Mikel Arteta might make just a single change from the loss to West Ham United, with Kai Havertz returning to the Arsenal midfield.
Arsenal suffered a shock defeat at home, their first of the season at the Emirates in all competitions, to West Ham United. Mikel Arteta is not expected to make wholesale changes to the lineup, with only one alteration expected for the Fulham clash.
Arteta’s pre-match press conference had a short look to it, as there was not much to update in terms of injuries or suspensions. Some of their injured stars may not return for the Fulham clash, meaning the manager must take the same set of players available to him against West Ham.
The result against the Hammers did make the reporters ask whether Arteta felt the team was equipped to win the title. To which he responded, “If we don’t improve in the boxes, then no. Because at the end that’s what it is, but generating the rest, yeah you say it’s a record [for touches in the box], no? So I don’t think there are many teams in the league that have done that for many years, so that’s something very positive I think.”
There were some concerns about Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka’s form after another display where they failed to influence the attack in a big way. Arteta got asked whether the duo felt the pressure and if that affected their output.
The Arsenal boss continued, “I don’t know. Obviously there are a lot of games, but they looked really good, they looked fresh, and when you win, you don’t look at that. They are young – if they were 35 then maybe it’s a different question. They have a lot of energy, they can keep going, that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, in terms of team news, Kai Havertz’s return is the only update, as the German is back after serving a one-match suspension. He will likely slot straight into the midfield three, while Arteta may not make any other alteration from the lineup that lost to West Ham.
David Raya will remain the favourite to keep his place between the sticks. Arteta will name an unchanged backline with Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the left-back coming in for plenty of criticisms of late.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will continue in the midfield while joined by Havertz, who should replace Leandro Trossard. Saka and Martinelli should keep their places, while Gabriel Jesus will continue to lead the line for Arsenal against Fulham.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
