Arsenal Eye Top Spot in London Derby Showdown with Fulham (New Year’s Eve Clash).
After failing to reestablish their lead atop the Premier League table midweek, Arsenal will take on Fulham in another London Derby on Sunday as they’re hoping to right the ship.
The Gunners pummeled West Ham at home on Thursday but slumped to a 2-0 defeat as they conceded a pair of soft goals and came up empty with their handful of chances. It left Arsenal two points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Fulham have dealt with struggles of their own, as the Whites have been blanketed in front of goal through much of December. They have lost three consecutive games without scoring a goal since winning back-to-back 5-0 matches against Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
With festive form on the line amid a heavy run of matches shoved into a short period, the two London sides lock horns with three valuable points on the line.
Against an Arsenal defence that stands tall as the second-best in the Premier League, there’s very little hope of that changing. The Gunners conceded a calamitous goal against West Ham last time out, but they remain one of the most suffocating sides in the English top flight.
Fulham have been blanked by Arsenal twice in their past five meetings, and even in their most recent 2-2 draw, Marco Silva’s team scored their two goals on just three shots on target.
Last season, Fulham conceded the most expected goals in the Premier League, but Bernd Leno’s heroics papered over that deficiency. This season, they are in the same boat, and they will be without an injured Tim Ream at the back.
In the last meeting between these teams, Bukayo Saka got two shots on frame and put one in the net, and he was prolific against West Ham last time out as well with three shots on target out of a whopping seven efforts. Saka hasn’t scored in five league matches, but with Gabriel Jesus continuing to struggle in front of goal, the England international will be a key component for the Gunners in this match.
