Three Arsenal players Fulham could pick up this summer

Cameron Donaldson looks at the trio of Gunners we’ve been linked with in recent weeks.

With attacking options Willian, Bobby De Cordova- Reid, and Carlos Vinicius all at risk to depart this summer, Fulham are going to have to roll the dice when it comes to reinforcements.

Although it’s early days in the window, the Whites have been linked with a trio of Arsenal academy products to try and fill that potential void. But would they be useful investments?

Emile Smith Rowe

The 23-year-old has fallen out of favour this past season at the Gunners, managing only 13 appearances and one assist, due to the quality of his competition, including Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. As a result, Arsenal are looking to offload the player and Fulham could be an ideal location. Smith Rowe already has potential suitors in Aston Villa and Newcastle.

We’ve seen the player’s quality at the Cottage for Arsenal, and also Huddersfield, when the youngster proved to be problematic for us when we faced them under Scott Parker. With his tendency to cut inside onto his stronger right foot, as well as taking on his man and driving his team forward, the player could prove to be a long-term replacement for Willian and should fit comfortably into our attack.

Eddie Nketiah

Nketiah has also fallen out of favour with Arteta, with his last start coming at Craven Cottage when Fulham, of course, won 2-1. Nketiah proved very ineffective in that game, neutralised by the strength of Calvin Bassey and the lack of fluidity in the Arsenal attack. Although he still has five goals and two assists this season, the 25 year old has largely proved ineffective when he has played in the Arsenal team and although a move to a team lower down in the table could unlock his potential, Fulham may not be able to offer such comfort.

Marco Silva has proven he likes to be on the front foot with a combative, big striker who harries and hassles the opposition backline. Nketiah contradicts this, playing closer to the style of Bobby Firmino, by dropping deep and remaining close to and linking up with Martin Odegaard to allow the likes of Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka to express themselves. This is contradictory to Fulham’s system and although they may adapt, current indications suggest that the striker may not be a shrewd investment for the Whites.

Reiss Nelson

The most recent rumour linking an Arsenal player with Fulham has come in the shape of Reiss Nelson. The 24-year-old has been unable to provide any goals or assists for Arsenal this season and has had limited game time, leading to his desire for a move away. The player should be available for around £15-20m and has been linked with multiple teams in the lower half of the Premier League.

Nelson is often famed for his last-minute goal against Bournemouth to secure a vital win in last season’s title race for Arsenal, however he also offers pace and skill, making himself a tricky winger for defenders to deal with. Although he has lacked playing time recently, Nelson is young and there is time for Silva to coach the quality into him, should he look to seal the move.

Although each of these players could cost a sizeable fee, they are all young and have potential. And while they’re unlikely to all join, links like these indicate that Fulham hope to invest in young Premier League quality players, which is encouraging.