Before The Whistle: Fulham v Arsenal

As if Arsenal wasn’t a tough enough ask to end the year – they’ll now be out to put things right.

After losing to West Ham on Thursday, the Gunners will be eager to return to winning ways and not lose too much ground on Liverpool at the top of the table.

The Whites, meanwhile, are in the midst of some peaks-and-troughs form, and we’re firmly in the valley at the moment, losing our last three league games, conceding eight and scoring a big fat zero.

Raul Jimenez is back. But there’ll probably be no Willian, who faces a late test. He received his fair share of criticism when he was in the side, but his absence has brought some perspective.

Everyone will be hoping Joao Palhinha starts to regain some form, with some conspiracy theorists believing he’s shirking challenges in the hope of a January move. He’s got credit in the bank – but how much? Not that we have much to replace him with.

Tom Cairney is enjoying his best run in the starting XI for a few years – and his quality belies the results we’re getting. But with our share of the ball expected to be minimum, I expect him to be shuffled out in favour of Reed or Lukic.

The final question is Tete or Castagne? Both men have performed when asked this season, so it’s anyone’s guess if Silva will go Belgian or go Dutch.

Finally bagging a scalp would be a wonderful way to sign off a banner year for FFC. Here’s hoping. You Whites.

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Sunday, 2.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports

🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Fulham: ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
Arsenal: ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ⬜ ❌

⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Fulham: 24.4%
Draw: 27.6%
Arsenal: 48%

🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

Aug 23: Arsenal 2-2 Fulham
Mar 23: Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
Aug 22: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Apr 21: Arsenal 1-1 Fulham

🎙 NEW PODCAST: Zero Christmas Presence

A review of Fulham’s Boxing Day defeat to Bournemouth, plus a look-ahead to Arsenal.

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