Preview: Arsenal v Fulham | Match preview | News
Our league and European double dream remains intact as we enter May, and the next few days will bring two of the biggest games in Emirates Stadium’s 20-year history, starting with the visit of Fulham on Saturday (5.30pm UK).
The opportunity to open up a six-point gap at the top of the table exists when we tackle the Cottagers, with Manchester City in action against Everton on Monday, 24 hours before our finely-poised Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
But full focus will now be on Fulham, a side chasing European football but one we have never lost at home to in the 122 years we’ve been facing each other. In that time, there won’t have been many meetings as crucial as this clash, as the title race moves into the final straight.
SILVA’S SWANSONG?
Having spent the majority of the campaign firmly entrenched in mid-table, Marco Silva enters the final four games of the season – and perhaps his five-year stint in west London – aiming to claim a first European berth since 2012, with Fulham sitting just two points behind Bournemouth in sixth.
However their form on the road threatens to hamper that push. The Cottagers have scored just 16 times on their 17 Premier League away days and won just one of their eight road games in 2026, coming at Sunderland in February. That 3-1 victory was also the last time they found the net away from home.
Since then, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Aston Villa last weekend have been beaten at Craven Cottage, while 0-0 draws were claimed at Nottingham Forest and Brentford and their only loss in that time was a 2-0 reverse at Liverpool three weeks ago.
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WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Arteta: “I think we have enough fuel in the tank; we’re playing to win the Premier League, and it’s exactly where we want to be. Four games to go, it’s game two, I’m ready to go. Let’s keep doing what we’ve done all season and bring that energy, that passion and together we’re going to make it happen.
“I’m extremely grateful for the support, the atmosphere that we have created at Emirates. We always want more, we always want better, we always want every single action to be so positive behind the players. The more we do that, we all know that the outcome is going to be much better.”
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Silva: “Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.
“Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league. “We also enjoy this type of situation, we just have to look at ourselves and be competitive. Three points to fight for – and we will fight.”
TEAM NEWS
After missing the midweek trip to Madrid, both Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber are still unavailable for selection with their groin injuries, joining Mikel Merino (foot) on the sidelines.
Martin Odegaard came off at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday but Arteta hopes he’ll be fine to feature again.
Having scored the winner to beat Aston Villa last weekend, Ryan Sessegnon will miss the trip to N5 after being forced off with a muscle injury, while Alex Iwobi won’t feature against his former club as he has damaged a hamstring.
Silva hopes that right-back Kenny Tete could be in contention as he rebuilds his match fitness after sitting out the last four games with a foot problem, the same issue that sees club-record signing Kevin miss out.
TALKING TACTICS
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme: Silva’s stock formation is a 4-2-3-1, so we are unlikely to see any major surprises there. Fulham are happy to have the ball so while playing short passes through the lines is their preferred method, centre-back Joachim Andersen has made the second-highest number of long passes among all Premier League defenders.
The Cottagers are more patient in possession than most top-flight teams, ranking fifth for 10+ pass sequences. Last weekend against Aston Villa, they pressed extremely well, especially through the industry of Emile Smith Rowe, but they actually have the fewest shot-ending high turnovers and rank last for pressing sequences, too.
They are strong down the flanks, using their wingers and a pair of attack-minded full-backs to create 2v1s at opportune moments. Right-winger Harry Wilson is enjoying a fabulous campaign, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists, and three of the Welshman’s goals have been blockbusters from outside the box.
Only us and the two Manchester sides have faced fewer shots on target than the west Londoners, but playing out from the back is a possible weakness. Only Burnley and Tottenham have conceded more high turnovers, so pressing with conviction could be a sound tactical ploy.
FACTS AND STATS
We have never lost in 32 home league games against Fulham (W25 D7), the most any side has faced another without defeat in English Football League history.
Fulham have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games against us, a 2-1 home win in December 2023.
We have lost just one of our last 26 Premier League London derbies, going unbeaten in our last 13 since a 1-0 home loss to West Ham in February last year.
Fulham have never won a Premier League away game against the league leaders in 13 attempts (D3 L10), with this their first visit since a 2-2 draw at Liverpool in December 2024.
We have conceded just 11 goals in our 17 home league games this season, and have only failed to find the net once in that time.
Fulham are one of two sides – along with Manchester City – yet to concede a goal in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League matches this season.
Under Mikel Arteta, we have won nine of our 11 home Premier League games in May, with our only defeats coming against Brighton in 2023 and Bournemouth last year.
Gabriel has had a hand in more Premier League goals against Fulham than any other side (4 – 3 goals, 1 assist) with all three goals coming from corners.
All seven of Ebere Eze’s Premier League goals for us have come in London. Only Olivier Giroud (first 14) and Tony Adams (first 12) have had more consecutive goals in the capital from the start of their Premier League career for the Gunners.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Jarred Gillett has been appointed to referee this game, the first time he has handled one of our matches since September when we beat Newcastle United at St James’ Park. He also oversaw our first home match of the campaign when we thrashed Leeds United 5-0. In total, we have won eight and lost three when he’s been in charge.
He is a far less familiar face for Fulham fans, having been in the middle for three of their games in the past three seasons, with his only one this term seeing them knocked out of the FA Cup on home turf against Southampton when he awarded the Saints a stoppage-time penalty.
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistants: Simon Long, Steve Meredith
Fourth official: Rob Jones
OUR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes
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RECENT VISITS FROM FULHAM
Last season saw us extend our unbeaten home run against the Cottagers to 33 games when Bukayo Saka returned from injury to grab what proved to be the winner off the bench after Mikel Merino had given us the lead, but a late Rodrigo Muniz penalty led to a nervy ending.
The Cottagers’ previous trip to Emirates Stadium came in August 2023 when Joao Paulinha netted a late equaliser to claim a 2-2 draw. That was after we had recovered from falling behind in the first minute via Andreas Pereira thanks to strikes from Saka and Eddie Nketiah, and the visitors having Calvin Bassey sent off.
12 months earlier, Gabriel recovered from allowing Aleksandr Mitrovic to open the scoring by firing home a late winner to record a 2-1 success, with Martin Odegaard also on target.
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LIVE COVERAGE
Nicole Holliday and Jeremie Aliadiere are Live from N5 on Arsenal.com and The Arsenal app (download now on iOS/Android) from 4.30pm UK time, bringing you the best build-up to the game.
Club legend and Academy Manager Per Mertesacker is in the studio ahead of his final few weeks at the club, as is singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins.
We’ll look back at Martin Odegaard joining us on Live from Sobha, crown our latest Hero of the Week and two great Emirates Stadium moments compete to be inducted into the Live from N5 Hall of Fame, before live commentary comes from Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke.
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action livewherever you are in the world.
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