Arsenal head into the match on the back of a 3-0 win over Fenerbache as they look to salvage their disappointing start to the Premier League campaign. Fulham on the other hand, despite being on the back foot for most of the match against Sunderland last week, came away with all three points and would be hoping for atleast a point when they host the Gunners in an early Saturday kickoff.
Manager Martin Jol will be hoping for a similar defensive solidity ahead of the visit of Arsenal this week. However, in front of the home fans, and in the local London derby, fans would want to see a little more from the club than to simply stay back and defend.
Arsenal who are in a world of trouble with all the unexpected injuries they have suffered will be entering the match without defender Laurent Koscielny who will serve his one match ban following his red card against Villa. The corresponding fixture last season, saw a low-scoring affair, as Arsenal’s big German Per Mertesacker scored the only goal of the game to lead Arsenal to a 1-0 win.
For Arsenal, the injury list does not look good. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who suffered a knee injury will be out of the game for atleast three months adding to Arsene Wenger’s long list of injured players. While midfielder Abou Diaby and Mikel Arteta is not expected anytime sooner, defender Nacho Monreal is fit and available for selection.
Here’s what the boss told Arsenal.com:
on Laurent Koscielny…
He’s like a boxer who had a hard fight the night before; lots of blood around his eye and a deep cut. He is suspended for Saturday anyway but let’s hope he recovers for next Tuesday [against Fenerbahce]. It will be short because the cut is very deep. Hopefully it will be alright.
on other team news…
The news is quite positive at the moment. Of course we have some players who I will need to consider because of the accumulation of the international game and then the Premier League and Champions League matches. I will have to make a deeper analysis tomorrow and on Saturday morning.
on Ryo…
He is back in full training now. He will be involved this season in the first-team squad. Hopefully very soon because he’s now getting fit.
on Vermaelen…
He is out running. He’s on the pitches again. But there’s still a good few weeks to go for him to get his fitness. We have Nacho back and Thomas soon back so that’s all good news for us.
For Fulham, Martin Jol will be without the services of newly signed goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and left back Kieran Richardson, as the duo were injured in the opening-day win, and Jol will have to solely depend on Brede Hangeland to spear head his side’ defensive duties making its task of defending more difficult. Alexander Kacaniklic may return to the first team after declaring himself fit again.
However the main talking point for Fulham would be the introduction of their two new signings, Darren Bent who was on the bench last time around is expected to start this week and Scott Parker is also expected some gametime. It will be interesting to see how the Gunners manage to defend the likes of Berbatov and Bent.
Possible starting lineups:
Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Boateng, Parker; Taarabt, Berbatov, Duff; Bent
Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Rosicky, Wilshere, Ramsey Cazorla, Walcott; Giroud
Expecting a 1-2 win for the Gunners and a fiercely contested London derby.
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