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Friday 01/05
Leeds	3-1	Burnley

Marco Silva addresses Chelsea speculation with five word answer
Fulham boss Marco Silva has spoken on speculation linking him with the Chelsea job, and said he pays no attention to it.

Chelsea are once again looking for a new head coach after sacking Liam Rosenior last month, with the 41-year-old lasting less than four months in the job.

Rosenior is the second head coach to leave Stamford Bridge this season following the departure of Enzo Maresca in January.

Marco Silva addresses Chelsea speculation
Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge for the remainder of the season, whilst the sporting directors conduct their search for a new head coach.

It's understood there are seven or eight names under consideration, with Andoni Iraola thought to be an early front-runner.

Silva is also reportedly a candidate for the job, with the Portuguese boss out of contract with Fulham at the end of the season.

The 48-year-old is yet to sign a new deal, and it's thought he'll leave the club at the end of the season after five seasons at Craven Cottage.

Speaking ahead of Fulham's game against Arsenal, Silva was asked about speculation linking him with Chelsea, and admitted he pays no attention to it.

"I don't pay any attention," he said as quoted by the Hounslow Herald.

"We have decisive games ahead, and all the focus is going to be on Arsenal and what we have to do against them."



https://chelsea.news/2026/05/marco-silva-fulham-chelsea-job/

Pre-Arsenal Press Conference
Marco Silva is determined to bring Fulham's winless run away at Arsenal to an end.

At both Highbury and the Emirates Stadium, Fulham have never won away at the Gunners in the Premier League era. It's a record that the boss is keen to bring to an end, with his side firmly in the hunt for a European spot.

With Arsenal fighting for their first Premier League title in 22 years, and with Manchester City breathing down their necks, Silva was asked in his pre-match press conference whether Fulham could take advantage of any tension and anxiety inside the Emirates on Saturday evening.

"Let's hope we can use that," Silva replied. "That depends on us, it depends on them, and it depends on many things. Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league.

"They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition.

"They are very difficult to play against. When at their best level, they are a top side. Compact, solid, they work hard off the ball, starting from the striker. They are a team that don't give up a lot of space to the opposition."

"You try to analyse them, and against Atlético Madrid, their frontline was [Viktor] Gyökeres, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Noni] Madueke and [Gabriel] Martinelli. But it could be [Bukayo] Saka, [Eberechi] Eze and [Leandro] Trossard. It's clear for us, that their squad depth is better than seasons before, so they can totally change their frontline. It speaks about themselves, and the quality and depth that they have."

"We also enjoy this type of situation, we just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for – and we will fight."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/30/pre-arsenal-press-conference/

Fulham without three stars for Arsenal clash in boost for Gunners
Marco Silva will be without three of his Fulham stars for their Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend.

The Cottagers make the short trip across the capital for what is another must-win game for Mikel Arteta's side on Saturday evening.

The Gunners have moved three points clear at the summit again with Manchester City involved in FA Cup action last weekend.

Pep Guardiola's side do not play Everton until Monday night, giving Arsenal the chance to move six points clear tomorrow.

One former Arsenal star will not be involved against his old side. Alex Iwobi was forced off before half-time in the goalless draw with Brentford two weeks ago after pulling up with a hamstring injury.

It ruled him out of last weekend's victory over Aston Villa with Silva confirming the Nigeria international remains sidelined.

Ryan Sessegnon scored the winner in that game against Unai Eemry's side before he was forced off late on. The knock will rule the 25-year-old out of the game at the Emirates and Fulham's next game against Bournemouth.

Summer signing Kevin, who has scored a respectable eight goals in his first season in England, remains sidelined having missed the last seven games with a metatarsal bruise.

Fulham are likely to have Kenny Tete available again, however.

'It's not good news about him,' said Silva when asked about Sessegnon.

'Sessegnon is going to be out of the next game, and probably the one after will be the same story for him, and then we will have to assess him day by day. For the Arsenal game, for sure out. For the game after, for sure out.

'Alex [Iwobi] is out still, plus Kevin. Kenny [Tete], we will have to see how he reacts from the last two sessions. He can probably be involved in the game.

'We have some doubts on some players, but we will assess them tomorrow to see how they react from things that happened in the week.'

Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage in October.



https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/01/fulham-without-three-stars-arsenal-clash-boost-gunners-28192135/?ito=newsnow-feed

Same nerves, different opponent: Fulham won't be straightforward
Here we go again. Back at it with the nerves and stress of the Premier League tomorrow, with the managers due to meet the press today and give their updates. As Shakespeare once said in Henry V:

    "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more"

It's a grind right now, eh? But a lot of that has been because of the performances. The City game gave us hope, the Newcastle game gave us more fear, so what will Fulham bring to the table tomorrow?

Well, they'll be without Sessegnon, who limped off injured in their win against Villa, having scored the goal in the first half. I have just watched the highlights of that game, and Villa certainly created enough chances for it to be at least a draw. So his being out, I guess, is a plus point for us, but so is the fact that Iwobi is out. We have enough things to worry about without having an ex-player cause us all manner of headaches tomorrow evening.

**Emile Smith Rowe enters the chat**

Their main man this season, however, has been Harry Wilson, who has 10 Premier League goals to his name and has racked up the second-highest goals vs xG metrics, which means when he gets chances, they tend to be lower quality but higher conversion.

As a team, Fulham sit mid-table for xG, they're 12th for goals scored, 12th for total volume of shots, 14th for shots on target, 11th for touches in the opponents' box, and 14th for 'fast breaks'. By all rights, this is very much a 'mid-table' side based on the stats. And yet they find themselves in 10th, and because of this mad Premier League this season, they are just two points off Brighton in sixth position, fighting for a European slot. So last weekend, in hindsight, we could have done with Villa probably winning that game against them, as it might have meant they pretty much know that their chance of Europe is gone. Now they will be looking at this match as one that, if they can pick up a win on our patch, then they have a good chance of hitting that target.

That's why this is a mad season, because Everton are only just one point behind them, and we're hoping that on their own patch they can do us a favour against City on Monday night. But Fulham are just as likely to cause an upset as Everton are, which is why Arteta and his players need to be wary.

We've had a couple of recent memory slip-ups against Fulham at home, too. Two seasons ago, it was the 2-2 in which we contrived to drop points having been 2-1 up and a man to the good after Bassey was sent off in the 83rd minute. We went one down in one minute, then had two goals on 70 and 72, and when their man was sent off, you're thinking that we'll coast to the final whistle. But an 87th-minute goalkeeper mistake from a corner (Ramsdale) cost us three points, and I remember being very grumpy that bank holiday weekend in August, away with friends all weekend.

Two seasons before that, it was Eddie Nketiah rescuing a point for us after they'd scored on 59 minutes, after a Maja penalty was converted. In fact, since Arteta took charge, he's had two narrow 2-1 wins and two draws against Fulham. We haven't had it easy against them for seven years. I don't expect that to start tomorrow.

And in Marco Silva, they do have a tactically fluid manager, who will shift their approach. I suspect we'll see a side that will build up with a back three, stretch their fullbacks to make the pitch as wide as possible, and see if they can get runners and dribblers disrupting the middle. They rely on the ability of their full-backs, and I seem to recall Antoinee Robinson always has a good game for us in that left-back spot. On the left-hand side, if we had an attacker in any kind of form, I'd fancy them against Castagne, but unfortunately, we don't, unless Arteta leans into Eze there again. That will be one to discuss tomorrow when we have an update (of sorts) with the team news.

Fulham's style this season – having read a few articles – is to leverage those full-backs, but also make diagonal passes as two or three runners try to get in behind the opposition defence. They will sit in a compact back five out of possession, then try to spring traps on us. We have to be ready for that.

I hope we are. Arteta pulled Odegaard off in midweek, presumably to protect him for tomorrow, as well as not starting Eze. He gave Saka 20 minutes against Atletico Madrid, having given him 10 minutes against Newcastle, so one would hope that he might be ready to play. The big question is over Kai, but I suspect the club will be cautious, and we will get told he's not available. That means he'll most likely turn to Big Vik, who hopefully has a little bit more confidence after a decent performance against Atleti in midweek, as well as a goal, albeit one from the spot.

I don't expect anything other than a coy Arteta to give nothing away, but I hope that we at least get some word on Timber. It's getting to the point where I'm wondering if we will ever see him again this season. I really hope so. He is such a key component of that back line and their defensive stability. A fit Timber, along with Big Gabi, Saliba and Calafiori would be huge for these final games.

It is unlikely to be tomorrow, but even having him in the squad would be a big boost, so let's cross our fingers for some good news today.

And with that, I'll toddle off for now, with some pre-match thoughts tomorrow. Catch you then.

Laters people.



https://www.suburbangooners.com/2026/05/01/same-nerves-different-opponent-fulham-wont-be-straightforward/

Matchday Preview: Arsenal
🆚 Arsenal
🏟 Emirates Stadium
🏆 Premier League
🗓 Saturday 2nd May
⏰ 5.30pm

The opposition

Arsenal's season could still bring absolute glory, or end trophyless once more. The Gunners go into the weekend top of the Premier League, but their recent defeat to Manchester City means there is now just three points between them, with City having played a game less. Arsenal may need to win all four remaining matches if they are to claim a first Premier League title since 2004, while they also have their sights on a first ever Champions League trophy – they host Atletico Madrid in North London on Tuesday with the aggregate score at 1-1, as the sides battle for a place in the Final against PSG or Bayern Munich.

Team news

🔴 Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are all injured, but Martin Ødegaard is expected to be fit after picking up a knock in midweek.

🤍 Ryan Sessegnon will miss the trip to North London, along with Kevin and Alex Iwobi, but Kenny Tete could be in contention.

Tickets

Tickets have sold out for this fixture, meaning there will be more than 3,000 Fulham supporters in attendance.

Kits

Home shirt but black shorts for the boys on Saturday.


Weather

🌦 Light rain is forecast, but temperatures will be as high as 22 degrees.

Coverage

FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid, while the match will also be shown on Sky Sports. Overseas supporters can see who is showing the game in your region at this page.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/01/matchday-preview-arsenal/

Paul Merson makes remarkable Arsenal title claim ahead of Fulham clash
Paul Merson believes that Arsenal can end the Premier League title race this weekend with a victory against Fulham on Saturday evening.

With Manchester City not playing in the league last weekend, the Gunners moved themselves back to the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Newcastle United.

But a three-point gap between Arsenal and City could temporarily become six if the Gunners make it back-to-back wins against Fulham ahead of City's trip to Everton on Monday night.

And former Arsenal midfielder Merson believes that such a gap, even if only temporary, could prove a telling psychological advantage for the Gunners in the title race.

'Arsenal must forget about the second leg against Atletico Madrid and get the job done against Fulham. If they lose to Fulham, then they will definitely lose to Atletico on Tuesday. And hence, it could be all over for them in the next few days. Arsenal must get the win.'

Arsenal could welcome Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka back into the starting lineup after both featured off the bench against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber are expected to remain sidelined, will there are doubts over Martin Odegaard following his early withdrawal on Wednesday.

Fulham, meanwhile, are without three key players, with Alex Iwobi, Ryan Sessegnon and Kevin all unavailable.



https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/01/paul-merson-makes-remarkable-arsenal-title-claim-ahead-fulham-clash-28192077/?ito=newsnow-feed

Fulham signal €30m offer – Includes bonuses, needs another €10m adding
Fulham's pursuit of Danilo now has a clearer ceiling – and it may already be shifting.

The 24-year-old has been one of the standout performers in Brazil this season. His situation has been building for weeks.

Strong form, growing interest from Europe, and Botafogo's financial pressure have all pointed towards a summer sale. Until now, the conversation had settled around the €30m (£26m) mark.

However, fresh reports from Brazil suggest that figure may already be outdated. Because Botafogo are no longer simply targeting a €30m (£26m) deal. Expectations could go up to €35m-€40m (£30m-£34m) depending on what happens next.

Price rising quickly ahead of World Cup
Botafogo believe Danilo's value can jump further with the World Cup approaching. This is what Globo Esporte claims.

The midfielder has already featured in the latest Brazil friendlies under Carlo Ancelotti, including scoring against Croatia, and is widely expected to make the final squad.

That has led to a shift in internal expectations. Rather than accepting the €30m (£26m) figure currently being discussed by Fulham and Zenit, Botafogo are now holding out for offers closer to €40m (£34m).

The idea is to sell at peak value, ideally after the tournament.

Fulham still in the mix – but gap opens
The report says Fulham remain one of the clubs to have signalled interest at around €30m (£26m). The structure was previously outlined at €22m (£19m) plus €8m (£7m) in add-ons.

However, that now leaves a noticeable gap between what Premier League clubs are currently willing to pay and what Botafogo are hoping to receive.

Zenit are in a similar position, while Brazilian clubs such as Palmeiras and Flamengo are viewed internally as unlikely to reach those numbers. That naturally pushes the situation towards Europe.

That context fits a more defined stance from Botafogo behind the scenes. This is as told by O Globo.

The club are actively prioritising a sale to Europe, both for financial reasons and because they believe the market there will respond more aggressively after the World Cup.

That aligns with the player's own thinking. As previously reported, Danilo's priority is a return to England, and that preference continues to shape the landscape of the deal.

Financial pressure driving decisions
The push for a higher fee is not happening in isolation. Botafogo are still dealing with financial pressures linked to Danilo's own transfer.

The club have outstanding payments from his arrival. In addition, there are other obligations, and a sale is seen as a key way to balance the books.

There was even an earlier attempt to send him back to Nottingham Forest in a structured deal, which was blocked by legal intervention.

Now, the strategy is to wait and aim for a European buyer willing to meet the new price.

What happens next
For Fulham, the situation has shifted a bit. The opportunity still exists, especially given the player's desire to return to England. But the cost of that opportunity may already be rising.

With the World Cup approaching and Botafogo holding firm on a higher valuation, timing is becoming just as important as interest.

Move early, and the deal may still sit around €30m. Wait, and Fulham could be looking at something much closer to €40m.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-signal-e30m-offer-includes-bonuses-needs-another-e10m-adding/

Team News: Sess ruled out of Arsenal clash
Ryan Sessegnon has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

The left-back scored the only goal in last weekend's win over Aston Villa, but was forced off in the latter stages.

"It's not good news about him," said Silva when asked about the fitness of the 25-year-old.

"Sessegnon is going to be out of the next game, and probably the one after will be the same story for him, and then we will have to assess him day by day. For the Arsenal game, for sure out. For the game after, for sure out.

"Alex [Iwobi] is out still, plus Kevin. Kenny [Tete], we will have to see how he reacts from the last two sessions. He can probably be involved in the game.

"We have some doubts on some players, but we will assess them tomorrow to see how they react from things that happened in the week."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/30/team-news-sess-ruled-out-of-arsenal-clash/

From The Press Box: Sessegnon absent but Tete in contention
Jack Kelly was at Marco Silva's latest press conference as Fulham travel to Arsenal on Saturday

Fulham are well and truly in the race for Europe, but face the tough test of facing Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday - a stadium we've never won at.

Most neutrals don't want Mikel Arteta's side to lift the trophy at the end of the merry month of May, so Fulham will have the backing of a packed out away end, and millions of people around the world at Saturday tea-time.

Ryan Sessegnon had a bitter-sweet afternoon last time out - scoring the winner as Fulham beat Aston Villa, but sadly was forced off due to a hamstring injury. Marco Silva confirmed that Sess would miss the short trip to north London, and most likely be missing for the visit of Bournemouth next week.

"Not good news about Sess, he will be out of the next game & probably the game after too. Alex is out still, Kevin too. Kenny is back, maybe in contention, too soon for him to start. We have some doubts with some players, who probably will be ready", said Silva.

Silva added later that the medical staff approach Sessegnon's injuries and recoveries with extra caution, given his history of bad luck when it comes to injuries.

The focus is 100% of Europe. It's been the aim for the staff and players. Silva said that even when things got tough in the last month or so, nobody was willing to throw in the towel.

"It's a fight (for Europe) we are in the fight. If you win a game, confidence is boosted. Brentford game, we drew - I didn't see anyone giving up after that in our meetings & all that stuff."

"It's another very difficult game for us, there are three points to fight for, so we are going to fight."

The contract questions arose once more. Silva insists him staying isn't dependent on Fulham getting a European place.

"It's a decision that I'm going to take, the club is going to take & together we are going to take. It's not because we are going to achieve something or not, that is going to be the decisive situation for us."

"We are completely in the same place & aligned. The things that we have been talking about, what is going to be necessary for the football club for the future. We are working on it."

"Even after lunch today, I had another meeting looking for the future of the club. It's my job to do it. I'm going to do it until the last game of the season. & after that. Right now, it's the position that we are in."

So all eyes on Saturday. It's a massive game, for so many reasons. Arsenal will have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top to six points before Manchester City play on Monday night. Fulham need points to keep the dream of Europe alive.

Losing on Saturday wouldn't eliminate Fulham from the European conversation, but it would mean the Bournemouth game next week would be a must-win. A draw would benefit Fulham, but Arsenal may live to regret it at the end of the season.

I'm looking forward to Saturday, let's hope Fulham can get their first win at Arsenal, affect the title race and climb up the table!

It's simply huge.

Come on Fulham!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/from-the-press-box-sessegnon-absent

Marco Silva calls on Fulham to stall Arsenal's title bid
Marco Silva hopes Fulham can capitalise on potential nerves and anxiety inside Emirates Stadium during Saturday's visit to table-topping Arsenal.

The Gunners are chasing a first Premier League title in 22 years and begin the weekend three points above second-placed Manchester City having played a game more.

Fulham manager Silva promised his 10th-placed side, who are in contention for European qualification, will fight to secure a shock result amid what could be a tense atmosphere in north London.

"Let's hope we can use that," he told a news conference. "That depends on us, it depends on them, and it depends on many things.

"Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league.

"They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition.

"We just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for -- and we will fight."

Should Arsenal win on Saturday, they will move six points clear of Man City at the top of the table.

Pep Guardiola's side will then have two games in hand, having been in FA Cup action last weekend. They return to Premier League duty on Monday night against Everton.



https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/48645463/marco-silva-fulham-arsenal-premier-league-title-race

Arsenal v Fulham: the referee – Jarred Gillett for the third time
This will be the third time this season that Jarred Gillett has overseen an Arsenal game this season, and if you are a regular reader of my ramblings, you might have noticed my constant call for no referee ever to oversee more than two games for the same team per season.  He was also in charge of VAR for Arsenal vs. Manchester City.

The full set of officials working under "JG" are the assistant referees (ie linesmen) Simon Long and Steve Meredith, the 4th Official Rob Jones and the VAR men Peter Bankes and Adrian Holmes.   Here are the referee's results against teams he has seen several times this season.    The variation between one team and the next is shown in the final row.  The data is derived from WhoScored's detailed statistical website on which much more detail is available.

Basically, we are doing ok with him in charge this season, compared with his appearances involving teams that he has seen three or more times.

But let us consider eight referees, including our man this weekend, just to see how the figures vary.   When we compare referees again, using data provided by whoscored  we find that in terms of fouls the ref who sees the most fouls hands out around three or four more fouls a game than the ref who hands out the least.   In percentage terms, if a team gets Hooper they are liable to get around 19% or 20% more fouls than they would with Barrott.

But when we measure the number of tackles a player can get away with before committing a foul, we find the most lenient referee allows players to commit around 39% mjore tackles without calling a foul than the most whistle-ready referee.

When we come to penalties, we see some referees giving out nine times as many penalties as others!   Finally, with yellow cards, we see some referees handing out twice as many as others when we look at their figures across the season. Gillet, we find, is the lowest referee on the fouls per game chart, mid-table for penalties, and lower mid-table for yellow cards. Which is interesting.  He doesn't see fouls nearly so often as other referees, but he still manages to be mid-range for spotting penalties, and not too far off mid-range for handing out cards – all of which is curious.

But now when we come to look at the figures for Jarred Gillett in terms of results, we find they are utterly extraordinary.   We know that home wins are the most likely outcome of any particular game in the Premier League.  This wasn't the case during the pandemic when the number of home wins declined and the number of away wins greatly increased, and our analysis at the time suggested that it was the crowd or lack of crowd that influenced the officials.  Figures are from WhoScored

In short, have one referee, and you might have a 16% chance of winning a home match, but with another referee, you are up to a 68% chance of winning.  Have one referee, and you have an 18% chance of winning an away game, but with another ref it is over 52%.

Now of course, for this game, having Gillett as a referee with Arsenal playing at home looks disastrous, since the majority – yes the actual majority – of his games will be away wins.  But he does still see some home wins, and Arsenal have gained 56% of their points this season at home, so all is not lost.

But in looking at this table for the first time in a while (courtesy of Soccer Stats who have published it). Arsenal get 56% of their points at home and score 58% of their goals at home.   Fulham's comparative figures show that they get 33% of their points away from home and score 36% of their goals away from home.   Those figures would suggest that Arsenal is most likely to win this game on both counts.

And just to round this off, in looking at this chart for the first time, I noticed that Tottenham Hots get only 32% of their points at home, which is I think the lowest in the Premier League this season.     They score only 47% of their goals at home and concede 57% of their points away from home.

These latter figures are not the highest in each category but contrast with the figures of successful clubs that tend to make their home something of a fortress both for winning games and scoring more goals.  It just confirms the disaster that the Tottenham "upgrade" of their stadium has been, and shows that not every stadium move is as successful as Arsenal's.   Maybe it was Wenger what done it.



https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/120644

Manchester United and Fulham €30-45m transfer tussle being countered
Manchester United and Fulham are again being named in the growing list of clubs tracking Richard Ríos, as fresh reporting from Portugal adds more layers – and more confusion – to the Benfica midfielder's situation.

We have covered recent claims from the Colombian press stating that both United and Fulham are among the clubs who have shown interest, alongside sides in Italy.

The 25-year-old has quietly built momentum in Lisbon. After a mixed start, he is now putting together consistent performances, including a goal and an assist in Benfica's recent 4-1 win over Moreirense.

That form is helping keep him firmly on the radar ahead of the summer window. At the same time, the wider context around him continues to shift depending on the source.

Napoli scouting intensifies
According to O Jogo, Richard Ríos is now a priority target for Napoli. The Italian club have stepped up their interest by sending scouts to watch him multiple times in recent weeks.

Those observations include matches against Moreirense, Nacional and Sporting, with the midfielder playing a key role in all three. In the derby, he contributed to the winning goal, underlining his growing influence.

The report also backs up earlier claims that Napoli's sporting director Giovanni Manna has already made exploratory contacts for the player. However, there is still a clear gap in valuation.

Napoli were initially only willing to go to around €30m (£26m), while Benfica were already looking for more than €35m (£30m). That gap is now expected to widen further.

That is where English clubs come back into the picture. Manchester United and Fulham are both mentioned again – now in Portugal – as interested parties. However, as with previous reports, their involvement is described as tracking rather than acting decisively.

Contradictions around price and strategy
Richard Ríos' case continues to be shaped by conflicting signals. On one hand, there are "some reports suggesting €45m range" and even claims that Fulham have already made contact. Napoli are also said to be considering a more formal approach.

On the other, the Portuguese press continues to point in a different direction.

Benfica's stance remains firm. The club are not looking to sell cheaply and have protected the player with a €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract, which runs until 2030.

Internally, the message has been consistent – only an offer deemed "irresistible" would be considered.

The club believe the 2026 World Cup could significantly increase Ríos' value. As a result, they are willing to wait rather than accept offers in the current €30m-€45m (£26m-£39m) range being discussed externally.

What happens next
The situation around Richard Ríos seems a bit contradictory, but very open. Napoli are increasing their scouting presence. Fulham are claimed to have made contact. Manchester United continue to watch from the background.

Yet Benfica are holding firm, the player is not pushing for a move (yet), and the World Cup looms as a major factor in future valuation.

That mix of interest and resistance is likely to keep this story moving – but without a quick resolution.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/manchester-united-and-fulham-e30-45m-transfer-tussle-being-countered/

Time to add more creativity in the team. Predicted 11 Vs Fulham
Arsenal are back at the Emirates on Saturday night, hosting Fulham as they look to keep their title charge alive.
Hoping to quench their thirst for league glory, it surely needs no emphasis that the Gunners simply cannot afford to slip. Only a win will do, with Manchester City breathing down their neck.

Bukayo Saka is back and trying to find his rhythm, whilst Ricardo Calafiori also returns. However, Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.

Even so, Mikel Arteta should have a capable enough side to dispatch the Cottagers. He could go for:

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie

Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard

Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Alternatively if Odegaard cannot shake off the niggling knee problem that has followed him since the away game at Brentford there is the more attractive option of starting Eze. This will provide a more attacking threat as well as a player who can come up with a magic moment to win a what could be a close game.

There is the more attractive option to start both Odegaard, if he is fit, and Eze in midfield. Under this scenario Zubimendi will be rested for the second leg of the Semi-final against Athletico Madrid.

Against Atlético Madrid, Arteta made one brilliant tactical tweak, deploying Declan Rice as a six.

That adjustment made Arsenal more defensively strong and balanced, something the Gunners have been crying out for. Against Fulham, it could lay the foundation for yet another important win.

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie

Rice, Odegaard, Eze

Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Earlier in the season, when these two sides met, Arsenal came out on top with a 1-0 victory. Last season, too, the boys in red and white did not lose this London derby, winning at home and drawing at Craven Cottage.

Surely, when they absolutely need to beat Fulham, you would back Arsenal to do so.

Then the hope will be that Everton have enough in them to halt Manchester City on Monday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.



https://arsenalanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/05/time-to-add-more-creativity-in-team.html

Fulham match-winner to miss Arsenal through injury
Last week's match-winner Ryan Sessegnon is set to miss Fulham's match at Arsenal due to injury, as one of a few likely absentees.

Fulham pulled off a 1-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend thanks to a goal from Ryan Sessegnon, but the defender is now set to miss Saturday's match against Arsenal with a hamstring injury.

Fulham boss Marco Silva confirmed the absence, revealing that former Gunner Alex Iwobi and Kevin will also miss the match. Though he provided a more positive update on Kenny Tete, the right-back is also expected to miss out on the starting lineup.

"Not good news about [Ryan Sessegnon], he will be out of the next game and probably the game after too," Silva confirmed. Alex [Iwobi] is out still, Kevin too. Kenny [Tete] is back, maybe in contention, too soon for him to start."

Silva admitted that Fulham are taking particular care with Sessegnon given his injury history, wary of risking a setback for the player.

The good news for the club is that they have no other major injury concerns. If Tete is in the squad, then Kevin, Iwobi, and Sessegnon should be the only three to miss out.

Silva told the media that whilst Fulham "have some doubts with some (other) players", he believes they "probably will be ready".

Arsenal also have four injury concerns going into the match, with Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber likely to miss out, and Martin Odegaard a doubt after his early substitution on Wednesday. So at least the two clubs appear to be in similar positions on that front.

    Fulham match-winner to miss Arsenal through injury
    Last week's match-winner Ryan Sessegnon is set to miss Fulham's match at Arsenal due to injury, as one of a few likely absentees.
    Arsenal approve 'meet the team bus' event pre-Atletico clash
    Arsenal fans will be encouraged to welcome the team bus to the Emirates Stadium ahead of Tuesday's match against Atletico Madrid, in a break from the usual matchday traditions.
    Ex-ref insists VAR made error in Atletico-Arsenal clash
    The referee shouldn't have been sent to the monitor to review the penalty decision involving Eberechi Eze, according to ex-ref Dermot Gallagher.
    Julian Alvarez injury update ahead of Arsenal 2nd leg
    Julian Alvarez is expected to play in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, despite coming off in the first leg with an injury.
    Arsenal sporting director meeting fuels striker speculation
    Andrea Berta's reported trip to Turkey has placed Victor Osimhen back in Arsenal's orbit, but Galatasaray appear in no mood to sell.



https://dailycannon.com/2026/05/arsenal-fulham-injury/

Fulham FC Wins Hospitality & Experience Award


Fulham Football Club are delighted to have won the Hospitality & Experience Award at the 25th Sport Industry Awards, recognising our outstanding matchday offering at The Riverside.

The Club beat strong competition from Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., The Football Association, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts to secure the award.

The award highlights Fulham's successful blend of heritage and innovation, with The Riverside playing a key role in elevating hospitality through premium dining, enhanced facilities, and riverside views.

Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Beattie commented:

"Receiving recognition for our hospitality and experience at the Sports Industry Awards is a strong signal for what we're building at Fulham. From the outset, the ambition was to create something bigger than a venue — a year-round destination with real cultural relevance. To see that vision come to life and enable a reimagined matchday experience that resonates with fans and new audiences alike is a genuine pleasure."

Head of Sales & Hospitality Operations Elliot Machin added:

"This recognition reflects the work that's gone into shaping the Riverside experience — from the team on the ground to our partners, and the fans and guests who've embraced it. Our focus is on delivering consistently exceptional experiences, finishing this season strongly, and continuing to raise the bar next year."

JOIN US IN 2026/27
Experience our award-winning hospitality in The Riverside first hand with Seasonal Memberships now on sale for the 2026/27 season.

With seven incredible experiences to choose from, each offering a unique and tailor made matchday, the Riverside offers the perfect setting for every type of supporter.

With exceptional views from some of the best seats in the house, paired with attentive service, a matchday in The Riverside is the best way to watch the action unfold at Craven Cottage.

If you want to learn more about Seasonal Hospitality in The Riverside, then contact our team on 0208 336 7555 or click the button below to discover the best option for you.

ENQUIRE TODAY



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/01/fulham-fc-wins-hospitality---experience-award/

Arsenal vs. Fulham: "Horrible" prediction made for Premier League fixture amid Atletico Madrid changes verdict
Ahead of Saturday's crucial Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Fulham, hear what the Sports Mole team have to say about the upcoming London derby.

Ben Knapton, Site Coordinator - "Horrible watch, 1-0 Arsenal win"
A bit of an unwelcome distraction, if you like, in between these two Atletico legs. The Atletico first leg wasn't chaotic in the PSG Bayern 5-4 epic sense, but it was still chaotic in the sense of just being such a fiery contest with just so much going on.

I will say, the Eze penalty incident; if that's in the other box, that doesn't get overturned. I think the referee maybe did cave to the pressure of Simeone waving his arms about behind him, but I can understand why he might have done that.

Referees could very easily fear for their safety or even fear for their life if they make a decision against that team in that scenario. Look what happened to Anthony Taylor after the Europa League final when he and his family were accosted by those Roma fans at the airport. So referees have got to take their own safety into account. I'm not excusing the decision by any means, but that may have been a factor in his decision making.

But in terms of the overall performance from Arsenal, first half, very happy. Second half, not so much. Required some standard Raya and Gabriel heroics to get us that draw, but a draw away from home, first leg semi-final. Brilliant result. Absolutely brilliant.

I'd be happy if it was even a one goal defeat. I would think we could turn that around at home. We did beat Atletico 4-0 in the league phase, it's very different now.

This Fulham game at home, Arsenal have never lost a home league game against Fulham in not just Premier League history, in the entire English football league history. It's 32 games, 25 wins and seven draws.

So now that I've said that, this will be the one that breaks the streak. But I honestly don't think so; Fulham got that good win over Aston Villa last weekend, but they've been so, so poor in front of goal recently. And Arteta does have a few more options for change in this one.

He could put Calafiori at left back, he's fit again. Obviously, Eze's OK, Saka's OK. The squad situation is looking a bit rosier now than it did pretty much a month ago when there were these 10 or 11 international withdrawals.

It's going to be interesting to see what Arteta does, because he benched Saka and Eze against Atletico, started that front three of Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli, which a lot of fans weren't happy about. But I understood it because Saka is just back. Eze picked up a knock against Newcastle, so you had to really manage them carefully with that game.

I think they'll be back in the starting lineup for this one. And if you're asking me for my prediction, I think it's going to be another horrible watch, 1-0 win for Arsenal, scrappy corner goal.

Matt Law, Football Editor - "Atletico will make 11 changes, Arsenal can't"
For me, it was a surprise the Eze one got overturned. I think it would have been a soft penalty, but surprised it got overturned. I think the handball was a soft penalty. Is it clear and obvious? No. Should it be given? Yeah. Should it have been a penalty in the first place? Probably not.

So you could argue that the right decision was maybe reached, but I thought Atletico was so poor in the first half. They've not been great recently at all.

Luckily enough, they had a lot of credit in the bank in terms of points from the first half of the season, because if their form was like this and they were battling for Champions League to finish top four, they would be struggling because they've been really bad recently. That's why I still fancy Arsenal over the two legs.

Atletico last night were poor in the first half, a lot better in the second. But they really needed to score when they had that period after the Alvarez penalty where they had a few chances.

Atletico needed to go next week with a slight lead. Not to say that they can't beat Arsenal in the second leg, but I would have Arsenal as quite strong favourites in terms of how Atletico have travelled this season. It's not been great.

It's not a peak Simeone team by any stretch of the imagination. I think the difficulty for Arsenal next week is Atletico in the league are very safe in terms of top four, so they'll make 11 changes, whereas Arsenal can't afford to do that.

They have to play their best players to get the result they need, whereas Simeone will wrap Alvarez and Griezmann and all his key players up in cotton wool for next week and say, we'll go again next week and you can have the weekend off, and Arsenal can't afford to do that.

So, that's where it might even the playing field for me.

Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter - "Arsenal's banana skin"
Every game for Arsenal is a must-win, as it is for City, and yes, Arsenal should be motivated by that prospect of moving six points clear. Many will say that they'd rather have the points on the board than having the pressure of playing catch-up. City might argue that they actually thrive on chasing down teams, but still, to move six points clear would be huge for Arsenal if they can beat Fulham.

Jamie Carragher has come out and said that Fulham could be Arsenal's banana skin, and he's maybe right there. This is arguably Arsenal's toughest remaining league fixture now because of what Fulham have still got to play for. They've still got a chance of qualifying for Europe, so it could be a tricky game for them.

Having said that, Fulham have been quite inconsistent throughout this season, and just four wins in the last 11 league games. They did claim that hard-fought win against Villa last time out 1-0, so they're now sitting 10th and just two points behind sixth, so there's something still to play for for Fulham, but I still think Arsenal will be favourites for this at home. The fans should be up for it.

There's a lot to play for with this title race now, so I would still back Arsenal to beat Fulham, even though it could be a tricky game.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/title-race/news/the-clever-atletico-madrid-tactic-arsenal-cannot-afford-to-copy-vs-fulham_596815.html

Triple Arsenal injury update as Mikel Arteta rules out two stars for Fulham clash
Mikel Arteta has delivered an Arsenal injury update ahead of his side's must-win Premier League clash against Fulham on Saturday evening

Mikel Arteta has provided an Arsenal injury update ahead of his side's crucial encounter against Fulham. The Gunners can establish a six-point cushion over second-placed Manchester City with a win, as Pep Guardiola's determined challengers aren't in action until Monday night when they face European hopefuls Everton away.

The disappointing news is that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber won't be available to face the Cottagers. Arteta said of the duo: "Kai and Jurrien will be out" while also confirming that he didn't think the club had sustained any new fitness concerns following their midweek Champions League semi-final stalemate at Atletico Madrid.

He added: "I think so. Let's see how everybody is tomorrow morning. We haven't been able to train much, so tomorrow we'll have the final update."

There's also uncertainty surrounding the availability of skipper Martin Odegaard, who was substituted in the second period at the Metropolitano.

When questioned if he'll be fit to feature this weekend, Arteta said: "Let's see."

The Norwegian has been troubled by a knee problem picked up in the 1-1 stalemate at Brentford in February over recent months.

He has suffered multiple periods on the treatment table but has returned to starting fixtures over the last few weeks as he attempts to help the Gunners secure silverware in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Arteta's remarks appear to indicate it's far from certain he'll be fit to play against Marco Silva's outfit at the Emirates Stadium.

Bukayo Saka made his second successive cameo from the bench in Spain, while Riccardo Calafiori also returned to the matchday squad after his recent knock.

Timber is thought to be edging closer to a return from his groin problem, though he has now been sidelined for more than seven weeks.

Havertz's groin issue is not believed to be as serious as first feared, and he could still feature before the end of Arsenal's season.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-injuries-fulham-man-city-37098222

2026/27 Season Tickets


The Club can today confirm 2026/27 Season Ticket prices and key dates for renewals and new sales.

2026/27 Season
On behalf of everyone at Fulham Football Club, we want to collectively express our deep appreciation to you for another outstanding season at Craven Cottage.

Your loyal and enthusiastic support has been a major factor in our impressive home record, one of the best in the Premier League this season.  We were delighted to welcome a record number of Season Ticket Holders to Craven Cottage for the 2025/26 campaign, which to date has seen 13 Premier League sell-outs alongside a record number of seats sold through the Club's Ticket Exchange.  The Exchange is an exclusive benefit that Season Ticket Holders will continue to enjoy in 2026/27, which will be our fifth consecutive season competing in the English Premier League.

For the 2026/27 campaign, prices across all Season Ticket categories and stands will increase by 3.5%, with renewals commencing from Monday 11th May.  Ahead of arriving at this decision, the Club engaged in a period of consultation with its Fan Advisory Board (FAB), holding constructive meetings guided by the ticketing principles agreed and adopted by the Club with the FAB last summer. During discussions with the FAB, the Club presented ideas and welcomed suggestions and recommendations from the FAB before deciding on the approach for next season.

In appreciation for their long-standing commitment, supporters who have held a Season Ticket since the 2022/23 campaign will continue to receive the lowest renewal price for the upcoming season.  Fans in this group are encouraged to renew their seats to continue to benefit from this special price.

In addition, the Club is retaining its existing concession age groups for over 65s and 18–21-year-olds, whilst junior Season Tickets will continue to offer exceptional value – starting from just over £8 per game.

Throughout discussions with the FAB, the Club was reminded of the importance of keeping football at Craven Cottage affordable and limiting the financial impact on our fanbase.  Recognising and respecting this, though noting that matchday operating costs continue to rise, the Club and FAB agreed that a 3.5% increase will help to contribute to financial sustainability and compliance with new financial regulations, while supporting the on-pitch progress that our squad and fans deserve in a demanding Premier League.

David Claridge, FAB Chair, commented:

"The FAB always appreciates the chance to discuss ticket pricing with the Club, as it's such an important issue for our fanbase. We entered the consultation reminding the Club of our support for the FSA's 'Stop Exploiting Loyalty' campaign, which advocated for a league-wide price freeze. However, the Club was very open with us about the rising operating costs and new financial regulations it faces next season. Our dialogue was positive and constructive, guided by the Ticketing Principles we agreed last year. The Club listened to our feedback and adjusted their initial proposal to arrive at a 3.5% increase, which balances the Club's financial sustainability with the needs of our supporters. Tying together another area of discussion, we are pleased that the Club is actively considering improvements to the matchday experience."

The Club would like to once again thank supporters for their continued support.  We look forward to seeing you at our final home matches of the season and again in 2026/27.

IMPROVING THE MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
The Club continues to explore opportunities to invest in the supporter experience at Craven Cottage.

The introduction of digital ticketing at Craven Cottage two seasons ago has evolved; this season has seen a reduction in the usage of plastic cards, away team supporters visiting Craven Cottage now use digital tickets, and new turnstile readers were installed in the Johnny Haynes Stand midway through this season to improve entry times.

Having a significant number of fans using digital tickets at Craven Cottage puts the Club in a strong position ahead of new Premier League digital ticketing regulations coming into effect from the start of the upcoming 2026/27 season.

The Club will continue to invest in this area and its transition to digital ticketing, working with our ticketing and stadium access control providers to make the experience of accessing and sharing tickets smoother for fans.

Owing to the nature of our venue, there remain limitations for what can be achieved in some areas of the ground. However, the Club is actively exploring new initiatives surrounding food and drink offerings and service, as well as improvements to amenities where possible. The Club will share further details around these developments and commitment to any planned works in due course.

On Sale Timings
Season Tickets will go on sale from 2pm on Monday 11th May.

All existing Season Ticket Holders will be contacted with their exact price for the 2026/27 campaign via email on launch and via post w/c 11th May. All seats will be held for supporters to renew until 5pm on Friday 5th June.

As with previous seasons, a finance option will be available, providing fans the opportunity to spread the cost of their Season Ticket over 4, 6, 9, or 10 months. This will once again be managed through the approved credit partner, V12 Finance.

Season Ticket Holders who renew for 2026/27 will have a two-day priority window to move seats on Tuesday 9th June from 10am. Please note, to be eligible to relocate to another area of the ground you must have renewed an existing seat for 2026/27 season.

(https://images.webapi.fulhamfc.com/fit-in/1400x1400/1cd31140-4554-11f1-8f52-177f08524cc2.jpg)

New Sales: Join the Waiting List
With a record number of Season Tickets sold for the current term, following the renewal window, the Club may make a further allocation of new Season Ticket sales available.

New Season Ticket sales would commence after the completion of seat moves in June, however fans are urged to sign up to the Season Ticket Waiting List to receive priority access.

JOIN THE WAITING LIST



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/01/2026-27-season-tickets/

Fulham ready to capitalise on Emirates nerves to dent Arsenal's title hopes
Fulham still have plenty to play for and could deliver a significant blow in the title race this weekend

Fulham manager Marco Silva hopes his side can capitalise on any potential nerves and anxiety that could spread around the Emirates Stadium during Saturday's visit to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The Gunners are currently in pursuit of their first Premier League title in 22 years, and sit three points clear at the top of the table, having played a game more than closest rivals Manchester City.

Fulham manager Silva, whose 10th-placed side harbour their own ambitions of European qualification, vowed his team would battle fiercely to secure a shock result amid what he anticipates could be a tense atmosphere in north London.

"Let's hope we can use that," Silva stated during a press conference, referring to the potential for tension.

"That depends on us, it depends on them, and it depends on many things. Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that."

There has been an edgy atmosphere at the Emirates in recent times, with Arsenal losing to Bournemouth just under three weeks ago before picking up an unconvincing 1-0 win over Newcastle last weekend.

Despite their recent struggles with finding their best form, Silva is still expecting a formidable challenge as he acknowledged Arsenal's quality.

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league," he said.

"They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition."

Nevertheless, the Portuguese coach was resolute that his team would not be intimidated by the task at hand.

"We just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for – and we will fight."



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fulham-emirates-premier-league-title-race-b2968927.html

Seven players to miss Arsenal vs Fulham after triple Mikel Arteta update as huge boost confirmed
Mikel Arteta and Marco Silva have both issued several injury updates before the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Fulham

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued injury updates on Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard before the Premier League clash against Fulham. The Gunners captain was forced off in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.

When asked for a team news update, Arteta said: "Let's see how everyone is tomorrow morning. We haven't been able to train much so tomorrow we'll have the final update. On Odegaard's availability specifically, he replied: "Let's see."

With a Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid to come next week, it seems likely that Odegaard will be saved for that.

However, there is a chance the 27-year-old could still feature at Emirates Stadium this Saturday but two players will definitely not feature. On Friday, Arteta said: "Kai [Havertz] and Jurrien [Timber] will be out."

There is hope that Mikel Merino will be able to play again this season but he is currently out after undergoing foot surgery in January with the Spain international recently revealing all on how his recovery is going.

He said on the Arsenal Vision Podcast: "It's going great. Slowly, which is frustrating for a guy like me who wants to help my team every time.

"But it's going great. It's one of those injuries that are very special that you have to take care of them. I have to do the little steps first. If everything goes the right way, I'll start jumping. Very, very happy with how the injury is going. Hopefully, soon, I'll be progressing even more."

As for Fulham, Marco Silva revealed a potentially big boost with Kenny Tete set to return after six weeks out. He said on Thursday: "Kenny, we will have to see how he reacts from the last two sessions. He can probably be involved in the game."

However, he also admitted that former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi and Kevin will remain unavailable and they have been joined on the sidelines by Ryan Sessegnon after he was forced off last weekend against Aston Villa.

On the latter, Silva said: "It's not good news about him... Sessegnon is going to be out of the next game, and probably the one after, and then we will have to assess him day by day."

Antonee Robinson is expected to come into the starting XI for the ex-Tottenham star with one of Oscar Bobb or Samuel Chukwueze on the left in place of Iwobi.

Arteta is also facing a number of team selection dilemmas with their Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid to come on Tuesday. Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze came off the bench in that clash but could both start in place of Odegaard and Noni Madueke.

There could also be changes in defence with Riccardo Calafiori, who is back available, or Myles Lewis-Skelly potentially coming in for Piero Hincapie.

On the opposite flank, Cristhian Mosquera could be picked ahead of Ben White after his tough evening in the Spanish capital earlier this week.



https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-injury-news-havertz-fulham-33873235

Trust statement on Fulham FC 2026/27 season ticket prices
The Fulham Supporters' Trust is disappointed by the Club's decision to impose an inflation-busting 3.5% hike on season ticket prices for the 2026/2027 campaign – a figure that significantly exceeds last year's increase and places an undue burden on loyal fans.

As a signatory to the FSA's Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign, we wrote to the Club in March requesting a price freeze to give fans some breathing space after years of cumulative price hikes and a challenging economic climate. We note that some other Premier League football clubs chose that path, including Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Tottenham. We regret that the Club did not follow their example.

We fully share the Club's ambition to move towards financial sustainability while giving the manager and the team all they need to make us proud and aim for success in the most competitive football league in the world.

But the claim that the increase in season ticket prices is required for the Club's sustainability or compliance with new financial regulation simply does not stand up to scrutiny.

Matchday receipts account for less than 10% of total revenue and that share is falling. A price hike will have no material impact on the Club's bottom line, which makes raising ticket prices a choice, not a necessity.

With broadcast and commercial income driving over 90% of total revenue and growing rapidly, the club has every opportunity to secure those funds elsewhere.

With the Riverside Stand now fully operational, the 2026 figures will undoubtedly show a significant surge in revenue from premium seating, hospitality and the 365-day operation of Fulham Pier. We welcome this as a genuine step toward long-term sustainability and one that should reduce the financial pressure on the wider fan base.

But the loyal fans in the 'horseshoe' of the Hammersmith End, the Johnny Haynes Stand, and the Putney End have seen no substantial improvement to their matchday experience in years. Despite repeated warnings regarding inadequate facilities, uncomfortable concourse overcrowding, and inadequate stewarding of away fans in home areas, these concerns remain unanswered.

Today's decision to apply a uniform price increase affecting these stands will regrettably contribute to the sense of disconnect between the fans and the Club's management.

At the absolute minimum, the Club should do whatever it takes during the summer break to deliver tangible improvements in these areas ahead of the new season to justify the price hike.

We also urge the Club to freeze the membership and matchday ticket prices. Watching football at Craven Cottage must remain within reach for all fans, old and new. No one should be priced out of supporting the team they love.

Finally, we are disappointed by the Club's hand-picked Fan Advisory Board's decision to not oppose these increases. It further highlights the glaringly obvious structural limitations of their ability to truly stand up for the interests of all our fans. We encourage all Fulham fans to join the Trust to strengthen our collective independent voice instead.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2026/05/trust-statement-on-fulham-fc-2026-27-season-ticket-prices/

The 122-year run we want to extend against Fulham
We have a proud home record against most teams that we come up against in the Premier League, but perhaps none more impressive than when we face Fulham on our own turf.

The teams first met in an FA Cup tie back in February 1904 when we were 3-2 victors at our old Plumstead home, but despite moving from there to Highbury nine years later and then switching to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, one thing has remained constant - Fulham have never left victorious.

In fact, since that cup tie 122 years ago, we have faced each other 32 times in league action and the Cottagers have not gotten the best of us. That represents the most occasions any side has faced another without defeat in English Football League history:

Longest undefeated home records in Football League history

Team	Opponent	Home games unbeaten
Arsenal	Fulham	32
Blackburn Rovers	Grimsby Town	28
Barnsley	Tranmere Rovers	26
Reading	Mansfield Town	26
Charlton Athletic	Oldham Athletic	25

There have been a few scares against the Cottagers down the years, with the record coming into peril back in 2021 when a 96th-minute from Eddie Nketiah saw us snatch a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.

However that was one of only seven times that Fulham have crossed back over the capital with a point to show for their efforts, with us emerging victorious in the other 25 such fixtures. They average just 0.33 points per away game against us in the Premier League, their worst return from any side they've faced five or more times in the competition's history.

Only four other teams have ever endured a longer winless run away to another opponent in league action, with West Ham United's 42-game search for a victory at Liverpool the longest ever recorded, which came to an end back in 2015. Our imperious form against Fulham remains the longest active streak, closely followed by Everton's travails at Chelsea:

Longest unbeaten home league runs

Date of last game	Team	Opponent      Games unbeaten
31/01/2015	Liverpool	West Ham	32
10/03/1984	Liverpool	Tottenham	38
19/12/2001	Leeds United	Everton	36
28/04/2018	Liverpool	Stoke City	33
01/04/2025	Arsenal	Fulham	32
13/12/2025	Chelsea	Everton	31

When it comes to preferred opponents in N5, we're also on long unbeaten runs against Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday, albeit we'll only have the chance to face either of those in the cup competitions next term.

Southampton have gone 29 league matches without a victory, while Manchester City and Leicester City endured lengthy waits for a victory at our ground in all competitions before eventually ending their droughts in recent decades:

Our longest unbeaten home runs v an opponent (all comps)

Date of last game	Opponent	Matches unbeaten
01/04/2025	Fulham	33
16/10/2010	Birmingham City	28
05/01/2011	Manchester City	28
07/07/2020	Leicester City	27
09/05/2000	Sheffield Wednesday	27

https://www.arsenal.com/news/122-year-run-we-want-extend-against-fulham

18yo left-back Ogunnaike promoted to Arsenal first team training pre-Fulham
Manager Mikel Arteta promoted teenage left-back of Nigerian descent Josh Ogunnaike to first team training on Friday, on the eve of the London derby against Calvin Bassey's Fulham, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Spanish tactician ran the rule over the 18-year-old defender during today's training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney.

Josh Ogunnaike was invited to train with the first team again, with Netherlands international Jurrien Timber ruled out of the matchday 35 fixture due to injury.

Although he is eligible to feature in the Premier League as an U21 player, the London-born Nigerian fullback has yet to be included in a squad for a game in the top-flight.

Ogunnaike joined the Gunners' Hale End Academy at the age of 13 and he's now in the second year of his scholarship.

An attack-minded left-back, he has made significant progress this season, playing consistently for the development squad even though he is eligible for the U18s.

Arsenal have the opportunity to move six points clear at the top when they meet the Cottagers on Saturday as Manchester City play Everton on Monday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://allnigeriasoccer.com/18yo-left-back-ogunnaike-promoted-to-arsenal-first-team-training-pre-fulham

Coventry now in pole position to beat Sunderland and Fulham to shock new record signing
Coventry City are ready to steal the headlines in the Premier League and smash their club record to sign Sorba Thomas from Stoke City this summer.

Coventry in pole position for record Sorba Thomas move
It's a massive summer for Coventry. Now that they've done the unthinkable, they must do what many have made look impossible over the years by staying in the Premier League.

The Sky Blues can either follow the Sunderland blueprint or the Burnley blueprint in the coming months, with the latter almost certain to end in relegation.

With the lure of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, the Championship winners will be hoping to replicate Sunderland by signing some unexpected names.

On that front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast. Names such as Carl Rushworth have threatened to steal the most headlines and rumours suggest that he could make a permanent move to Coventry this summer.

It's then that he could be joined by other reported targets like Union Saint-Gilloise's Kevin Mac Allister - the older brother of Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister. With Champions League experience to boast, the defender would be an excellent addition.

Based on the reports, it seems as though the Sky Blues are willing to spend and could even smash their current transfer record, which currently sits at around £8m for Craig Bellamy from 2000.

According to Sports Boom, Coventry lead the race to sign Thomas from Stoke City this summer and will have to pay around €25m (£22m) to do so in the coming months.

Whilst interest from Fulham and Sunderland will put Dougie King on high alert, it is the newly-promoted side who have the most serious interest in the winger.

Why Coventry should avoid £22m Thomas
To his credit, Thomas has enjoyed an excellent season at Stoke. The winger has scored ten goals and assisted another 13 in the Championship, playing a key role for the Potters. But whether that warrants a £22m move to the Premier League, smashing Coventry's transfer record, is another question.

The Sky Blues have to spend wisely this summer and splashing out on a winger who's never played in the Premier League would be both a shock and a classic rookie mistake by a promoted side.

It's a major red flag that ten of Thomas' 17 Championship goals in 175 appearances have arrived this season. Signing the 27-year-old, fresh off an outlier of a season in terms of his end product, would be a major gamble at a hefty price-tag.

The positive news is that it's a sign of intent from Coventry, who will be more aware than most just how much it's going to cost to stay in the Premier League.



https://www.footballfancast.com/coventry-in-pole-position-to-beat-sunderland-fulham-to-sorba-thomas/

Arsenal vs. Fulham: Preview, Predictions and Lineups
The Gunners can move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Another huge game beckons for Premier League leaders Arsenal, who can move six points clear of Manchester City with a victory over London rivals Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Scoreboard pressure could have a major role to play in deciding this title race, with the Gunners pulling ahead of the Cityzens after Pep Guardiola's side briefly moved to the summit for the first time since August.

A nervy slog is expected for an Arsenal team chasing their first title in over 20 years, but they can put immense pressure on City ahead of their trip to Everton on Monday night.

They're, of course, managing this fixture in between their Champions League semifinal with Atlético Madrid, having earned a valuable 1–1 draw at the Metropolitano on Wednesday night. Back-to-back victories for Mikel Arteta's men will leave them in a strong position domestically and in the Champions League final.

It's an opportunity they simply must grasp.

Fulham were beaten 1–0 in the reverse fixture, and even though their form has been spotty throughout the 2025–26 season, Marco Silva's Cottagers are well in the mix to claim a European berth for 2026–27. They're 10th with 48 points, just two adrift of Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.

Arsenal vs. Fulham Score Prediction
Gunners Secure Pivotal Win

Arsenal are set to stutter over the finish line, with their two encounters against Diego Simeone's Atléti potentially compromising their title bid. The Gunners found a new lease of life to hold the La Liga outfit to a draw midweek, but they've been suffering in the Premier League for a while. Nothing was convincing about their triumph over Newcastle United last Saturday. They just got the job done.

This team continues to look forlorn, but April is out of the way and the arrival of May, supporters hope, will reinvigorate the Gunners at a critical juncture. A slip-up here will doubtless be seized upon by City, even if their trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium under the lights looks tricky on paper.

A six-point gap, even if their rivals have two games in hand, will feel significant at such a late stage.

    Fulham's Record at Arsenal: The Cottagers have never won away at Arsenal. They've visited the Gunners 33 times since 1904, and are yet to prevail. Arsenal have won 26 of the 33 games.
    Arsenal's Defense: The Premier League leaders have conceded just 11 goals in 17 games at the Emirates this season. Fulham are also the joint-third lowest scorers away from home in the division, finding the back of the net just 16 times.
    Eze Time: Arsenal's maverick attacker produced his best work for Crystal Palace down the stretch last season, and he's shown signs of coming to the fore in year one at the Emirates. He was the match-winner last week, with all seven of his Premier League goals this term arriving in London.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Fulham

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Fulham

(https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FvoltaxMediaLibrary%2Fmmsport%2Fsi%2F01kqhdkjwxg1r7ejrhh1.webp)

This fixture arrives in between their Champions League semifinal tie, but Arteta can't afford to make sweeping changes to his starting lineup from Madrid.

However, Arsenal have been boosted by the recent return of Bukayo Saka, and Arsenal's "starboy" is set to make his first Premier League start since the March international break on Saturday evening. Eberechi Eze's magic is needed down the stretch, too, so expect him to get the nod down the opposite flank.

Kai Havertz still has a role to play before the season's out, but the German likely won't be fit for the weekend. Moreover, it's not yet clear when Jurriën Timber will make his long-awaited return. Arteta has teased his comeback for weeks.

Mikel Merino remains sidelined after undergoing foot surgery at the start of the year.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Fulham (4-3-3): Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Havertz, Eze.

Fulham Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal

(https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FvoltaxMediaLibrary%2Fmmsport%2Fsi%2F01kqhegqtm8v193mysxx.png)

Former Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon was Fulham's match-winner against Aston Villa last week, but he was withdrawn through injury in the second half and has been ruled out of Saturday's clash in north London.

Silva has also confirmed that ex-Arsenal man Alex Iwobi is still absent with a hamstring issue, as is Brazilian winger Kevin.

On a more positive note, Kenny Tete is set to be involved in some capacity, having recovered from a foot injury.

Another former Gunner, Emile Smith Rowe, could retain his place in the starting lineup, and Oscar Bobb, only recently of Manchester City sky blue, is likely to have a role to play this weekend.

Fulham predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukić; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Bobb; Jiménez.

What Time Does Arsenal vs. Fulham Kick Off?
    Location: London, England
    Stadium: Emirates Stadium
    Date: Saturday, May 2
    Kick-off Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT
    Referee: Jarred Gillett
    VAR: Peter Bankes

How to Watch Arsenal vs. Fulham on TV, Live Stream
Country        TV Channel/Live Stream[/td][/tr][/table]
United States        NBC, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, UNIVERSO, Peacock[/td][/tr][/table]
United Kingdom        Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League[/td][/tr][/table]
Canada        DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada[/td][/tr][/table]
Mexico        FOX One[/td][/tr]
[/table]



https://www.si.com/soccer/arsenal-vs-fulham-preview-predictions-lineups-5-2-26

Odegaard, Havertz, Timber - Latest Arsenal injury news and return dates for Fulham clash
Mikel Arteta could be without four Arsenal players for the Premier League clash against Fulham after a new injury blow emerged

Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber through injury for today's Premier League clash against Fulham. There is also major doubt surrounding captain Martin Odegaard after he was forced off during the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.

Timber and Havertz missed that European clash entirely, though Arteta is hopeful the latter could be back for the second leg at Emirates Stadium. Exactly when Timber may return is unclear while Odegaard also seems set to feature against the Spanish club next week having not been ruled out of the Fulham match.

Mikel Merino is undoubtedly going to miss both of those games as he is still recovering from foot surgery back in January. The Spaniard has delivered an update on his rehabilitation with there hope he can play again this season.

With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest updates on Arsenal's injured stars and when they could return to action.

Martin Odegaard

Odegaard was substituted in the 57th minute against Atletico with it later emerging that decision was made due to knee discomfort.

What Arteta has said: "Let's see [if he can play vs Fulham]."

Possible return date: Atletico Madrid (H) - Tuesday, May 5

Kai Havertz

Havertz picked up his latest injury last weekend against Newcastle United. He missed Arsenal's last game and will be absent for their next fixture but Arteta is hopeful he will be back for the Champions League semi-final second leg.

What Arteta has said: "The focus has to be on availability and performance, and Kai is desperate to be on the pitch as quickly as possible. He cannot be for this game, but hopefully for Atletico he will be available and he's pushing in every boundary to achieve that. There is no time to have these kinds of discussions now."

Possible return date: Atletico Madrid (H) - Tuesday, May 5

Jurrien Timber

Timber has not played for Arsenal since the 2-0 victory over Everton. It is still largely unknown exactly when he will be back available.

What Arteta has said: "Jurrien (Timber) will be out."

Possible return date: Late May.

Mikel Merino

Merino is another that does not have an obvious return date with the 29-year-old undergoing surgery roughly three months ago.

What Merino has said: "It's going great. Slowly, which is frustrating for a guy like me who wants to help my team every time.

"But it's going great. It's one of those injuries that are very special that you have to take care of them. I have to do the little steps first. If everything goes the right way, I'll start jumping. Very, very happy with how the injury is going. Hopefully, soon, I'll be progressing even more."

Possible return date: Crystal Palace (A) - Sunday, May 24.



https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-injuries-havertz-odegaard-timber-33874003

Napoli rival Fulham, Manchester United in Richard Rios chase
Napoli will reportedly compete with Manchester United and Fulham in the race to sign 25-year-old Colombian midfielder Richard Rios from Benfica in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, SL Benfica midfielder Ricard Rios is the subject of interest from Napoli. The Serie A champions are keen on bolstering their midfield unit in the upcoming transfer window. However, they will face stiff competition from Fulham and Manchester United for the 25-year-old midfielder's signature.

Richard Rios and his time at Benfica so far
Richard Rios has seen his stock skyrocket since breaking out in international football at the 2024 Copa America. Born in Vegachi, the 25-year-old spent his formative years in Brazil and graduated from the youth division at Flamengo. However, his exploits at the 2024 Copa America compelled several high-profile clubs, including Manchester United, to pursue his signature before Benfica signed him last summer.

Rios has been a mainstay in the middle of the park for Benfica this season, making nearly 50 appearances thus far while chipping in with six goals and six assists. Meanwhile, the Colombian midfielder's progress has piqued the attention of several well-known clubs. Fulham, Napoli, and Manchester United are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

Premier League move on the horizon?
Napoli will dip into the market for a versatile midfielder in the coming months, as Stanislav Lobotka faces an uncertain future at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Additionally, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has struggled with fitness issues in recent seasons. Several midfielders, including Arthur Atta, have thus emerged on Napoli's wishlist, with Rios also a viable target.

Meanwhile, Richard Rios has been on Manchester United's wishlist for a long time. The continued interest makes sense, as the Red Devils are scouring the market for a defensive midfielder ahead of Casemiro's impending departure as a free agent. With Manuel Ugarte failing to make his mark since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain nearly two years ago, Manchester United must sign a top-class holding midfielder.

As for Fulham, Sander Berge has been excellent during his spell with the West London club. However, with the Cottagers harbouring European aspirations, they need more quality in the middle of the park. So, Rios has emerged as a viable target for Fulham.

Meanwhile, Benfica's potential fee for Rios is unclear, with the latest report not mentioning a valuation apart from the Portuguese club's initial valuation of €35 million. The Primeira Liga giants have raised their price for the 25-year-old Colombian international, and he will not leave for a cut-price fee this summer.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/05/02/napoli-rival-fulham-manchester-united-in-richard-rios-chase/

Silva seeks to exploit a 'tense environment' at the Emirates
Marco Silva is confident his Fulham side can unsettle Arsenal at the Emirates and damage the Gunners' Premier League title hopes.

Marco Silva spoke about the upcoming fixture for Fulham against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Cottagers could land a decisive blow to the aspirations of an Premier League title for the Gunners, while keeping alive their dreams of qualification for continental competition. They have never lost by more than one goal in this contest since their promotion back to the top tier in 2022, so supporters should expect a nervy encounter, and Fulham are eager to exploit that possible dynamic.

'They are very difficult to play against'

Despite spending £180 million on three attackers in the summer transfer window, Arsenal remain a stability-first side under Mikel Arteta, and Silva is aware that squad depth could make the difference for the home side this weekend.

"Let's hope we can use [any tension in the Emirates Stadium.] That depends on us, it depends on them, and it depends on many things. Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that."

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league. They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition. They are very difficult to play against."

Arteta's options up front

"When at their best level, they are a top side. Compact, solid, they work hard off the ball, starting from the striker. They are a team that don't give up a lot of space to the opposition."

"You try to analyse them, and against Atletico Madrid, the frontline was Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. But it could be Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard. It's clear for us, that their squad depth is better than seasons before, so they can totally change their frontline. It speaks about themselves, and the quality and depth that they have."

"We also enjoy this type of situation, we just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for – and we will fight."

The reigning Arteta side arrives at this fixture coming off Champions League commitments, and Silva will hope any post-European fatigue plays into Fulham's favour.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/05/02/fulham/1259386-silva-seeks-toexploit-a-tense-environment-at-the-emirates.html

Fulham at home: Don't let this be 'one of those days'
As is our situation right now, you, like I, no doubt, have a very nervous feeling in the stomach. We've been living this way for months, truth be told, so whilst this feeling of dread ahead of every Arsenal game is not new, it doesn't get any easier.

I read comments like "Fulham have never won at The Emirates," and that only makes it worse. Because you just know there is a first time for everything. And unlike our situation at City, in which we basically NEVER win up there, today could very easily end up with Arsenal dropping points and opening the door to City having a clear path to the Premier League title.

Arsenal, Arteta, and all of those Arsenal players simply MUST be ready for today. Fulham have had a week off, we have been in Madrid on Wednesday, then have a huge game on Tuesday night, but if one single eye is on that midweek match-up against Atleti, you worry that it will be enough for Fulham to get something from today.

They are not in what I call "Charlton territory," unfortunately. Back in the 90s, I think there were about four or five seasons in which Charlton, under Alan Curbishley, would get to a set number of points, then the foot would come off the gas, and they'd coast their way to the end of the season, losing pretty much most of the games they played. That is not the case this season for a side that sits in 10th with four games to go. The concertina'd nature of this division means that Fulham very much have everything to play for and, having beaten Villa last weekend to give them a sniff of Europe, they have a little bit of confidence going into this game. They will be up for it. They will be looking for a scalp.

And as I talked about yesterday in the blog, Marco Silva will be looking to use every tactical and emotional advantage he can get his hands on. He's said as much in his pre-match preview, alluding to the potential worry of the home crowd and how he will be hoping they can draw on that tonight. I think that means his approach today is about keeping things tight for the first 45. He's done this in other games, but Silva is not against a tight back five with his central midfielders tucking in to a lower block, then relying on diagonal directness to spring forward. His 'utopia' football game today is Arsenal dominating possession and territory, which creates space as we look to penetrate a stubborn back line, for his players to spring traps when the ball turns over.

My hope is that Arteta has an idea for that. My hope is also that this idea finally involves dropping the Madueke-Gyokeres-Martinelli approach. Don't do it, Mikel. You need technical security on the ball in attack. This ain't gonna be no 'green grass and space' game. This will be tight, cagey, and will require ballers who work in small spaces.

So for me, my 'hoping for' lineup is:


That team has an attacking line-up of players who are all good with the ball at their feet. They are not runners in behind; they are more suited to quick interplay. I've gone with Ben White, despite the fact he played in midweek, because I look at that right-hand side with Saka back in (I think given he's now been in training over a week, played a part against Newcastle, as well as Atletico Madrid, he should be able to do a solid 60 minutes) and I am hoping for a "We're getting the band back together" automatism or two between White, Saka and Odegaard. White overlaps to create space for Bukayo, with Martin gravitating towards him.

I've suggested Rice as the six because he was really good there in midweek, so why not lean in to it more, whilst allowing Eze to float into those left-hand spaces, where Trossard and Gyokeres overlap? You have yourself a right-hand side 'pod' that is familiar, but how about stocking a left-hand side one too?

And then, for good measure, get Calafiori in there to cause a little bit of chaos in those pockets on the left-hand side? Yes, please, ma'am.

I also think that lineup helps Gyokeres. He can't trap the ball. He won't be able to run in behind of a deep-lying defence. But if he's got players who have the eye for a pass and the ability to thread the needle with their distribution, maybe he can find pockets to get some shots off. The alternative would be Gabriel Jesus, which would be interesting, but we just don't get enough from him these days for me to think he's anything other than a 20-minute cameo player.

Do I think Arteta will go for that? Possibly not really. You could potentially see Mosquera instead of White, as Arteta looks to split the minutes between some of his fatigued players, plus he's played Zubimendi basically every time he's fit. So my gut tells me that he's going to play the Spaniard once more. I also wonder whether Trossard is on the naughty step and Eze might play again on the left-hand side. I think it's more likely that Eze starts and Odegaard is rested, given he started in midweek and Arteta will want to be careful with his captain's minutes. So the likelihood of me getting my wish today is probably slim.

But it would make for an exciting opportunity to see if we can recapture some more technical control, ball dominance and chance creation, plus trying something a little different, wouldn't it? And given some of the performances we've had at home, maybe leaning into something different could just be the 'unlock' that sees Arsenal 'click' at the perfect moment in the season.

G'wan Mikel, give it a go. I dares ya.

Let's see. I'm in Portugal today visiting the parental units, so it'll be a watching brief from the sofa for me this evening. I just hope I'm smiling by the end of today.

Back tomorrow with a blog and pod first thing. Let's hope it's a happy one.

Until then.



https://www.suburbangooners.com/2026/05/02/fulham-at-home-dont-let-this-be-one-of-those-days/

Arsenal v Fulham: is this Arsenal team shattered or does Arteta know his stuff?
In one sense, one might feel a bit sorry for football journalists, as they are under instruction to come up with a new story on a club, quite often not just once a day but sometimes twice or even three times a day.   Worse, each story has to have a new headline provided by a sub-editor, and run on the outlet's website – at least until the next piece comes along.   

And the point here is that the story can be either positive or negative about Arsenal, although they are normally negative because those stories are so much easier to write.   If Arsenal don't win a match, a criticism can be made of certain players in hindsight, and as we all know, when you are criticising after the event, well, that is dead easy.  If they do win, certain players can be criticised as "worn out" or "not fit" or simply not suitable for the position they are playing in.

Consider this one for example, "Rice 'shattered' thanks to Arteta 'trust' issue as Arsenal 'grow away' from midfielder."

Now for anyone who thinks that the purchase of Rice was one of Arteta's masterstrokes, despite the huge fee, that can be a bit worrying.  But the clue that this is going to be **** and ball gibberish comes with the inverted commas around "shattered".   We can all be "shattered" by having done a brilliant job.  It doesn't mean anything is wrong.   When I was writing adverts for a living, I could be shattered at the end of a day through having to write three completely new adverts on completely different topics, each of which was going to bring in significant sales for the company's clients.   It may not sound shattering, but you try writing three new adverts each day five days a week, each of which will bring in new sales at high volume.

The Arsenal "shattered" story is then developed by the statement that Rice is "shattered" thanks to the manager's "trust" in the player, which has resulted in him playing too many games.  Meanwhile, the writer says Arteta should drop another player from whom the side is "growing away".

The implication is that these ex-players can see the mistakes that managers can't see – which is an utterly preposterous proposition.   Indeed, to hide how nonsensical it is, we have to go through eight paragraphs of rambling prose before we get an explanation of where this "shattered" idea comes from.  And then it becomes clear that Rice is 'shattered' because Arteta plays him too often, and because Rice is now not such a good player (because he is overplayed) Arteta is now losing faith in him.

Of course, dismiss this as nonsense, but anyone who reads tale after tale of this type day after day may start believing that Arteta hasn't got a clue how to manage players, and will soon be calling for Arteta to be sacked.

Has Arteta's trust shattered Rice?   It seems very doubtful, and no evidence is provided to back up the simple case that Rice is shattered, let alone the secondary case that it is all the manager's fault.   Although recently I was told by an insider of a publication that told its guest writers who to criticise after each game, irrespective of anything they actually thought.

Tactics always change of course, because the opposition is always looking at past videos.  Which is why yesterday in the Telegraph it was reported that Arteta was responsible for "The tactical tweak that got the best out of peerless Declan Rice."  Although there are always negatives, as with the Sun saying,  "Declan Rice risks Uefa rap after referee rant following Arsenal draw at Atletic.

One can, of course, argue that if all the media is saying Arsenal players looked shattered, then they perhaps were shattered.  But one might also argue that the essence of the whole business is that if one can think of a story and get it published in a newspaper, and the next thing you know is that a similar tale turns up in half a dozen other papers and in blogs too, each suggesting that it was their observation in the first place.   As a result, the impressionable reader thinks, "It must be true, it's in all the papers."

So will Arsenal be shattered today against Fulham?   I doubt it, for the simple reason that Arteta knows enough about football and his players not to use "shattered" players.

And this is what it all comes down to.   Do ex-pros putting their names to short pieces in the tabloids know more about management and players than Arteta?   If yes, why are these ex-pros picking up scraps from the media instead of earning big money managing a club?    The answer is that several clubs may have interviewed these "correspondents" and decided that there is no way on earth they would employ them as a ticket collector, let alone as a manager.   After all, I suspect Burnley, Wolverhampton, West Ham and Tottenham wouldn't mind a manager who really knows how to get that bit more out of their players

Fortunately for Arsenal, I think we already have such a manager.  A man whose team keeps pace with ManC without spending 5% of what they spent, and without running up over 110 charges against the club.  That's not bad going.



https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/120633

Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium looking to steady the ship and get back to winning ways as they host Fulham in what feels like a crucial Premier League encounter.

With the title race tightening and every point now vital, Mikel Arteta's side know there is no room
for error. Recent performances have shown flashes of quality but also moments of frustration, and this fixture offers a real opportunity to reset momentum in front of the home crowd.

Arsenal looking for control and consistency
At their best, Arsenal dominate possession, dictate tempo and create chances through fluid attacking play. However, recent matches have highlighted the need for greater control, particularly in key moments where games can swing.

The Emirates crowd will expect a fast start, with Arsenal pressing high and looking to impose themselves early. Players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka will be central to unlocking Fulham's defensive structure, while the midfield battle will be key in maintaining pressure throughout the match.

Defensively, concentration will be vital. Arsenal have shown they can control games, but lapses have proven costly at times. A composed and disciplined performance at the back will be just as important as attacking intent.

Fulham aiming to frustrate and counter
Fulham arrive as a side capable of causing problems when given space. They are well organised, disciplined, and dangerous on the counter attack, making them a tricky opponent if Arsenal fail to take control early.

Marco Silva's team will likely sit compact, absorb pressure, and look to exploit transitions. Set pieces could also play a significant role, with Fulham often posing a threat from dead ball situations.

Arsenal will need patience as well as precision. Breaking down a well drilled side requires movement, creativity, and clinical finishing when chances arrive.

What the Manager's say
Arteta on Arsenal: "I think we have enough fuel in the tank; we're playing to win the Premier League, and it's exactly where we want to be. Four games to go, it's game two, I'm ready to go. Let's keep doing what we've done all season and bring that energy, that passion and together we're going to make it happen.

"I'm extremely grateful for the support, the atmosphere that we have created at Emirates. We always want more, we always want better, we always want every single action to be so positive behind the players. The more we do that, we all know that the outcome is going to be much better."

Silva on Fulham: "Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league. "We also enjoy this type of situation, we just have to look at ourselves and be competitive. Three points to fight for – and we will fight."

Match prediction
This feels like a game where Arsenal must respond, not just with a result but with a performance. If they can start quickly and maintain intensity, they should have enough quality to break Fulham down.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Fulha

A professional display, a clean sheet, and three points would be the ideal outcome as the Gunners look to keep their season firmly on track.

Can Arsenal deliver the response fans are hoping for at the Emirates in this London derby?



https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-v-fulham-title-hopes-on-the-line-as-gunners-face-crucial-test/414572

Arsenal vs Fulham: Team News and Predicted Lineups
Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Arsenal vs Fulham Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium. The home team have endured some difficult weeks, with defeats against Bournemouth and Manchester City. A narrow win over Newcastle and a battling draw against Atletico Madrid have followed. The visitors are in decent form, having lost only one of their last five games. The Gunners will be eager to extend their lead at the top of the table, with Manchester City not in action until Monday.

Premier League: Team News and Predicted Lineups for Arsenal vs Fulham
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Last meeting: Fulham 0-1 Arsenal (October 18, 2025).
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Current odds: Arsenal 4/9, Fulham 6/1, Draw 7/2.

Arsenal Team News
During the pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked if everyone was ok after the Atletico game: "I think so, so let's see how everybody is tomorrow morning. Obviously, we haven't been able to train much, so tomorrow we'll have the final update," said Arteta.

Arteta also confirmed: "Yes, Kai and Jurrien will be out."

When asked about the availability of Martin Odegaard, Arteta was less forthcoming, "Let's see," was as far as the Gunners boss would go.

The Gunners boss was also asked about Kai Havertz's season, and said:

"He's been a huge miss – we're talking about one of the most important attacking players we have, and he's been out for seven or eight months. Unfortunately, he's not been the only one with long-term injuries and players who have been missed. The team has shown an incredible capacity to overcome these kinds of scenarios and still be very, very competitive."

Fulham Team News
Fulham will be missing Ryan Sessegnon, who scored the winner against Aston Villa last time out. Alex Iwobi will also be missing with a hamstring injury.

Marco Silva will be hoping that right-back Kenny Tete could be available after missing the last four games with a foot problem. Kevin will also be missing with the same problem Tete has had.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Raya

Mosquera

Saliba

Gabriel

Calafiori

Zubimendi

Rice

Eze

Saka

Trossard

Gyokeres

Fulham Predicted Lineup

Leno

Castagne

Andersen

Bassey

Robinson

Berge

Lukic

Wilson

Smith Rowe

Chukwueze

Jimenez



https://lastwordonsports.com/football/2026/05/02/arsenal-vs-fulham-news/

Injuries and key battles that could decide this crucial Arsenal v Fulham clash
Arsenal return to the Emirates knowing there is no margin for error as the title race reaches a critical stage. With Fulham the visitors, this is not just about three points, it is about control, composure, and delivering under pressure.

Both sides arrive with injury concerns, and those absences could shape how this game unfolds.

Arsenal and Fulham team news latest
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber remain unavailable, while Mikel Merino is also ruled out. There is more encouraging news around Martin Odegaard, who is expected to be fit despite a recent knock

Arsenal are not at full strength, particularly in attacking depth without Havertz, but their core remains intact. The spine of the team is still strong, and that will be key in a game where control is everything.

Fulham also arrive with their own issues. Alex Iwobi is out with a thigh injury, while Kenny Tete and Kevin remain sidelined. Ryan Sessegnon is a doubt heading into the match.

Despite those absences, Fulham still carry threats. Bernd Leno returns to face his former club, Emile Smith Rowe is back at the Emirates, and Raul Jimenez  is expected to lead the line.

Key battles that could decide the game
The most obvious danger for Fulham comes down Arsenal's right. Noni Madueke / Bukayo Saka against Antonee Robinson is a defining battle. If Madueke / Saka find space and isolate their man, Arsenal will build sustained pressure. If Robinson contains them, Fulham gain confidence.

In midfield, Declan Rice will be central to everything Arsenal do. Fulham will look to disrupt rhythm through Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge, but if Rice controls the tempo, Arsenal should dominate possession and territory.

At the back, William Saliba's duel with Raul Jimenez will be crucial. Fulham's counter attacking threat often starts with their striker holding the ball up. If Saliba wins that battle, Fulham's attacking outlet is limited.

The creative responsibility could fall to Martin Odegaard. Against what is likely to be a compact Fulham shape, his ability to unlock tight spaces may prove decisive.

The tactical picture
This game is likely to follow a familiar pattern. Arsenal will dominate the ball, while Fulham sit deep and look to break quickly.

The challenge for Arsenal is patience. Moving the ball quickly, maintaining intensity, and taking chances when they come will be essential. Any lapse in concentration could invite pressure the other way.

For Fulham, discipline and organisation are key. If they stay compact and frustrate Arsenal, they give themselves a fighting chance.

This feels like a defining moment in Arsenal's season. The quality is there, but now it is about execution under pressure and keeping their EPL title hopes alive.

Last time out, Arsenal won the battle 1-0 with the sole goal coming from Leandro Trossard.

Can Arsenal take control and deliver when it matters most today?



https://www.justarsenal.com/injuries-and-key-battles-that-could-decide-this-crucial-arsenal-v-fulham-clash/414576

Hugo Oliveira tipped for return to Premier League after Everton and Fulham spells
Everton and Fulham could yet see a familiar face return to the Premier League, with Hugo Oliveira now being tipped for a future in England after his work at Famalicão.

The Portuguese coach is building positive momentum in his first senior role. That progress has not gone unnoticed back in England, where he previously had spells within the coaching structures at both clubs, plus Watford and Hull City.

There is a growing feeling that Oliveira has the tools to make the jump to the Premier League. And that view is not coming from nowhere.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, who worked closely with Oliveira in Benfica, has offered a strong endorsement of the 41-year-old's potential.

Full backing from Matic
Nemanja Matic did not hold back when speaking about Hugo Oliveira to Portuguese outlet O Jogo. The Serbian midfielder offered a detailed and personal insight into the coach's qualities, drawing from both their time as teammates and later as opponents.

"We always had an incredible relationship. He is an excellent person, a very good professional and I'm not surprised he is doing such a good job, given the experiences he has had", he said.

"I am really happy for the career he is building. As a friend, it is always good to have him around because he is a very positive person. You never hear anything negative coming from him."

Matic also explained how important Oliveira was early in his own career, especially during his adaptation period in Portugal.

"When I was with him at Benfica, he helped me a lot with adaptation. At that time, I didn't speak Portuguese and he was a great support because he spoke English very well", he explained.

"When I was a young player, he was very important in advising me on what I could improve in my game and what I could expect. He had a lot of experience, gave a lot of very good advice and was a big support."

Even after their time together ended, the relationship remained intact, including when they faced each other in England.

"As opponents, we never stopped getting along well."

Matic also highlighted traits that go beyond coaching drills and tactics.

"In addition to his professionalism, he reads people very well and has all the abilities to achieve great things."

Hugo Oliveira's trajectory points upwards
Hugo Oliveira arrived at Famalicão in a difficult situation. The club were struggling at the time, and expectations were limited.

However, results quickly improved. The team are now pushing for a place in European competition, which would mark a major achievement for the club. That progression is a key part of the narrative highlighted in Portugal.

"At the beginning, when he arrived at Famalicão, given the position they were in, it was not easy. But then the work he did became clear to everyone."

Oliveira recently renewed his contract, despite interest from other clubs. That suggests stability for now, but also underlines how quickly his reputation is growing.

Premier League return already being discussed
Hugo Oliveira's past spells at Everton and Fulham give this story a natural Premier League angle. He already understands the environment and demands of English football.

Matic believes a return is not just possible, but likely at some point.

"He worked with many coaches and now he is the main one. I see him coaching in the Premier League, why not?", he said.

He has the ability, he is a very intelligent person and what he has been doing does not surprise me. I am not surprised and I truly believe he will go very far."

Obviously Hugo Oliveira is still early in his managerial career, but his work at Famalicão has turned him into one of the more interesting Portuguese coaches outside the traditional top clubs.

And for Everton and Fulham, the connection is already there. That familiarity could become relevant if opportunities arise.

For now, Oliveira continues to build his case in Portugal. If results hold and interest grows, a move to England may not be far away.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/hugo-oliveira-tipped-for-return-to-premier-league-after-everton-and-fulham-spells/

"Hunger to win" — Mikel Arteta talks siege mentality and Martin Ødegaard ahead of Saturday's Fulham fixture
Mikel Arteta was in good spirits ahead of Saturday's home game against Fulham during the press conference at Arsenal's Sobha Realty training ground. Following a speedy return from Madrid, the Gunners will play the Cottagers before facing Atletico's side in the second leg of their Champions League draw.

The Spaniard is taking no prisoners, domestic or European.

"Hunger to play, hunger to compete, hunger to win," he said. The message is clear: Arsenal are here to win, and they're here to win it all.

"I think we have enough fuel in the tank," he stated. "We're playing to win the Premier League. It's exactly what we want it to be." Arteta was beaming from ear to ear as he looked back fondly on his side's Premier League campaign.

"Let's keep doing what we did all season and bring that energy, that passion and together we're going to make it happen."

There has been a lot of talk around the Gunner's siege mentality. When asked about it, Arteta responded "we certainly have that." It's rare for the Arsenal head coach to speak so decisively on the topic, but with only four games left of the season it's all to play for. Why wouldn't they have the siege mentality, though? They've certainly earned it.

It's obvious that Arteta revels in the air of competition, and it's heating up as his side enters the closing stages of both the Premier and Champions League. "Everything is at stake so it doesn't get better than that."

His squad have certainly had a fast turnaround coming into this weekend's game. Ahead of their home fixture, Arteta will be focusing on "recovery and then clarity on what we have to do, [and] what we expect from the opponent."

"Especially what we have to do to take the game where we want it, to win it," Arteta stated, "and when you don't have much time on the pitch, you have to do it in other ways, other methods."

It all comes in the lead up to their home fixture against Fulham. There is defined respect that comes from Mikel Arteta in addressing Fulham's manager, Marco Silva. Arteta did not shy away from the fact that it will be a highly competitive match at the Emirates stadium.

"It's a remarkable job what Marco is doing. I've said it many times, in my opinion, he's one of the best managers in the league. The way he sets up his team and what he's done for the club, it's incredible. So we know how tough it's going to be tomorrow," he said.

Following Paul Scholes, Jamie O'Hara and other pundits comments on Martin Ødegaard over social media, Arteta reinforced the Norwegian's place in the squad. There has been a lot of focus on the Gunners' captain after he was taken off in the second half of the first leg at the Metropolitano.

Arteta said he would see how everyone felt in the morning, as the squad had not been able to train that much with the quick turnaround of games this week. Instead, he highlighted Ødegaard's leadership over the other members of the Arsenal squad.

"He is the captain for a reason," he praised. "He has a personality, an aura, and a way to conduct and raise the standards." Arteta is not listening to the chatter, preferring to focus on the game at hand.

Arteta talked proudly about the Norwegian after finding out about his mixed-zone interview after the first leg of the tie against Atletico Madrid. "I'm glad to hear he spoke well because when he talks, he talks." He sees a defined leader in Ødegaard and refuses to let those comments affect the squad's mentality.

The manager gave a glowing review. "He's more about actions than talking, but when he does talk, I think it's very impactful." Arteta clearly sees Ødegaard as a key player, and the respect given is of the highest degree.

Arteta is building a legacy, and Martin Ødegaard is a key part of that. To him, every remaining moment counts, no matter the competition. Like his players, the Arsenal head coach is taking it day by day. Arteta is under a lot of pressure and certainly has a lot on his mind, with the pressure of the title race. To him, there is no time like the present.

"The impact that you can have in the moment now is going to define the history of the club. That's a very powerful thing to have," he stated. "When you have the opportunity to make history in such a way, you have to embrace it. That's it."



https://sportsgazette.co.uk/mikel-arteta-arsenal-ahead-of-fulham-fixture/

'Different team' – Jack Wilshere urges Mikel Arteta to start Arsenal star against Fulham
Jack Wilshere believes Martin Odegaard must start against Fulham, insisting Arsenal are a 'different team' with their skipper in the heart of midfield.

The Gunners can temporarily move six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a win against Fulham on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's side are set to be without Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, while Odegaard is a minor doubt for the game after his withdrawal in the secodn half against Atletico Madrid.

The Norwegian midfielder has had an injury-affected campaign, which has seen him able to start just 15 league games so far this season.

But former Arsenal midfielder Wilshere believes the Odegaard has to start against Fulham if fit, such is his importance to the side with and without the ball.

'With Arsenal, I think Odegaard is key,' Wilshere told talkSPORT. 'He's a player who takes risks. He's a player who, even out of possession, sets everything.

'I think he's had a few injuries this season, maybe lost a bit of form at times. When Martin's playing, it's a different team. It's a different team, and they look braver.'

But Wilshere, who was part of Arsenal's academy coaching set-up under Arteta before moving to Norwich and then Luton Town, said he would like to see his former side get back to a more free-flowing style of football.

'When Mikel first came in, it was about playing,' he said 'It was a big focus on build-up, on finding the free play, and they were really, really good at it.

'I think then, as a coach and as a team, you always have to look for ways to evolve, to look for ways to change a little bit how you're playing, because teams will start to work you out. I thought Mikel's done that really well.

'I think over the last few years, there has been a little bit of a change in style, but this is also not just Arsenal, right? You look at City and bringing Haaland in, and how they played into him a little bit more.

'I remember playing against City in a cup final at Wembley, and then the goalie kicking it over all of us, and Aguero scoring. It's been around for a while.

'Mikel has obviously thought that this is the best way to win the league. They've fallen short over the last few years against the Liverpool team, against the City team that like to dominate the ball.

'And Arsenal couldn't get it done. He obviously sees this as the way forward. At times, I would like to see them play a little bit more as well.'



https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/02/different-team-jack-wilshere-urges-mikel-arteta-start-arsenal-fulham-clash-28206282/?ito=newsnow-feed

Arsenal v Fulham: The night that could make or break the title dream
Arsenal welcome Fulham to the Emirates tonight knowing that this is far more than just another Premier League fixture. With the title race reaching its final stretch, every match now carries enormous weight, but this one feels different.

A title race with no margin for error
The message in the build up has been clear. Arsenal cannot afford any slip ups. As JustArsenal  reported this week, "neither can afford another slip up", a line that perfectly captures the pressure surrounding this clash.

Mikel Arteta has also acknowledged the stakes, admitting that the remaining fixtures are "pivotal". With Manchester City pushing relentlessly, Arsenal know that anything less than three points could prove costly.

Pundits have gone even further. Paul Merson suggested that Arsenal could "win the Premier League if they beat Fulham", underlining just how significant this game could be in the wider context of the title race.

This is no longer about building momentum or finding rhythm. It is about delivering results, consistently, under pressure, with no margin for error.

The ultimate psychological test
Beyond the tactical battle, this match could come down to mentality. Arsenal are expected to dominate possession, but Fulham will arrive organised, disciplined, and ready to punish any mistakes.

That creates a different kind of challenge. It is not just about quality, it is about patience, control, and handling expectation.

There has even been talk of a "siege mentality" around Arsenal in recent days, a sign that the squad are fully aware of what is at stake and are preparing accordingly.

Games like this can define teams. The ones who stay calm, execute their plan, and take their chances are the ones who go on to lift trophies.

So is this Arsenal's biggest game of the season so far?

Given the pressure, the context, and what is riding on the result, it is hard to argue otherwise.

Now comes the real question.

Can Arsenal rise to the moment and deliver when it matters most?

How are you feeling about this match Gooners? A touch nervous?



https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-v-fulham-the-night-that-could-make-or-break-the-title-dream/414587

Arsenal head into today's clash with Fulham knowing exactly what is at stake. With the title race reaching its defining moments, every single game now feels like a final.

And if you listen to Martin Ødegaard this week, the message is clear. Arsenal believe they are on the brink of something special.

The captain said via Arsenal "I think everyone is feeling that we're close to something really big" and that belief has been building for months. Near-misses, tough battles, and relentless consistency have all shaped a team that now looks ready to take that final step.

But football rarely gives you anything easily.

Rotation vs momentum – Arteta's biggest call?
After a demanding Champions League night in Madrid, where the Gunners drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid, Mikel Arteta now faces one of his toughest decisions of the season. Rotate to protect legs, or go full strength to protect momentum in the title race?

Some rotation feels likely, particularly in the full-back areas, but this is no ordinary fixture. There is also the question of Bukayo Saka v Noni Madueke in the starting lineup. Arsenal cannot afford to drop intensity, not with Manchester City breathing down their necks.

It's a delicate balance between freshness and focus.

History backs a win for Arsenal against Fulham
For some reassurance, we only need to look at the history books.

The Gunners have never lost a home league game to Fulham in 32 attempts, a record stretching back to 1904 and unmatched anywhere else in English football. That's 122 years of Arsenal dominance!

On paper, it couldn't be more favourable. But title races are not won on paper as we well know.

This is where mentality comes in. This is where leaders step up. This is where "close" needs to become "done."

Arsenal have the belief.
They have the quality.
They have the history.

Now they just need the result.



https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-are-close-but-can-they-take-the-final-step-against-fulham/414591