Another Thursday-Sunday week of football ends as the Gunners travel to west London and meet Fulham at Craven Cottage. Loitering in 17th place in the table, a struggling Fulham welcome 5th placed Arsenal who are seeking a ninth win in a row, with manager Unai Emery nominated for the recent Manager of the Month award.
Impressing again in mid week, and claiming his first full clean sheet, Bernd Leno is set to continue in goal. The more he plays, the more comfortable he gets but this week he'll face the most direct opponent he will have faced to date: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham's talisman. To combat this aerial battle, I expect to see Emery start with the normal back four (after the shoddy back three test in mid week) but have Mustafi alongside the returning Sokratis. Holding will be unlucky to miss out but against a tough and dogged team like Fulham, the back line is going to need all the experience it can get. Monreal should return to left back, whilst Bellerin is likely to come back in on the right side.
Midfield should welcome back a host of first teamers, after plenty of rest in Azerbaijan on Thursday night. Torreira will be in from the off, providing the crucial defensive shield, whist Ramsey and Xhaka are both like to come back into the midfield trio. Emery welcomes back Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the first team after his mid week absence but its likely he'll start with a place on the bench. Why change a winning team? Against a top six rival, maybe, but against Fulham I expect to see Ozil and (if well enough) Aubameyang occupy the wide attacking spots, flanking in form Alex Lacazette who'll start up the middle.
Nominated for Player of the Month and Goal of the Month for September, Lacazette is enjoying a great run. He's red hot right now and will be looking for this to continue against tomorrow's opponents. Although often isolated, he knows the movement and runs he needs to deploy to become involved again. He links play fairly well and is always in the box when required. Even at a small, old ground like Craven Cottage, there is a goal of two waiting for the in form Frenchman.
Fulham will be without Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers in defence. Fellow defenders Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are both absent through injury, whilst Alfie Mawson and captain Tom Cairney are both pushing for starts since returning from injury. Midfield man and former (rumoured) Arsenal transfer target Jean Michel Seri will be looking to impress in the centre of the park - but he could be in for a long afternoon against the likes of Ramsey and Ozil.
As already referenced, Fulham's main threat is Mitrovic up the middle; he is powerful, strong and hungry to score. The link up play between he and the likes of Vietto and Schurrle is vital to any Fulham success. Arsenal's full backs will need to be well aware of the wide attacking play Fulham look to build through. As a whole, the Gunners need to prevent crosses and long balls dropping into the box. Set pieces too; any corners and long throws will provide the perfect platform for Fulham and Mitrovic to strike. Keep him out, and threaten the other and Arsenal will be well on the way to three points and a ninth win on the bounce.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Skhodran Mustafi
CB: Sokratis
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Aaron Ramsey
CM: Granit Xhaka
RW: Mesut Ozil
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 3-0 with Lacazette to continue his great run, and Ramsey and Ozil to bag a goal each.
Comments
Post a Comment