Fulham away a chance to close the gap

Morning.

It’s Fulham away today, the scene of one of last season’s most disappointing performances. I use that word deliberately, rather than result, because you’re always going to lose a game or two along the way in a league campaign, but this was one of the rare occasions in that campaign where we were well below par and it stands out because of that. I’m sure Mikel Arteta, and the players, will be keen to put that right today.

It’s hard to predict exactly what team we’ll put out today, with doubts still over Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori. Jakub Kiwior deputised well for the former in midweek, while we got a good hour out of Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back before his concentration levels dropped and he was brought off. We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of back four the manager is able to pick.

I wonder if midfield might be influenced a little bit by right back. Jurrien Timber looks fit and is playing well, but he’s the only option we have there right now beyond Thomas Partey, and he can’t play every game. Perhaps today might be a day to see how a Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard trio gets on, leaving Partey on the bench to provide some cover at right-back. If we’re in good shape in the second half, he could come on to take some of the burden off Timber.

Up front I think we could see Leandro Trossard rather than Gabriel Martinelli, but the manager’s decision making there might be impacted by how he views the threat of Adama Traore against whoever is going to play at left back. Whether it’s Zinchenko, Calafiori or someone else, they’re not going to be able to keep up with him in terms of pace, so he might see Martinelli as the better option to help out the full-back.

As for today’s opposition, they’ve been having a good season, with former Gunner Alex Iwobi their star man so far. The Emile Smith Rowe dynamic is an interesting one too, as he will certainly be fully motivated for this one. He’s enjoying life at Craven Cottage, but it was a wrench for him to leave, and even if he feels like that’s the right decision, I don’t think that was his preferred option. He’ll feel he didn’t get a fair shake from Arteta (I don’t believe things ended particularly well between them), he may well have a point too, and he’ll be out to prove a point today. He’s someone we know well, but also someone we have to watch because of the positions he likes to take up.

With City dropping points yesterday, it’s a chance to extend our lead over them, and because the Merseyside derby was postponed, we have an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Liverpool. They’ll have a game in hand, but it’s really important that we get these points on the board to apply just a little pressure. Who knows what shape or form they might be in by the time that game comes around again. I think they’d have battered Everton yesterday, so perhaps this postponement might be useful – it’s up to us take full advantage though.

So, over to the players, and let’s hope we can make amends for last season. Right, I’m gonna leave it there for now. Don’t forget the preview podcast is available right now on Patreon. Join us later for live blog coverage, plus you’ll get the match report, goal clips, reaction, player ratings and much more over on Arseblog News.

Until then.

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