Fulham vs Arsenal | Premier League | Gameweek 15 - Dec 8, 2024

In Sunday's Premier League London derby, Arsenal's past will meet up with their present when the Gunners play a Fulham team that includes some of their former players.

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Fulham vs Arsenal - Premier League Gameweek 15

In the midweek round of games, both capital clubs achieved two-goal victories: Mikel Arteta's team defeated Manchester United 2-0, and the Cottagers defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 to strengthen their push for Europe.

A similarly brutal attacking performance against Manchester United, whose unbending defensive structure frustrated Arsenal throughout the first half of their match at the Emirates, was not preceded by hitting Nottingham Forest for three goals and West Ham United and Sporting Lisbon for five.

However, Jurrien Timber's header and William Saliba's unconventional backside finish from corners gave the Gunners the victory their dominance deserved, and Ruben Amorim soon became the most recent manager to fall victim to Arsenal's set-piece skill.

Head coach Arteta aims to lead his revived team to a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions as acclaimed set-piece coach Nicolas Jover soaks up the acclaim once more. The Reds' error at Newcastle United has now reduced the gap to leaders Liverpool to seven points.

Arsenal is now in third place in the Premier League standings after Chelsea defeated Southampton by five goals, but the visitors' fondness for all-capital matches is well known—they have won seven of their previous eight London derbies.

No English team has ever scored five goals or more in six consecutive away games in a calendar year, but the less said about their most recent visit to Craven Cottage, the better. The Gunners' thumping of West Ham in their most recent such battle saw them score at least five goals for the fifth time in 2024.

A few months after being held to just one point at home by Marco Silva's team, which has since been bolstered by a few former Emirates players, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Fulham on New Year's Eve 2023, a result that ultimately proved fatal in their quest for title glory.

When Brighton visited the capital on Thursday night, Alex Iwobi, one of those Hale End graduates, shone brightly under the lights. He scored twice either side of an own goal from Matt O'Riley to make sure Carlos Baleba's effort and acrobatic celebration would be in vain.

The Cottagers, who currently sit in sixth place in the standings, just one point behind the Seagulls and four behind Manchester City in the final Champions League spot, have greatly improved their chances of qualifying for the continental tournament by undermining Brighton's bid for Europa League or Conference League football.

Since drawing blankly at Manchester United on the first day of the season, Fulham has scored in each of their last 15 games across all competitions, terrorizing backlines for fun. However, they have yet to record their first home clean sheet of the year.

Silva's team, like Arsenal, has demonstrated their grit and determination in London derbies, winning all eight of their previous Premier League encounters with their capital rivals. They haven't had a winning run in these derby games since 2001, but that nine-game run came to a fitting conclusion at Craven Cottage with a 3-1 loss to Arsenal.

Match Details:
NAME: Fulham vs Arsenal
DATE: Dec 8, 2024
TIME: 2pm UK
VENUE: Craven Cottage

When is Fulham vs Arsenal?

Fulham vs Arsenal is scheduled for an 2pm UK kick-off on Sunday, Dec 8, 2024.

How to watch?

Hotstar in India, Amazon Prime Video in UK, NBC Sports and fubo TV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, USA Network, SiriusXM FC in US & fuboTV in Canada will all be airing live coverage of the event.

Live Match

Fulham vs Arsenal Team News

Fulham Team News

Reiss Nelson, a 24-year-old winger for Fulham on loan from Arsenal, is not allowed to play for his parent club, but he may be sidelined for a while after suffering a suspected hamstring injury in the victory over Brighton.

Jorge Cuenca and Ryan Sessegnon will both need late fitness tests but won't be considered for starting roles anyhow, while Nelson joins Harrison Reed (knee) and Joachim Andersen (calf) in the Fulham hospital for treatment.

Sasa Lukic has returned from his own yellow-card suspension to provide an alternative in the home team's engine room, but Tom Cairney, who was sent off in last weekend's draw with Tottenham Hotspur, is still suspended.

Arsenal Team News

Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes were not risked for the match against Man United in midweek after their early withdrawals against West Ham last weekend, but Arteta is crossing his fingers that the two will be healthy enough to return here.

Three days before a Champions League match against Monaco, a few changes are still possible, so Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who have been knee problems for a long time, might be the only visitors missing Sunday's derby.

On the bench, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino are leading the race for promotion after recovering from a knee injury in the middle of the week. If Gabriel and Calafiori are cleared to return, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko will take their place.

Fulham vs Arsenal Match Summary

Highlights - Fulham vs Arsenal

Check back later as we may have information for this match later.

Predicted starting lineup

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Fulham vs Arsenal

GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Arsenal (Saliba, 52)

Arsenal corner, Arsenal goal! We've heard that a few times this season.

VAR are checking this for offside though...

Rice's delivery finds Havertz towards the back, which he heads on. Saliba is waiting in the six yard box, and he manages to poke the ball home.

But he is onside.

GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Arsenal (Jimenez, 11')

First attack, first goal! Fulham take an unlikely lead.

It's brilliant movement from the forward, and it looks like he holds his like.

He gets behind Kiwior as he collects the midfield pass, driving into the area before finishing into the far left corner past Raya.

A nice finish and Arsenal are behind at Craven Cottage.

Arsenal team news

Team to play Fulham: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Subs: Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli, Nwaneri

Fulham team news

Team to play Arsenal: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez

Subs: Benda, Castagne, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Andreas, King, Godo, Wilson, Muniz