Fulham vs Arsenal Match Preview: Analysis, team stats, and predictions

The Premier League is back today, Saturday 12th of September 2020, and what better game to usher us into a brand new campaign than the one between newly-promoted side Fulham, led by Scott Parker, and FA Cup winners, Arsenal.

Fulham won promotion from the second tier via the play-offs two years ago but despite an expensive recruitment drive still got relegated the same season.

Scott Parker, however, led Fulham back to the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Brentford in a play-off final at Wembley.

Mikel Arteta and his boys, on the other hand, are excited with the new season starting after ending last season on a high despite a poor showing in the league, which earned them the 8th spot on the table, their worst finish since 1995.

Both teams are set for a London showdown and we can’t wait to see the outcome.

Team News

Fulham have no fresh injury concerns as they welcome Arsenal to the Craven Cottage on their return to Premier League.

New loan signing, Alphonse Areola, might likely not make his club debut having only joined from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Kenny Tete became the club’s latest addition on Thursday but is unlikely to be included in Parker’s matchday squad immediately.

Arsenal will be without a number of central defensive options for the short trip to West London with David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, and Shkodran Mustafi all out due to a neck, calf, knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries respectively.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes could make their debuts in the heart of defence for Arsenal, while fellow new signing Willian is in line to make his debut as well.

Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli are also still out on the sidelines.

Stats and facts heading into the match (Backed by Opta)

• Fulham have lost each of their last five Premier League matches against Arsenal, conceding nine goals in their two defeats against the Gunners, the last time they were in the top-flight in 2018-19 (1-5 home, 1-4 away).
• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League matches against Fulham (W8 D4), going down 1-2 at Craven Cottage in January 2012.
• Arsenal and Fulham have only met on the opening day once previously in the top-flight, with the Gunners coming from behind to beat the Cottagers 2-1 on MD1 in 2007-08.
• Arsenal are looking to win on match day 1 (Match Day 1) in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2009-10 (three in a row), while Fulham have lost their opening day game in each of their last two seasons, 0-2 to Crystal Palace in 2018-19 and 0-1 to Barnsley last term.
• Arsenal are facing a newly-promoted side on MD1 of a Premier League season for a fifth time, losing none of their previous four (W3 D1). Their last league defeat against a promoted side on opening day was back in 1976-77, losing 0-1 at Highbury to Bristol City.
• Fulham have lost their last 10 top-flight London derbies – losing all 10 in the 2018/19 season – the longest ever run by a club in top-flight history.

Prediction

Fulham 0 – 3 Arsenal