The Pulse of Football

Oct

2025

Preview: Manchester City visit the Yellow Submarine

It all looks rather ominous again for those opposing Manchester City: Erling Haaland free-scoring, new signings settled and eight unbeaten since an early-season stumble. But is their Champions League path just as clear-cut?

By Karl Matchett

Last year’s struggles won’t be forgotten

Autumn time a year ago was a tough patch for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they fell out of contention for the domestic title with a series of defeats – and in Europe it was almost a similar story. They eventually rescued themselves late on in the eight league phase fixtures but for a time it looked like they might even struggle to make it into the top 24. No letting up the pressure this time around in the search for early points, you can be sure – and with a trip to Real Madrid on the horizon, this first visit to Spain to face Villarreal looks an easier chance to pick up a victory.

Two German visitors – Dortmund and Leverkusen – are potentially tough in name but perhaps not quite so much in reality, but Man City won’t want to take any chances and, having taken four points already, should really be eyeing up a top-eight finish for automatic progression to the last 16.

Marcelino magic back in town

Villarreal head coach Marcelino must be one of the most underrated bosses in Europe – consistently able to shape his teams to play good football, be solid defensively and progress in the cups. He has made three Copa del Rey finals in his time – two with Athletic Club and one with Valencia – and this is his second spell with Villarreal, having earlier taken them to touching distance of the Europa League final, losing a semi-final second leg to Liverpool. Now he has the Yellow Submarine back in the Champions League and third in the table domestically, early though it is – his 4-4-2 template is compact, quick in transitions and happy to counter-attack bigger teams and inflict serious damage along the way.

Recent form

The Spanish team had won three in a row before a recent sequence of no wins in three – but they’ve come against Juventus, Real Madrid and Real Betis, to be fair. Earlier in the season they lost at Tottenham in gameweek one. Man City are very much in form, unbeaten in eight – though they haven’t yet won three in a row since the season started. They beat Brentford and Everton in their most recent two.

Team news

Juan Foyth is a doubt and a big loss for Villarreal. Georges Mikautadze should return to the XI in attack.

For City, Rodri and Rayan Aït-Nouri are the notable absentees.

Key player

If it feels obvious, it’s because he’s so key. Erling Haaland is in relentless mode: 14 goals in ten games across league and Europe. He’s top-ranked in the Premier League for everything shooting related: xG, on target efforts and goals of course, but he’s also top for strikers in final third possession wins, aerial duels won and touches in the box.

Prediction

Manchester City should have too much in attack to worry about dropping points again – Villarreal 1-2 Man City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Arsenal looking to maintain 100% start against Atletico Madrid

Arsenal host Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as the Gunners look to continue their perfect record in the Champions League. If the North London outfit secure the three points, it will be their 100th win in the competition.

By Matt Smith

The last meeting between the two sides in Europe came back in 2018, when they faced each other twice in the Europa League. A draw was played out in the first leg, before Atlético secured a 1-0 victory at home to advance into the final of the competition.

Team news

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was unable to call upon Piero Hincapié at the weekend against Fulham, but he confirmed in the media on Monday afternoon that he is available for selection against Atlético. The Gunners will be without Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard, but they should have no fresh injury concerns.

Diego Simeone’s side will be without Johnny Cardoso, but Nico González has been named in the squad, despite coming off injured in their previous game.

Arsenal’s almost impenetrable defence

Arteta has built his side on solid foundations, and despite bringing in a host of new attacking talent this season, their most impressive trait remains their defensive solidity. The Gunners are yet to concede in the Champions League, letting in just three goals in the Premier League.

No side has conceded fewer expected goals in the Premier League this season either, and that is the same story in the Champions League too. Although the likes of Viktor Gyökeres might not be firing on all cylinders in attack, it’s not overly necessary due to their ridiculous defensive levels.

Atlético struggling to get over the line

It’s been an inconsistent start to the campaign for Simeone’s side, despite losing just once in LaLiga so far. Atlético have, however, drawn four of their opening nine league games, with three of those coming away from home.

The Spanish side are just struggling to get over the line in games, but they are showing resilience in being difficult to beat. They did secure an emphatic 5-2 victory over their Madrid rivals Real back in September, before comfortably beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 a few days later.

Julián Alvarez in fine form

Arsenal haven’t had a standout star this season, but they’ve undoubtedly been one of the best-performing sides in Europe. They’ve come up against some tricky attackers so far this term, but they don’t get much more difficult than Julián Alvarez.

*Alvarez’s player traits comparison against similar players in top 5 leagues*

This season, the Argentinian forward has hit 11 goals and assists combined in all competitions for Atlético, with three of those coming in one game against Frankfurt in the Champions League. He’ll know all about the Gunners’ defence, having faced them on multiple occasions during his time in England.

Prediction

There isn’t likely to be too many goals in this one considering Arsenal’s defensive record and Atlético’s usual setup away from home. We’re going for a 1-0 win to Arteta’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Barcelona aim to get back on track in the Champions League

Barcelona can climb the Champions League table by beating Olympiacos at their temporary home on Tuesday evening.

By Graham Ruthven

Home away from home

The hope was that Barcelona would return to their spiritual home at the Camp Nou for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Olympiacos. This could have been their long-awaited homecoming.

Instead, Barca will play another game at Montjuïc where they lost their last Champions League match to Paris Saint-Germain, putting Hansi Flick’s side on the back foot in the League Phase.

Barcelona can return to winning aways by beating an Olympiacos side that has drawn to Pafos and lost against Arsenal in this season’s Champions League. The Catalans are firm favourites.

Flick’s team needed a stoppage time goal to overcome Girona at home on Saturday, highlighting how fragile Barca continue to be in certain matches. Their high defensive line will be targeted by the Greek champions.

Nonetheless, Barcelona will fancy their chances of beating Olympiacos as they have done in every home meeting with the club from Piraeus.

Key players

Pedri scored the opener for Barcelona against Girona on Saturday and is expected to start on Tuesday as the midfielder through which so much of the Catalans’ attacking play flows.

Lamine Yamal played over an hour in the same match. Barca are clearly a stronger team with the teenager on the pitch, but with El Clásico looming this weekend there’s no guarantee he will start again on Tuesday.

Marcus Rashford is a good bet to keep his starting spot on the left side with the on-loan Manchester United attacker firmly in his groove after a slow start to life at Barca.

*Barca’s top rated players in LaLiga this season*

Ayoub El Kaabi bagged a brace in the league win over AEL at the weekend and will pose a threat as Olympiacos’ attacking focal point against Barcelona. Daniel Podence and Chiquinho could also trouble the Catalans.

Realistically, though, the Greek champions will need their defensive figures to be solid in order to achieve a positive result, meaning goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis and centre back Panagiotis Retsos must stay focused.

Team news

Robert Lewandowski will miss out again after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Raphinha still a doubt having missed the last four Barcelona games.

Joan García and Marc-André Ter Stegen are both sidelined, meaning Wojciech Szczesny will continue in goal, while Gavi and Dani Olmo will also be missing for the visit of Olympiacos to Montjuïc.

In an ideal world, Flick might have chosen to rest some of his most important players before Sunday’s Clásico against Real Madrid. However, injuries could restrict his freedom in that regard.

Gabriel Strefezza and Rodinei are both expected to miss Tuesday’s match for Olympiacos. The latter’s injury means Costinha is likely to step up on the right side of the Greek outfit’s defence.

Otherwise, José Luis Mendilibar has a fully fit and available squad to choose from for his return to Spain to face an opponent he came up against many times in LaLiga.

Prediction

Form suggests that this will be the game that Barca use to get back on track in the Champions League, but as always, you can’t always count on Flick’s side keeping a clean sheet, so we’ll go with a confidence building home win: Barcelona 3-1 Olympiacos.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the 2025/26 Champions League with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Frank’s Spurs meet Emery’s Villa

Spurs look decent from a results perspective but performances have been underwhelming, while Aston VIlla seem to have turned a corner. Who will prevail at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday?

By Ian King

Are Spurs flattering to deceive, and are Villa hitting their stride?

The biggest question facing Spurs as they return from the international break is whether they have been flattering to deceive or not. They’re unbeaten in all competitions since the 30th August, but performances haven’t been particularly inspiring since then. After Saturday’s results, they now sit fifth in the table.

One of the bigger mysteries of the first two months of this season in the Premier League was what had happened to Aston Villa. But just as the lengthy think-pieces started to appear explaining why this should be, they kicked into gear. They’re also unbeaten in all competitions since the end of August, and come into this fixture off the back of two straight League wins, against Fulham and Burnley.

Spurs won the corresponding fixture last season, but Villa have the better overall record

Spurs have scored four goals on each of the last three times that they’ve beaten Aston Villa, including a 4-1 win against them in the corresponding fixture between the two last season, but Villa beat them twice last season after this match, in both the Premier League and the FA Cup. Villa have won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams.

Kolo Muani and Rogers are players with a point to prove

There have already been rumours that Randal Kolo Muani could be on his way from Spurs in the January transfer window, even though injury has restricted him to just 13 minutes on the pitch for them so far. If fit and selected for this one, he should have a point to prove ahead of any January move.

Another player subject to transfer speculation is Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who’s attracting the interest of numerous clubs. Rogers scored his first goal of the season for England against Wales last week, and we can see the upswing in his performance from his player ratings. If he wants what would almost certainly be a very big money move indeed, he needs to start demonstrating that he’s worth that expenditure again on a week-in-week-out basis.

Bissouma and Watkins injuries cast doubt over their availability

The Spurs injury list remains very much as it has been, although talk of a return for Yves Bissouma has been stifled by being stretchered off just six minutes after coming on while playing for Mali against Madagascar during the international break. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin all remain injured, though there is a possibility that they will start to appear in the Spurs matchday squads from this weekend on.

Youri Tielemans will definitely be missing for Aston Villa, but any of Emi Buendia, Andres Garcia, Tyrone Mings and Jadon Sancho could return. Their big question mark hangs over Ollie Watkins, who got injured playing for England against Wales and faces a race against time to be fit for this match.

Spurs & Aston Villa are long overdue a draw

The big question ahead of this game is whether Spurs have been pulling out results that have belied their performances and whether Villa’s corner-turning exercise is now complete. If both the former and latter are true, then you’d fancy Villa to win this game. But Villa won’t have wanted the international break to have come when it did, while Spurs, who’ve had a packed schedule so far, may well have welcomed the pause.

It is certainly a curiosity of this fixture that these two teams haven’t drawn a match in 13 and half years, despite having met 23 times in all competitions since then. Yet on this occasion a draw does actually feel like the most likely outcome. I’ll say 1-1, and for the question marks hanging over both of these teams to remain unanswered, for now.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Liverpool meet old rivals Man United

The Premier League champions are hoping to bring a three match losing streak to an end this weekend. However, they’re up against a manager that Arne Slot is yet to beat in Ruben Amorim. The pressure is on for the hosts.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Liverpool started the season with five consecutive wins in the Premier League. The champions, though they weren’t playing well, seemed like a shoo-in to retain their crown. They were beating teams while bedding in a host of new names. Once it all clicked, they’d be unstoppable. That was the idea, anyway.

But the wheels have come off for Slot’s side. In the English top-flight, they’ve suffered back-to-back stoppage time defeats against Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Sandwiched between those games was a trip to Türkiye to face Galatasaray. The hosts claimed a 1-0 victory.

The Reds are struggling to keep clean sheets. They’re struggling to get their new £250million attack firing too. Florian Wirtz started the game against Chelsea on the bench along with Hugo Ekitike while Alexander Isak managed just one shot during his 74 minutes on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

The game at Anfield could be the perfect opportunity for Manchester United to really get their season underway. So far this term, Amorim’s men have struggled for consistency. They needed a 97th penalty against Burnley to record their first win of the season. The Red Devils then beat Chelsea before being humbled by Brentford. Just prior to the international break, they defeated an in-form Sunderland.

Despite the sluggish start to the season, a win against their old rivals would see them move to within two points of the champions. All things considered, that’d be remarkable. But it does highlight how big this match is.

Recent form

Liverpool have won two of their last five across all competitions and their two wins weren’t the most emphatic either. The Reds eked out 2-1 wins over Everton in the Premier League and Southampton in the Carabao Cup, with both games played at Anfield.

Slot’s side then lost 2-1, 1-0 and 2-1. There aren’t many goals in their games and they are tight affairs that could go either way.

United, meanwhile, have won three of their last five. However, in both of their defeats, they have conceded three goals. In fact, the Red Devils have managed just one clean sheet, conceding nine goals across those five matches. Fortunately for them, they’ve found their shooting boots and have scored eight goals to help rack up nine points. But, like with the Liverpool results, it feels finely balanced.

It feels like both teams are in feast or famine territory.

Team News

The hosts are without Alisson Becker and Giovanni Leoni. Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konaté both had injury concerns during the international break but should be fit for this clash on Sunday afternoon. There are still doubts over the availability of Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajčetić.

United will be without Lisandro Martínez while Noussair Mazraoui has a knock so could miss out. Other than that though, Amorim has a full squad to choose from.

Prediction

We’re going for a narrow Liverpool win. The Reds can’t afford to drop more points at this stage of the season and a big showing is needed. Slot will have his team up for this game.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Madrid make the short trip to Getafe

Getafe will be looking to end a three and a half year winless drought against Real Madrid when the two sides meet on Sunday evening in LaLiga.

By Ross Kilvington

Real Madrid to continue fine LaLiga start

Xabi Alonso has overseen a solid transition from the Carlo Ancelotti era into a new dawn at the Bernabéu. Indeed, across eight league matches, Madrid have won seven and lost just once.

That defeat, however, was a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid. One that might not be forgotten too quickly.

Nevertheless, Los Blancos are in excellent shape as they bid to regain their domestic and European honours that were lost rather meekly last season.

Last time out, Alonso’s men sealed an excellent victory over high-flying Villarreal. Kylian Mbappé was on the scoresheet, of course, but it was Vinícius Júnior who was the star of the show, netting twice during a 3-1 win.

With Barcelona playing earlier in the weekend, Madrid will likely need to win to return to the top of the table on Sunday evening.

Getafe seek to improve dismal record against Real Madrid

The home side occupy 11^th in the table after a mixed start to the season. Getafe won both of their opening two matches, but have registered just one victory since. That came in the middle of September, which was followed by two draws and two defeats.

Home advantage wont count for much this Sunday as Madrid have an excellent head-to-head record against their opponents.

Across the last 20 meetings, Getafe have recorded a solitary victory. That was back in January 2022.

Madrid have won 17 of the tie matchups, holding an impressive 43-9 aggregate score across those games.

Team news

Mbappé suffered an injury scare on international duty with France, but he is expected to be fit for the match. Madrid will likely be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Dean Huijsen is definitely out injured.

Getafe are missing defender Djené and goalkeeper Jiří Letáček, but have a full squad available aside from that.

Key players

Being able to call upon Mbappé and Franco Mastantuono for this match will be a massive bonus for Alonso.

The Frenchman was released early from the national side while the Argentine teenager is also fit after suffering a muscle strain.

Mbappé has scored 14 goals in just ten matches for his club this term, while Mastantuono has emerged as Alonso’s preferred starter on the right wing, registering two goal contributions in all competitions.

Getafe will be counting on winger Adrián Lino to come up with the goods once again. The 20-year-old has notched three goals this season already and could cause plenty of chaos out wide.

One player who Madrid know all about is Borja Mayoral. The striker played 33 times for the club, scoring seven goals and winning the Champions League during his time in the capital.

With two goals and an assist this term, Mayoral will be aiming to continue his fine form into the game against his old side.

Prediction

It is hard to see beyond a comfortable victory for Real Madrid on Sunday. As such, we predict the away side will emerge 3-0 victors at the Estadio Coliseum.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Premier League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Liverpool meet old rivals Manchester United

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Recent form

Slot’s side then lost 2-1, 1-0 and 2-1. There aren’t many goals in their games and they are tight affairs that could go either way.

It feels like both teams are in feast or famine territory.

Team News

United will be without Lisandro Martínez while Noussair Mazraoui has a knock so could miss out. Other than that though, Amorim has a full squad to choose from.

Prediction

We’re going for a narrow Liverpool win. The Reds can’t afford to drop more points at this stage of the season and a big showing is needed. Slot will have his team up for this game.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Madrid make the short trip to Getafe

Getafe will be looking to end a three and a half year winless drought against Real Madrid when the two sides meet on Sunday evening in LaLiga.

By Ross Kilvington

Real Madrid to continue fine LaLiga start

Xabi Alonso has overseen a solid transition from the Carlo Ancelotti era into a new dawn at the Bernabéu. Indeed, across eight league matches, Madrid have won seven and lost just once.

That defeat, however, was a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid. One that might not be forgotten too quickly.

Nevertheless, Los Blancos are in excellent shape as they bid to regain their domestic and European honours that were lost rather meekly last season.

With Barcelona playing earlier in the weekend, Madrid will likely need to win to return to the top of the table on Sunday evening.

Getafe seek to improve dismal record against Real Madrid

Home advantage wont count for much this Sunday as Madrid have an excellent head-to-head record against their opponents.

Across the last 20 meetings, Getafe have recorded a solitary victory. That was back in January 2022.

Madrid have won 17 of the tie matchups, holding an impressive 43-9 aggregate score across those games.

Team news

Getafe are missing defender Djené and goalkeeper Jiří Letáček, but have a full squad available aside from that.

Key players

Being able to call upon Mbappé and Franco Mastantuono for this match will be a massive bonus for Alonso.

The Frenchman was released early from the national side while the Argentine teenager is also fit after suffering a muscle strain.

Getafe will be counting on winger Adrián Lino to come up with the goods once again. The 20-year-old has notched three goals this season already and could cause plenty of chaos out wide.

One player who Madrid know all about is Borja Mayoral. The striker played 33 times for the club, scoring seven goals and winning the Champions League during his time in the capital.

With two goals and an assist this term, Mayoral will be aiming to continue his fine form into the game against his old side.

Prediction

It is hard to see beyond a comfortable victory for Real Madrid on Sunday. As such, we predict the away side will emerge 3-0 victors at the Estadio Coliseum.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Premier League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Defending champions Barca take on struggling Girona

This lesser Catalan Derby gives Barca the opportunity to break the bad run that took them in to the October international break.

By Filip Mishov

Can Hansi flick Barça’s form ahead of El Clásico?

Barcelona were in a mini-crisis after suffering back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and to Sevilla in LaLiga. This is almost uncharted territory for the champions, who have been outstanding for most of Hansi Flick‘s time at the club. Joan García‘s recent injury and the summer departure of Iñigo Martínez have left them vulnerable at the back, with the latter’s leadership and presence being sorely missed. Even though Barça have kept the joint-most (3) clean sheets in Spain’s top tier, none of those came with Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks and they are conceding 2.3 goals per match since the Pole returned to the side.

Further north in Catalonia, Girona are managing a crisis of their own, as Michel‘s struggling squad sits just a point off the bottom – having said that, Cristhian Stuani & co. did secure their first win of the season against Valencia last time out, moving up from the last place in the standings.

However, the White and Reds’ leaky defence is the worst in the league (17 goals conceded), while the hosts’ attack (22 goals scored) is the best in LaLiga, and that does not inspire confidence in the visitors ahead of this game, due to be played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Key players

Marcus Rashford is enjoying an impressive start to life in Barcelona’s shirt, with eight goal contributions in all competitions (three goals, four assists – Opta disagree with the league on that last figure). With that being said, the 27-year-old’s importance to the squad is growing further with each passing week and with Barça’s injury troubles on the rise, the Englishman is becoming the team’s main source of creativity and goals. With Robert Lewandowski now ruled out for weeks through injury, Rashford is expected to lead the line against Girona and his performances will be crucial in helping his side get out of their relative slump.

Paulo Gazzaniga remains Michel’s undisputed No. 1 in goal despite Dominik Livaković‘s arrival, but the Argentine’s form is varying to say the least and stopping Barcelona’s fruitful attack will be a difficult challenge. Girona’s keeper ranks third for most saves (3.7) made per match in LaLiga, which says a lot about their defence, but also about their goalkeeper, who is averaging a FotMob rating of 7.8 across their past three matches.

Team news

Hansi Flick’s fury towards the Spanish FA will only grow stronger after October’s international break, as both Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres have returned to join Barcelona’s extensive injury list. On the positive front, Fermín López and Lamine Yamal are back in first-team training, while Raphinha is still recovering from his injury and might not be risked with only a week to go until next week’s El Clásico.

The news is not better on Girona’s injury front, as Michel is set to be without a number of players and the likes of Azzedine Ounahi, Thomas Lemar and Viktor Tsigankov are doubtful, while Iván Martin is serving a one-match suspension for getting sent off against Valencia.

Prediction

Despite Barça’s injury woes and recent form, there should only be one winning in this game, especially with Girona’s shambolic defensive record: Barcelona 3-0 Girona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Preview: Arsenal head down to Craven Cottage to face Fulham

The first Saturday evening Premier League fixture after the October international break sees league leaders Arsenal visit local rivals Fulham.

By Neel Shelat

Ødegaard to remain absent until November

Arsenal will have been glad to see that none of their stars picked up any noteworthy fitness concerns on international duty, but fans did receive one piece of bad news during the break. The BBC reported that Martin Ødegaard would not return until mid-November after he suffered a medial collateral ligament injury against West Ham earlier this month. The Norwegian international’s start to the season was marred by a shoulder injury, so he has barely played over 200 league minutes this term.

The Gunners are not short of depth after their big summer transfer window, so they will hope to see someone like Eberechi Eze step up and deliver in the coming weeks.

Fulham sweating on Jiménez’s fitness

Fulham are not without injury issues of their own. Having had an extremely quiet transfer window for the most part, they have far fewer options to pick from. So, Marco Silva’s attack could well be significantly weaker this weekend as Rodrigo Muniz looks set to remain unavailable due to his hamstring issue, while doubts remain over Raul Jiménez’s fitness after his hip injury against Aston Villa.

Besides potentially having to start without either senior striker on the pitch, the Cottagers will likely also miss two full backs in Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson in addition to midfielder Saša Lukić.

Arsenal seeking their first win in three seasons at Craven Cottage

Arsenal maintained a perfect record at Craven Cottage for ten years between 2013 and 2023, but have failed to win in their last two visits. Jiménez has been on the scoresheet for the hosts on both occasions. He got the equaliser on New Year’s Eve in 2023/24 before Bobby De Cordova-Reid went on to win it in the second half, and he also opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw last season.

The Gunners have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last four meetings with Fulham, so they will hope that their even stingier defence can now end that streak.

Fulham’s block set to test Arsenal’s evolving attack

Fulham have rarely been the flashiest of sides in the Premier League, but their stability in recent seasons can be attributed to a solid and simple approach. Silva’s side were among the top six in terms of xG conceded last season, as they have always prioritised maintaining a solid defensive block. They haven’t been quite as good this term and only have one clean sheet so far, but their ability to switch to a back five against big teams means they are never easy to break down.

Arsenal have often had difficulties facing disciplined blocks under Mikel Arteta, whose conservative tendencies often result in slow possession circulation against such teams. However, the Gunners have shown signs of a shift in approach in recent weeks as they are trying to move the ball forward and attack much more quickly. Doing that might just be the key to breaking down Fulham’s block.

Prediction

There is a significant disparity between the two sides’ attacking firepower, so Arsenal should come away with a comfortable win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.