Premier League: Gunners Out to Take Advantage of ‘Hurting’ Fulham

Arsenal vs Fulham

It would be dismissive to suggest this Premier League encounter is not important for either club, as well as being extremely disrespectful.

After all, both teams have clear goals to aim for. The Gunners are bidding to secure a third successive runners-up spot (and stay there just in case there is an almighty collapse at the Premier League summit), while the Cottagers are hopeful of climbing the table that bit more to secure European football at Craven Cottage for the first time since 2011.

Yet, in truth, I can’t help feel that both Mikel Arteta and Marco Silva, two of the smartest young managers in the game today, have had (and in the former’s case continues to have) their main focus elsewhere.

Arsenal are about to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, while this SBOTOP scribe felt Fulham’s priority, until yesterday, was the FA Cup.

That is not to say this London contest won’t be high energy and absorbing, it just may not quite have the spark it would have had earlier in the campaign.

 

Talking Points

For a side which began the year with faint title aspirations, Arsenal have not been able to display enough consistency.

Defensive injuries have not helped but their failure to sign a striker in January to replace Gabriel Jesus – all this at a time when Bukayo Saka had already been ruled out – was a risk that backfired, especially when Kai Harvertz and Gabriel Martinelli sustained injuries soon afterwards.

Premier League 2025 highlights have been delivered in despatches, most notably a 5-1 thrashing of reigning champions Manchester City, but they have failed to be clinical at key moments.

The irony is that, with the title gone, Saka has returned to training in recent days following three months out and could now make his return to action.

That will be a major boost to Arteta and the Gunners who should be refreshed and raring to go after the international break.

When you consider the key men Fulham have sold to bigger vultures in recent years – I’m thinking Aleksandar Mitrović and Joao Palhinha – they really do continue to punch above their weight and Arsenal have been stung by them before.

But the Cottagers’ comprehensive quarter-final defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday was a mighty blow and, while they are just three points off a Champions League place, I expect they may take a while to recover from that setback.

Given this contest comes just a few days after that FA Cup exit – a fifth successive defeat at this stage of the competition – they will be hurting and Arsenal will be primed to capitalise.

 

History

Overall, Arsenal have tasted victory 42 times in this fixture compared to 13 Fulham successes and nine draws.

The Cottagers have been a real thorn in their side of late, however.

Earlier this season, the meeting in west London ended 1-1 as Raul Jiminez and William Saliba traded goals.

Last season was even better for Fulham who significantly damaged the Gunners title bid.

A 2-2 draw at the Emirates was secured by a late goal from now Bayern Munich midfielder Palhinha – all this after Andreas Pereira’s first minute opener was cancelled out by two goals in three minutes from Saka (penalty) and Eddie Nketiah.

Then during the festive period, Fulham recovered from falling behind to an early Saka goal to win 2-1 with Jiminez and Bobby Decordova-Reid the marksmen.

Until those meetings Arsenal had triumphed in eight of the last nine encounters.

Fulham have never won at Arsenal, although did manage a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium three years ago when it took a last minute Nketiah goal to prevent Josh Maja’s penalty from securing an historic win.

They made their first visit to their London neighbours in February 1904 when they lost 3-2 in the FA Cup at the Manor Ground in Plumstead.

 

Betting Tip 

It’s a home win all the way with the Premier League 2025 betting odds who price the Gunners 1X2 @ 1.40 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.07.

You can get cracking odds on Fulham, including 1X2 @ 6.90 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.17, so considering their fine results away to some of the big boys this term, it’s well worth a punt!

So is a re-run of last season with Correct Score 2-2 paying out @ 26.00 and 1X2 Draw @ 4.08.

While Fulham are playing well, I think their FA Cup quarter-final, and the ensuing disappointment, a few days in advance may have taken a lot out of them.

   

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