Chelsea, all extremely difficult games. We need to maintain confidence, even if we lose on Saturday.

 

After turning on my tv at 5-odd am on opening day, and to my surprise, seeing the Whites battling Liverpool, I'm going to maintain some optimism that a result is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Don't bother me with actual facts, I'm enjoying the 3 match unbeaten run to kick off the campaign...
COYW

 

I imagine that Leno may want to prove a point to Arsenal.

Silva seems to have done a good job of having the team ready so I expect the same tomorrow. Probably the same lineup as last week (especially since nobody did anything against Crawley to buoy their standing). Though I do wonder what exactly is the stance on Cavaliero, with the thought that he could play on the wing.

 

I’m expecting Fulham to come out organized and execute whatever game plan Marco has drilled them on. I’d be thrilled with a point but am expecting a competitive match.

 

Kebano back in the side with Stansfield going to the bench.

 

A point would earn a dancing banana. Everybody knows we’ve never won at Gooners: Emirates, Highbury, Manor Ground, Arsenne Wenger’s backyard, wherever.
That means we win, right?

 

Tosin with a “wet sponge on his head.” Brutal start, says the announcer.

 

Was on the road, but had the game on Sirius radio. So pumped when Mitro scored, bummed when Arse answered, got home just in time to be gut punched. You want to make a statement Leno, don’t go weak, flail at it, and hope the ref bails you out. Encouraged (especially forcing Ramsdale to make a good save after they scored) yet in this division everything is on a knife’s edge and moral victories don’t mean a whole lot.

 

Well, I pretty much got what I asked for. Onward and upward hopefully.

 

When I compare our performance to what happened to Bournemouth, I feel quite satisfied. We were in the game the whole time against the in-form team of the league. Not too shabby at all. Even though a loss, this game will give the players the confidence they need for the 3 super difficult games ahead. The only thing I don’t get is how Chalobah is still in this team.

 

The highlights:


When Mitrovic scored I leapt for joy and punched my hand in the air - and straight into my spinning ceiling fan. Sadly, the pain from my celebration lasted longer than Fulham's lead. Still it was nice to see Mitrovic score again while Parker watched Liverpool put 9 past Bournemouth.

That "wet sponge" comment stood out to me too @jumpkutz . Tosin didn't always have his head on straight in this match. The rest of the back line I thought played really well. Tete did a great job limiting Martinelli and Robinson was almost as good defending Saka. Leno played really well too, until he didn't - that last goal all came down to that missed punch. That was really unfortunate after an otherwise great afternoon from him. I never thought I'd say this in a Premier League game, but I thought Ream was the man of the match. He did a great job of organizing the back line and made a number of good defensive stops on his own.

I would have loved to have gotten points from this one, but this was still a good showing from Fulham. I'm not sure the last time I felt this way, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing Fulham play in the Premier League rather than dreading it. If they keep playing this way, I'm going to need to get a vaulted ceiling in my family room for future celebratory fist pumps.