Key events
So where is the game about Fulham? My feeling is that they will try to block the midfield with Berge and Lukic, rely on their centre-backs to properly defend the box and look to get the ball out wide when in possession.
Of course, this is not his size with Arsenal. They are now without Gabriel and Benjamin White, news that will not escape Marco Silva. In midweek, Manchester United’s failure to target Zinchenko rather than the world’s best defender was extremely strange, but it seems inconceivable that whoever Iwobi and Traore play on the left would not be ordered to chase Partey. no right – vice versa. And Jimenez is also likely to target Kivior, with Lukic brought in to bolster the midfield, partly because of Arsenal’s attacking prowess but partly to allow their game-changers the freedom to play.
As for Arsenal, they are without the injured Zinchenko, so Thomas Partey moves to full-back and Jorginho moves into midfield, while Leandro Trossard is in attack rather than Gabriel Martinelli.
Marco Silva makes four changes to the team that beat Brighton. Out comes Castane, Wilson and Muniz, who are on the bench, and in comes Kenny Tete, Sasha Lukic and Raul Jimenez; also missing is Reiss Nelson, injured but unable to play against the parent club in any case and his place goes to Adam Traore.
Ah, not quite yet – says Artets. He says Zinchenko is injured but his players have to adapt as needed during the season and he is sure they will be fine. He knows Fulham there are good strikers but he knows if you play in England there will be time, you just have to make the most of what you are served.
He is sure his side will get close to the leaders, but they have to earn the right to win here, against a well-managed team who is talented and consistent.
I will write them down then we will think about what they mean.
Let’s have some teams…
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tetteh, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Adama, Smith Row, Iwobi; Jimenez. subtitles: Benda, Castane, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Andreas, King, Godot, Wilson, Muniz.
Arsenal (4-3-3-): Paradise; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber; Jorginho, Reiss, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard. subtitles: Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Lewis-Skelley, Merino, Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli, Nwaneri.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester)
Preamble
We must have all been sitting there watching our teams doing our nuts when another corner hits the first man and then another goes behind the back post. How hard can it be, we wonder, for professionals, especially those at the elite level, to practice hard enough to get good enough?
ok Arsenal are the answer, and while we have no idea how much work went into perfecting their craft, we have every idea that it is possible and has been possible for as long as this game has existed. Nothing new, of course: George Graham’s 1988-89 champions. and 1990-91. were masters at executing a near post, nearly impossible to defend when executed well. But Mikel Arteta’s team is a more flexible mix, so for him the corners are now an occasion: everyone knows something is coming, but no one but his players knows exactly what – and even then…
Or, to put it another way, mastery of standard figures is not cheating, nor is it ugly, laborious, or shameful. Every country should be great at them, those that aren’t are sloppy, and seeing things done right and creatively, with physicality and fear, is a kind of beauty. It really is that simple.
Given that’s not all Arsenal do, and given the form they’re in, Fulham I have a problem this afternoon. But barring an incident at home to Wolves, they are also in a pretty decent position, eighth in the table with an opportunity to go higher with their last five games featuring wins over Brentford, Palace and Brighton along with a draw at Spurs. They will not be afraid of Arsenal and in Emile Smith Rowe they boast an enterprising young player who is desperate to show his former club what they are missing. That will be good.
Start: 14:00 GMT
