Arsenal have got a massive European game in a week’s time but Mikel Arteta will be keen to keep the focus very much on the matches which precede the Champions League excitement. Fulham have given the Gunners very tough challenges in the past three meetings and there are lingering uncertainties about how Arsenal match up against them.
The massive boost beyond the announcement of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director was the confirmation by Arteta that Bukayo Saka is ready to go which will come as music to the ears of supporters. Missing since the start of December, Saka has worked hard to be back after this last international break of the season.
Jurrien Timber has fought off illness too although Riccardo Calafiori is likely to be out for a couple of weeks after a knee injury while away with the national team in yet another blow to the squad. With that in mind, here is who football.london predicts to start in tonight’s match.
David Raya
After losing his place to Unai Simon in the Spain national side, David Raya will be more motivated than ever to put in a top performances for his club side to try and earn back the squad. He has been one of if not the best goalkeepers in the league this season and will be aiming for another clean sheet.(Image: (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images))1 of
Jurrien Timber
As mentioned, the Dutch international had to overcome an illness during the break that meant he was unable to play against his Spanish teammates for the Netherlands. He has now dealt with this and therefore will be expected to keep his right-back spot.(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)2 of 11
William Saliba
A lot of talk over the break was about how successful Andrea Berta would be at renewing the contracts of players and one such profile is of course William Saliba. He will be showing off exactly why it is vital the Frenchman is kept at the club for the foreseeable future this week.(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)3 of
Gabriel Magalhaes
Another whose contract is entering the final two years of their deal and Mikel Arteta was keen to point questions in the direction of Berta on this front. Whether that comes to pass however remains to be seen.(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)4 of 11
Is there a player that should have a bigger smile on their face that this man? I do not think so. Fresh off his debut England goal, Myles Lewis-Skelly will be expected to keep his left-back spot for the club ahead of this particular match.(Image: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)5 of 11
