As Arsenal prepares for their upcoming Champions League clash against Real Madrid, they first host Fulham at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners receive a significant boost with the return of star forward Bukayo Saka, who recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in December. His absence was widely considered a major blow to Arsenal`s title aspirations.
Arsenal`s attack has struggled for consistency in Saka`s absence, along with periods where Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus were also unavailable. They`ve scored 19 goals in 12 Premier League matches without Saka, with only two goals in their last four games. Arsenal will be looking for Saka`s return to reignite their attacking prowess.
Fulham also has ambitions to climb the table. Prior to their FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace, Marco Silva`s team had secured two consecutive league victories, placing them eighth. A win on Tuesday could potentially lift them to sixth place, although overtaking Manchester City in fifth seems unlikely due to a significant goal difference. Fulham has historically struggled at Arsenal, never winning in 31 league visits. However, they have proven to be a challenging opponent for Mikel Arteta recently, earning five points in their last three encounters.
Match Information
- Date: Tuesday, April 1
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Emirates Stadium — London
- Live stream: Peacock
- Odds: Arsenal -250; Draw +333; Fulham +750
Previous Meeting
Arsenal faced frustration in their December visit to Craven Cottage against Fulham. Despite dominating after Raul Jimenez`s early goal (Fulham`s only one of two shots in the game), Arsenal couldn`t capitalize. They had 12 shots and generated over two expected goals. Kai Havertz equalized in the second half, but a late goal by Bukayo Saka was controversially disallowed for a marginal offside call against Gabriel Martinelli, leaving Arsenal with a sense of missed opportunity.
Arsenal`s Perspective
`Bukayo is ready to play,` Arteta confirmed last week regarding Saka`s fitness. `He has completed all necessary recovery steps. Now it`s about integrating him back into match action at the right moments. He`s eager to return. We have been cautious with his recovery timeline, ensuring everything is done correctly. We`ve even had to restrain him at times because of his eagerness. He`s now ready to go.`
`His return provides a significant boost to our team. We are well aware of his impact and how vital he is to our success. It’s fantastic to have him back.`
Projected Starting Lineups
Arsenal: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard
Fulham: Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Sasa Lukic, Sander Berge; Alex Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, Willian; Raul Jimenez
Key Match Points
Champions League Focus — While Arteta will likely deny it, with Arsenal realistically aiming for second place in the Premier League, thoughts will inevitably turn to the upcoming Real Madrid Champions League match. This could influence team selection against Fulham, potentially limiting Saka`s playing time, giving Ben White extended minutes at right-back, or experimenting with a different striker than Mikel Merino.
Player Spotlight
Bukayo Saka — Undoubtedly, the player to watch is Bukayo Saka. Before his injury in December, he was in exceptional form, looking like a world-class player capable of influencing a Champions League quarterfinal. He remains high in the Premier League assist and big chances created charts. If he returns to his pre-injury level, Arsenal`s potential significantly increases.
Match Prediction
Expect Arsenal to start cautiously but ultimately secure a victory, possibly with contributions from a strong bench including Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, and potentially Saka. Prediction: Arsenal 2, Fulham 1
