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Why Marcus Bettinelli is well-deserving of a new Fulham contract

Marcus Bettinelli is perhaps the most resilient player in the Premier League, and the hardworking English goalkeeper is well-deserving of a new contract.

On Wednesday, Bleacher Report football insider Dean Jones indicated that Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic was willing to give the 26-year-old an extended deal thanks to the goalkeeper's excellent performances; news that would have shocked Fulham fans just a couple of months ago.

Bettinelli began the season as third choice at Craven Cottage, with Spanish goalkeepers and summer arrivals Fabri and Sergio Rico both preferred to the Fulham academy graduate.

(https://tbrfootball.com/static/uploads/2018/10/GettyImages-1042837940.jpg)
(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Yet, after a series of uninspiring performances from Fabri, Bettinelli was handed the number one spot. The Englishman immediately brought a sense of calm and a knack for the spectacular to the Whites' back line, overseeing Fulham's first win and saving a penalty in his first two matches back.

An England call-up shortly followed, and although Fulham's defence has struggled in past weeks, Bettinelli has been at hand to avert an avalanche of goals that would have turned defeats into drubbings.

For a player who started the campaign being left out of the squad entirely, reports of a fresh contract represent a remarkable turnaround for Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli.



https://tbrfootball.com/why-marcus-bettinelli-is-well-deserving-of-a-new-fulham-contract/

 
Slavisa Jokanovic press conference: Fulham head coach on Arsenal, injuries & clean sheets

Here's everything that Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic said ahead of the visit of Arsenal to Craven Cottage on Sunday

Injury news?

"Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah - these people will be out for a few weeks. Bryan has a hamstring problem and Fosu-Mensah has some shoulder dislocation and will need some few weeks to be ready."

Fosu-Mensah need surgery?

"No, this is good news for us. We will try find the solution without surgery."

Other injury news, Mawson okay?

"Alfie Mawson is working with us all week and is part of the squad."

Is Tom Cairney fit to start?

"We will see. He's with the team and ahead of us is two training sessions and I must take more time to make the decision."

Any sense about what Cairney will do with international future?

"No, to be honest this is question for Tom and for England national team.

"He's definitely a quality player and his choice is Scotland at the moment, there exists the possibility he will switch to a different direction, but I believe he's a useful player for many coaches and could be for Scotland and England too."

Good enough for England?

"Yeah, my players are best players in the world and I have good opinion about them.

(https://i2-prod.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article15151365.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Fulham-Premier-League.jpg)
(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

"He should the quality in the last few seasons. Unfortunately for him, he didn't start the season with good luck with this in just situation but soon he will be in his best level."

Don't think a player who starts with one country should stick?

"This is private decision and I don't want to involve myself in this situation. He is free man to choose what is best choice for him and I will support all the decisions."

Arsenal on Sunday, no clean sheets yet - worried?

"It's part of the process. We cannot be satisfied with this spell during this first seven games, it's huge room ahead of us to improve and we must try and work hard to fix all our problems.

"One of these is conceding so many goals and we are working in this direction to try find solution."

Switching players and formations - need to find settled team?

"Yes, sometimes when people ask for Plan A, B and C, sometimes these people aren't satisfied, we need best shape for the team.

"I consider it part of the process.

"We are working daily to improve ourselves and find best formation, sometimes it depends on us and sometimes on the opposite team and I am always open to different ways to play football and for different shape.

"In dependant of the shape, we want to follow some kind of style to be successful.

"This is similar where we lose some games, people ask you are you sure this is best way? Yes, I am sure. I believe our characteristic in my squad is try have possession of the ball, try control the game and at the end if you want to analyse the last game, where we lost the possession, we completely lost the control of the game.

"We created the chances but failed to connect the passes where we were in less dangerous situations in this period of the game where we connect with the ball.

"If you now believe that our solution is to wait 30 yards from goal, I don't believe this is solution, and we must show enough responsibility to know we need to imporve.

"This is not our best level, we are working hard and adapt ourselves, some spells is good, but we need to be more ambitious and need to show more aggression and more speed and this is improvement that we need to add in our game.

"We don't need to be so talented to improve in this way, you need to fight for every ball like it's the last ball for you.

"If you play against Everton and you must run more than this team, you must show more spirit and desire and more intensity and you will find option to win the points.

"If not, it's not easy way to win the game."

Arsenal started winning regularly, Europa League tonight, capitalise on that?

"I don't know, this is not first year for this team to play in same time as domestic competition and Europe. They are team with the squad to fight for all the competitions, I don't believe they will be so affected by tonight.

"I hope they will find some problem because of this, but to be honest it's not just Arsenal in this situation, yesterday night many teams played and tonight Chelsea play too."

Made of Arsenal?

"Arsenal changed the coach after many years, after two really hard games against top teams they find stability and they are team in most form in the Premier League.

"They're a big club and a good team and we don't need extra motivation, but for another side we need to be motivated for our opportunity to play against this team and to find better level after a few games in the Premier League.

"We will be ready and motivated for the battle."

How important is this game? Denis Odoi spoken of belief for the team?

"I don't know if Odoi stopped believing himself and team mates to play the football, I never stop believing in my players and all the games are important and next steps is always more important step for us,

"We must recognise our situation, you know what I am talking about.

(https://i2-prod.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article15187770.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Fulham-FC-v-Watford-FC-Premier-League.jpg)
(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

"It's great opportunity, we play in our home and we must start being braver, stronger and faster and show more ambition to win the game, this is our home, we must mark our territory and push hard to hurt opposite team.

"It's easier working with positive result than negative but it's part of the process and our business and we cannot stop, we must be available for work and with high level of the confidence."

Difference when playing at home?

"It's important, in this situation you must make yourself strong at home.

"I am two and a half years in this place, we find support from our stands and always find positive ambiance.

"Our fans will make everything for us to push in positive way to fight for the three points but solution is in our hands and definitely we need to encourage them."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-jokanovic-press-conference-arsenal-15238757

 
Pretty football papering over fatal Fulham cracks

Sometimes in life it is easy to confuse love for one thing with love for something else.

Do you really like that favourite uncle, or just the fact he gives you money every time he sees you?

Do you really enjoy playing Football Manager, or is it just the fact it gives you the impression of control and feeling of expertise when the match engine decides if your team wins that game?

And did you really expect Fulham to shine on their return to Premier League, or was it just your love for Ryan Sessegnon?

For now, let's focus on that final question. Seven games into their top flight campaign and the Cottagers are struggling. They've won just once and are sitting one place above the relegation zone.

Of course, it's early days and they did only make it up through the play-offs. But what's gone wrong for a side that so many expected more from?

A leaky defence and impotent attack
The common approach after being promoted is to do a Burnley; largely that means putting as many players behind the ball to defend as possible. Teams may not have the talent to create lots of chances but a manager can instil a structure that ensures goals are not easily conceded.

This is not what Slaviša Jokanović has had his Fulham side do, though.

They were a modern (read: pass the ball) team last season and haven't looked to change their approach. Despite being the new boys, they make the most passes per game of any team outside the Premier League's big six.

Most accurate passes per game (non-Top Six sides)	Most shots faced per game
Fulham - 419.42	Burnley - 20.28
Leicester - 391.71	Fulham - 17.42
Wolves - 364.42	Brighton - 16.85
Crystal Palace - 330.85	Newcastle - 15.14
Southampton - 326.57	Huddersfield - 15.00

But this isn't helping them much. Only Burnley concede more shots than Fulham and, while they're eighth in the shots for charts, that's hiding the true story.

What's concerning is that Jokanović's side are the only team in the league to take more shots from outside the box than inside it. It's a sign that Fulham are struggling to get the ball into the penalty area and a real worry for a team looking to avoid relegation.

Problems getting up
This scattergun approach to shooting may come from the fact the Cottagers are also struggling to make their way up the pitch. They're the second-worst in the league at reaching the final third, with just 39.8 per cent of their sequences of possession ending there – the league average is just under 45 percent.

It's hard to see where any forward drive is coming from in the team. Jean Michael Seri was an exciting signing but isn't having the effect some expected he would. And, while he's near the top of the tree among midfielders for setting up shots, many of these didn't lead to high-quality chances.

(https://images2.footballwhispers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/04142109/seri-shot-assist-map.png)

Full-backs are an underrated tool for moving the ball up the pitch, but Timothy Fosu-Mensah, a centre-half by trade, at right-back limits what Fulham can do on that side of the pitch.

On the opposite flank, Joe Bryan is a little more effective, but isn't in the same class as Patrick van Aanholt or Kieran Trippier; attacking full-backs at smaller sides in years past who proved to be huge assets.

Summer recruit Luciano Vietto is one of the few Fulham players moving the ball into the penalty area, though.

The on-loan Argentine is a respectable 27th in the Premier League for passes that end within 18 yards of goal, not far off the likes of Mesut Özil and Mohamed Salah.

Love is blind
And, in a sense, that brings us back to our first love: Sessegnon. Still only 18, he tore up the Championship last season, scoring 16 goals and claiming eight assists. It's no surprise he was a Tottenham transfer target in the summer.

However, in his brief time in the Premier League, he's struggled to make much of an impact, although he's been moved between left-back and various roles further forward.

The England youth international has averaged just 4.6 successful passes in the final third – only Maxime Le Marchand has made fewer out of the ten Fulham outfielders who've played more than half of the available game-time.

It's the same story when looking at passes that end up in the penalty area. Despite being an attacking player, there are only defensive players below Sessegnon on the list: Le Marchand, Denis Odoi, and Kevin McDonald.

Even Fosu-Mensah beats Sessegnon's 0.96 passes in the area per 90 minutes which will be of concern to Jokanović and the youngster's many admirers.

Slow starters?
It's clear Fulham are really struggling, but it is a phrase so often used it's almost becoming cliché; Jokanović's sides improve as the season goes on.

Last term they earned 32 points in the first half of the season and 56 in the second, only failing to win six of their final 23 matches.

Fulham could do similar this term, they are integrating new players after all. However, if their form only picks up around Christmas time, the damage might already have been done.



https://www.footballwhispers.com/blog/pretty-football-papering-over-fulham-cracks?utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=news-now

 
Alfie Mawson & Tom Cairney in - Fulham predicted XI to take on Arsenal

Slavisa Jokanovic will be forced to make more changes as a result of injury - here's who we think should start

Fulham take on Arsenal in the lunchtime kick off on Sunday with Slavisa Jokanovic forced into making yet more changes to his starting XI as a result of injuries.

Both Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Joe Bryan were forced off in the 3-0 defeat to Everton last weekend, with Fosu-Mensah suffering a shoulder dislocation after just seven minutes, while Bryan tweaked his hamstring.

That means Jokanovic will have yet another back four for the visit of Arsenal, who are in stunning form under new boss Unai Emery have won all but two of their games under the new manager, including a 3-0 victory over Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday.

It's sure to be a tough test for Fulham, here's what our reporter, Ryan O'Donovan, thinks Jokanovic should pick on Sunday.

"Another game, more changes.

"Unfortunately for Fulham and Jokanovic, they're going to be forced into making yet more when Arsenal visit Craven Cottage on Sunday with both Fosu-Mensah and Bryan both out with injury.

"That means Cyrus Christie will most likely start at right back, while I would put Ryan Sessegnon in at left back.

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(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

"I know people have reservations about him there, but in the starts he's had in that position he's done nothing to suggest to me that he can play there in the Premier League.

"At centre half, I'd stick with Tim Ream - he added so much stability there at Everton, so it's a no-brainer, but with him I'd probably go with Alfie Mawson- I'd be very interested to see how they do together in the heart of defence.

"Jokanovic said he has yet to make a decision on Tom Cairney, but against a team like Arsenal, I think he has to start.

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Ryan O'Donovan's Fulham to face Arsenal

"He looked fit against Everton when he came on, so I'd stick him in alongside Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in a midfield three.

"Up top, Aleksandar Mitrovic is an obvious starter, and I think I'd start with Luciano Vietto and Andre Schurrle again.

(https://i2-prod.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article15216982.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_JS164067260.jpg)
(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

"Vietto has been decent in recent weeks but his decision making against Everton was poor - that needs to improve but going forward he's done enough to keep his place for the time being in my XI."

Agree with Ryan? Use the team selector below to pick your starting XI for the game with Arsenal and then share it on social media.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/alfie-mawson--tom-cairney-15240800

 
Leaving the Caspian Sea, Arsenal head for the Thames and Fulham FC

Quarabag 0 Arsenal 3

Arsenal got a flying start in Baku last night.

When Elneny took a corner in the 4th minute,  Monreal's header went in off Sokratis.

A quick counter-attack provided Arsenal's second goal in 53.

Keeper Bernd Leno launched a long kick from inside his penalty area, Welbeck went for the flick-on and just missed the ball and Iwobi slipped a pass into the run of Emile Smith Rowe.

The kid from Croydon took one touch before hitting it low through the keeper for 0-2. He didn't do that against Brentford in the Carabao Cup

In 79, Welbeck won the ball just outside his own penalty area, Lacazette found Ozil, he found Matteo Guendouzi, who blasted a low shot into the far corner. We all knew Guendouzi could do that sort of thing.

Talking about Emery to BT Sport, Alex Iwobi said, "Even though he's strict everyone loves his enthusiasm. He's always telling me 'It doesn't matter if you lose the ball as long as you're trying to be positive."

Sporting Lisbon also have six points in Group A and they are Arsenal's next Europa League opponents.

In Moscow, Santi Cazorla netted a penalty to earn a point for Villarreal .

At Stamford Bridge, where Vidi from western Hungary were the visitors, Cesc Fabregas saw Willian make a cute little run away from the goal and lifted the ball towards the Brazilian's head, When Willian's back-header bounced in front of Alvaro Morata, the centre hooked the ball home from six yards. His first goal since August.

Arsenal and Chelsea both have six points after two Europa League matches and Qarabag was Emery's eighth consecutive win in all comps.

Fulham v Arsenal is at noon on Sunday.

Baku is the biggest city on the Caspian Sea and the capital of Azerbaijan. The 68,000 capacity stadium will host four matches in at Euro 2020. The city (pop 2.2million) is of one of the up-and-coming destinations of central Asia and kids like Smith-Rowe and Guendouzi will always remember scoring their first goals for Arsenal there.

NOTE: Emery switched to a back four at half-time when his back three wasn't working. His starting X1 was: Leno; Holding, Sokratis, Monreal; Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Smith-Rowe, Welbeck, Iwobi,

Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Lacazette, Ozil, Torreira, Mustafi, Xhaka



http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/leaving-the-caspian-sea-arsenal-head-for-the-thames-and-fulham-fc/

 
Arsenal handed boost ahead of Fulham clash as key duo are ruled out

Slavisa Jokanovic will have to do without two of his regular starters

Fulham defenders Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have been ruled out of Sunday's clash against Arsenal .

Bryan has a hamstring injury and Fosu-Mensah has a dislocated shoulder, with the pair joining midfielder Neeskens Kebano (ankle) on the sidelines.

Defender Alfie Mawson is in contention to return following a back injury, while fit-again midfielder Tom Cairney is pushing to start.

Meanwhile, Ryan Sessegnon has been included in Aidy Boothroyd's England Under-21 squad for their games against Andorra and Scotland.

It follows Marcus Bettinelli's call up to Gareth Southgate's senior side on Thursday.

Provisional squad: Bettinelli, Rico, Fabri, Christie, Odoi, Chambers, Mawson, Ream, Le Marchand, Ayite, Ryan Sessegnon, Seri, Cairney, McDonald, Johansen, De La Torre, Anguissa, Steven Sessegnon, Schurrle, Vietto, Mitrovic, Fonte, Kamara.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-handed-boost-ahead-fulham-13366263

 
Cyrus Christie: Like my uncle Errol, I'm a fighter... and I'll do all I can to keep Fulham spot

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Getting stuck in: Cyrus Christie battles for possession with Everton's Lucas Digne at Goodison Park last weekend ( Getty Images )

Cyrus Christie comes from a famous boxing family and he wants to help win his fight to prove himself at Fulham by landing a knockout blow on Arsenal this weekend.

The defender has a famous uncle in Errol Christie, the former European middleweight champion who was a star of British boxing in the 1980s and joined Muhammad Ali for a publicity shoot after he made it into the Guinness Book of Records for winning 10 amateur titles.

Lloyd, the former British light-welterweight champion, is another uncle, and his brother, Christian Flynn, trains at Tyson Fury's gym in Bolton.

Christie was a talented boxer growing up in the midlands and was encouraged to continue his training in the ring before he decided to focus on football.

That has proved a good decision but the influence of boxing and his uncle, Errol, has helped him on his journey from non-League football to the Premier League. Errol passed away last year, aged 54, after suffering lung cancer, but he remains an inspiration to Christie.

"Boxing was the main sport for us growing up," says the 26-year-old. "I used to do a lot of the training. They wanted me to carry on but it clashed with football, so I stopped. I went the opposite way to everyone else and chose football.

"My uncle had a massive influence on me. He came from a tough background and managed to get himself out of it, stay out of trouble and make a success of himself. And not just in terms of his boxing career but the way he fought racism and violence."

After choosing football over boxing, Christie started his career at Coventry and had loan spells at Nuneaton and Hinckley before he moved to Derby. During his time at Pride Park he picked up his boxing training again and worked with Anthony Joshua's performance coach, Jamie Reynolds.

His training in the ring continued at Middlesbrough but boxing has taken a back seat at Fulham, where his main focus has been his fight to prove himself to Slavisa Jokanovic.

Christie moved to Craven Cottage in January but Ryan Fredericks's excellent form meant he was limited to just one start as Fulham secured promotion.

(https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/10/05/10/christie0510abc.jpg?w600)
Big hit: Cyrus's uncle Errol Christie was  a European middleweight champion

The departure of Fredericks in the summer presented an opening but, after Christie started the first game of the season, Jokanovic has preferred Timothy Fosu-Mensah this season. But Fosu-Mensah is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring a shoulder at Everton last weekend, so Christie is set to start against Arsenal on Sunday.

And he is determined to make the most of his opportunity. "I am disappointed I have not played more because I think I have done well when I have played and I feel I could have kept the shirt," says the Republic of Ireland international. "I have not had back-to-back games yet. It's hard when you are in and out of the team. I thought I did well in the first game but was taken out and did not play for a while. I have had to keep preparing for that opportunity.

"I came on in unfortunate circumstances, with Tim getting injured. But now, hopefully, I have got a chance to get some games back to back."

Christie has been doing extra training away from Fulham to make sure he is ready when his chance comes.

He has a personal football coach and, for the past 10 months, he has been working with sprint and fitness coach Margot Wells, a former sprinter and the wife of 1980 Olympic 100metres champion Allan.

"Margot is about getting your body at the peak of its powers," says Christie. "I have got some key years ahead of me in the Premier League and to be a permanent fixture in the Ireland set-up."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/cyrus-christie-like-my-uncle-errol-i-m-a-fighter-and-i-ll-do-all-i-can-to-keep-fulham-spot-a3954266.html

 
Can Aboubakar Kamara make the difference for Fulham against Arsenal?


Perhaps no player divides opinion among the Fulham support like Aboubakar Kamara, the mercurial French forward who has recently been frozen out of the squad.

After coming on as a substitute against Crystal Palace and subsequently starting against Tottenham in Fulham's first two Premier League matches, the 23-year-old has failed to feature for the Whites in the league.

Although Kamara showed a lack of defensive discipline in his first two top-flight matches, there can be no doubting his penchant for the audacious. This trait, along with his searing pace and moments of brilliant skill, mean Slavisa Jokanovic should at least consider utilising the attacker more in the coming matches.

Last weekend at Goodison Park, Kamara did't even make the 18-man squad, instead preferred to Floyd Ayite, who made a short cameo against Everton. In the future, Kamara deserves a nod ahead of Ayite, as the 23-year-old can add far more excitement and drive than the Togolese international.

A substitute performance by the young French attacker has the potential to overwhelm opposition defences while injecting the sometimes laboured Fulham attack with energy and creativity.

With Fulham's solitary win of the league season coming back in late August, it is time for Jokanovic to take a risk and include Aboubakar Kamara against Arsenal on the weekend.



https://tbrfootball.com/can-aboubakar-kamara-make-the-difference-for-fulham-against-arsenal/

 
Fulham v Arsenal preview: Unai Emery set to make changes as Gunners chase ninth straight wn
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey set to return for Gunners

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is likely to make wholesale changes for Sunday's Premier League clash at Fulham (kick-off 12pm).

Emery made nine alterations for the 3-0 Europa League win in Qarabag as the Gunners racked up an eighth straight win in all competitions.

He will be hoping to have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back from illness and Aaron Ramsey could feature as he waits for his wife to give birth, while Alex Iwobi's excellent form could be rewarded with a start at Fulham.

"Aubameyang and Aaron are in London and we will look tomorrow and Saturday to see how they are for Sunday to see if they can play," Emery said in his post-match press conference.

"For us, each match is very important to show us and for them to take responsibility, take confidence and take rhythm. Each match is one exam for them. I am very happy with how they are responding on the pitch. Alex Iwobi is another player who is the same.

"When we arrive on the match at Sunday against Fulham, it's also very important that we decide the best first eleven and the players on the bench for continuing together in this way, away at a very good and difficult team like Fulham."

Meanwhile, Slavisa Jokanovic knows Fulham, who are 17th in the table, will face a tough test when the Gunners visit Craven Cottage.

"They are the most in-form team in the Premier League, the only team who won the last five games in a row," said Jokanovic.

"It's a big club, a good team, and we don't need any extra motivation, but we need to be motivated for our opportunity to play against this kind of team, and to find a better level. We are going to be ready and motivated for the battle."

Team news

---

Fulham defenders Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have been ruled out of Sunday's clash against Arsenal.

Bryan has a hamstring injury and Fosu-Mensah has a dislocated shoulder, with the pair joining midfielder Neeskens Kebano (ankle) on the sidelines.

Defender Alfie Mawson is in contention to return following a back injury, while fit-again midfielder Tom Cairney is pushing to start.

Meanwhile, Petr Cech (hamstring), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg), Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are missing but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in the squad after missing the trip to Azerbaijan.

Opta stats

---

    Fulham last faced Arsenal in January 2014 in the Premier League, losing 2-0 - the Cottagers have won just three of their 26 Premier League games against the Gunners (D5 L18).
    Arsenal have won their last two Premier League matches at Craven Cottage, with this their first visit since August 2013.
    Fulham haven't kept a clean sheet in a home Premier League London derby match since beating QPR 6-0 in October 2011 - they've conceded in each of their 14 such matches since.
    There have been four red cards shown in the last four Premier League meetings between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage (2 each).
    Arsenal have won only one of their last eight away London derbies in the Premier League (D2 L5), winning 3-2 at Crystal Palace in December 2017.
    Arsenal have a 51.3% win rate in Premier League London derbies (123/240) - the best in the division. Meanwhile, Fulham have the lowest win rate in these games (20.8% - 25/120).
    Arsenal have won their last two Premier League away games under Unai Emery, the same number they won in their last 12 on the road under Arsene Wenger (W2 D3 L7). They last three in a row in October 2016 (a run of four).

Merson's prediction

---

Fulham are a decent side at home so this will be another big test for Arsenal. Fulham have to win their home games because it will be a struggle for them on the road. They'll rely on winning at Craven Cottage to stay in the Premier League. Fulham will have a go against Arsenal, who are also an open, attacking side. I think Arsenal have been a touch fortunate with their results. they've won all these games on the trot but if you break it down they've not really been that impressive. It could've easily gone the other way so Fulham will feel like they've got a chance, but in the end, Unai Emery's side will edge it.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-3 (18/1 with Sky Bet)



https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-arsenal/preview/390830

 
What does the future hold for Gary Cahill at Chelsea?

Gary Cahill has been a massive success at Chelsea since joining the London club back in 2012.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, he has won a host of honours including both the Premier League and Champions League while being a largely consistent performer under various managers such as Antonio Conte.

In the Italian's first of two seasons in the Stamford Bridge dugout, Cahill played on the left side of a three-man defence that was pivotal in the Blues' 2016/17 Premier League title triumph.

The inactive England international, though, is an adaptable fighter and was quickly installed back into the starting XI, but this time at the heart of Conte's back three where he was able to help guide the club to their eighth FA Cup trophy.

But with Maurizio Sarri now at the helm, Cahill has since lost his starting position again with a way back in on a regular basis looking almost unimaginable.

Cahill is not a central defender built in the same mould as his other central defensive team-mates. The former Bolton man cannot spray an accurate diagonal ball into Eden Hazard or Pedro as frequently as David Luiz, nor can he bring the ball out of the defence like Rudiger.

Simply put, Cahill does not have the technical ability or pace to play in a Maurizio Sarri backline, and a move in January when the transfer window opens now looks highly likely with the current Chelsea skipper himself admitting a change of scenery could be best for everyone.

"I don't want to jump the gun, but as things stand, probably yes," Cahill told publications such as the Daily Mail when asked if he could leave Chelsea in the new year if his situation has not changed.

As far as potential destinations go for Cahill, a move to Chelsea's west London rivals Fulham could be just what the centre-half and newly-promoted Premier League team need.

While Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is also keen for his team to play out from the back, his side have looked defensively vulnerable despite the signings of Alfie Mawson and Calum Chambers, something the addition of Cahill would help fix.

He certainly has his weaknesses, but Cahill is still a very capable and solid defender on his day with a vast amount of Premier League experience.

At Fulham, Cahill would be able to continue playing in English football's top division in an exciting and promising outfit. And in return, the Cottagers would be getting a player who would practically guarantee survival for them in the Premier League.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/features/what-does-the-future-hold-for/what-does-the-future-hold-for-gary-cahill-at-chelsea/

 
Why Fulham will be 'a very big challenge' for us

Having won eight games on the bounce, we have every reason for optimism ahead of Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage, but Unai Emery has warned his side of the challenge posed by Fulham.

Our head coach has been impressed with the way the Cottagers bolstered their squad this summer, and feels their will pose a big threat.

"Fulham is  a very big challenge for us, first because it's away and second because each match in the Premier League is very, very difficult," Emery said.

"Fulham bought very good players like Seri, like Anguissa, and they have Mitrovic and Schurrle too. It's a very good team and I think their coach is a very good coach with experience in England.

"We need to push against them on Sunday and also show our best performance. Our idea is to be focused on Sunday with all of our players."



https://www.arsenal.com/news/why-fulham-will-be-very-big-challenge-us

 
In-Focus: Birmingham U23s

Fulham Under-23s will be hoping to put the disappointing defeat at Newcastle behind them tomorrow, when they travel to Birmingham City in the PL Cup.


The hosts currently sit third in the Professional Development League North, having comfortably disposed of Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

Whilst the Young Whites are favourites on paper, they will be in for a tricky test at Solihull Moors FC against an in-form Birmingham side.

As usual, here's the lowdown on our opponents.

View from the Gaffer:
Mark Pembridge insists that Birmingham won't be taken lightly, despite the slight gulf in league which the teams compete in.

"It's a cup game that we are looking forward to," he told fulhamfc.com. "Looking at Birmingham, they're a decent side. They will be organised, aggressive, not afraid to put the ball in the box. At the same time, they can pass with pace on the wings and they have technical players.

"We've looked at Birmingham a fair bit. They have players that can hurt us. As much as we want to pass it, we need to move them into wide areas and stretch them as much as possible.

"We were very disappointed with how we conceded our goals on Monday. We got back into it at 3-2 but we couldn't get that breathing time between getting that goal and going 4-2 down. They put us under pressure, and after they got the fourth they stuck the pin in our balloon. We didn't move the ball very well, second half that improved.

"There will be one or two Under-18s knocking around. We need to see what we get back from the first team today and I can assess how we line-up from there."


View from the Player:
Cody Drameh is keen to put the defeat at Newcastle behind him, and is aiming to go on a PL Cup run.

"It was tough on Monday because we found ourselves 2-0 down at half time. We were flat in the opening minutes. We needed a confidence boost, so it was a difficult one to take.

"We had momentum when we pulled it back to 3-2 with Jayden scoring twice. But then we conceded straight after, so the game was pretty well gone. We only had about 15 minutes to pull back a two-goal deficit.

"Every game is tough, but we should be expecting to win against Birmingham tomorrow. I think we can go far in this cup competition, with the players we have our quality will show and we can go on a decent run.

"If we can get out of this group then who knows where we can go in this process."

View from the Press:
Birmingham Live reporter, Shane Ireland, gave us the view from the outside on our opponents.

How has Birmingham U23s' season gone so far?

"In two words: really well. The Blues went top of the league by hammering Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, although after other fixtures were played they're now in third. They beat the Owls 4-0 to take their record to four wins, two draws and two defeats from eight games in the Professional Development League North.

Richard Beale, the head coach, is now backed up by former player Paul Robinson who retired earlier this year as his No.2 and it's a combination that's producing results. Indeed, the whole U23s setup has undergone a mini makeover over the summer under the instructions of Garry Monk."

You would have thought Fulham would have been favourites, but this is the Cup?

"Indeed - and Blues will welcome Fulham in high spirits after putting four past Wednesday last time out. Of course, with Fulham playing in a higher league against a better standard of opposition, they are probably seen as favourites. But the form book is on Blues' side so it has the makings of an interesting clash."

Who is the danger man?

"Kyle McFarlane. The striker was the side's top scorer last season and is this term too - and some fans have called for Monk to give him a chance in the Championship. He travelled with the first team on their pre-season tour over the summer and played in some split-squad friendlies. He's quick, strong and has shown he has an eye for goal, too."

What can we expect from a Birmingham U23s side?

"A tough battle against a well-drilled team. With Monk's record of giving youth a chance and the lack of cover in some positions in the senior side, the young players know that if they impress in the U23s there is an opportunity to break through. Charlie Lakin is the latest one. He's made five Championship appearances this campaign."

Highlight of their season so far?

"Probably last week's victory against Sheffield Wednesday. It was totally convincing and the perfect way to bounce back from a defeat to Crewe in the previous game."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/october/05/u23-preview

 
International Young Whites

Ryan Sessegnon, Steven Sessegnon, Luca Ashby-Hammond, Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott have been called-up to their England age groups for the upcoming International fixtures.

Ryan Sessegnon continues his rise by being included in England Under-21s' European Qualifying games against Andorra and Scotland. The winger will be hoping to continue to flourish under Aidy Boothroyd as The Young Lions travel North of the border to Tynecastle.

His brother, Steven, has been named in the Under-19s squad for their friendly games against Portugal and Macedonia.


Luca Ashby-Hammond has also been included in the Under-18s squad to play fixtures at St. George's Park against Sweden and Czech Republic.

Lastly, Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott will feature in the Under-17s' International Youth Tournament against the USA, Russia and Brazil.

These games will take place between the 11th and 16th of October.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/october/05/international-call-ups

 
Team against Arsenal 07/10
over on the forum we've been discussing who will play against Everton

milo

whitejc

subs: Rico, Mawson, KMac, Cisse, AK47, Vietto

if Cairney isn't fit enough for the full 90 minutes then swap him for KMac later in the game, but I'd start Tom. Ryan's pace and guile will give the Arse something to worry about, he's better the further upfield he plays

---

come over to the forum and join in the discussion...
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=67702.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=439

 
LONDON DERBY Fulham vs Arsenal: Premier League match preview, team news, plus more as Gunners look to continue winning run

Can the Cottagers beat the Gunners and kick-start their season?

Things, for once, are very much looking up for Arsenal as they prepare to face London rivals Fulham in the Premier League.

The Gunners' Europa League victory over Qarabag was their eighth on the spin in all competitions as they build up a head of steam under their new boss Unai Emery.

Their opponents on Sunday, Fulham, though are struggling to maintain any kind of form as their style over substance approach stutters in the English top-flight.

Manager Slavisa Jokanovic has built a decent squad capable of playing an excellent passing game but it seems far too easy to pick them apart at the back.

Their boss has already admitted the threat of relegation is on the horizon but can they pull off a surprise win on Sunday against Arsenal?



https://talksport.com/football/430012/fulham-vs-arsenal-premier-league-match-preview-team-news/

 
Slavisa Jokanovic warns his Fulham players must 'suffer some more' to be successful

Fulham welcome Arsenal on Sunday and Jokanovic has challenged his players to leave their comfort zones

Slavisa Jokanovic has warned his Fulham players that they must be prepared to 'suffer some more' in order to turn their Premier League form around and start climbing up the table.

The Cottagers have won just one game all season since gaining promotion to the top flight, beating Burnley 4-2 at the end of August, and have struggled to keep goals out, shipping 13 in seven games.

A 3-0 loss at Everton last week has left them sitting just a place and three points off the relegation zone, something that has led to questions over Fulham's formations and team selections.

12 new players were signed in the summer in a £100million overhaul of the squad by Director of Football Operations, Tony Khan, and so far the squad have yet to gel, with five of those signings coming in on Deadline Day, while injuries to key players have not helped the cause.

Jokanovic's side face Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with Unai Emery's team winning their last five games on the bounce, and the Fulham head coach has called on his players to force themselves out of their comfort zones and find the solution to their problems as they look to take three points off the Gunners.

He said: "I don't believe we need to be so talented to add the extra work, where we are tired, we must run, when we are without oxygen we must run without oxygen.

"When we detect unpredictability, we must predict the things, we must detect the dangerous situations and we are working to prepare the team and the team is working on the field with the right attitude.

(https://i2-prod.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article15243013.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Everton-v-Fulham-Premier-League-Goodison-Park.jpg)
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

"When it's the most important day where we compete, we must put everything on the field.

"Now we can think about being strong, faster or better player, but with intention, desire and trust we can cover this gap.

"'We can do it' is not a good enough answer for me, it's not a question about whether we can or not, you must do it and if you are mentally prepared to suffer all the seconds during the competition you can be successful.

"If not, this competition is not easy for any players and you must move yourself out of your comfort zone and must force yourself to make step forward.

"All the players that play last season in Championship need to move one step forward, and new players from different countries must understand this is the next level, and what you made in France, Spain or anything country isn't good enough for this competition.

"Push yourself, be brave, don't cry and find the solution for all the problems because the solution is in our hands, no one will arrive from outside to find the solution for my team or for individuals."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/slavisa-jokanovic-warns-fulham-players-15242911

 
Aggression, Speed, A Better Defence, Jokanovic Speaks The Truth

From poor starts to a season, relegation campaigns sometimes emanate.

After waiting so long to get back into the top-flight of English football, the last thing that we need is for the club to be involved in a relegation scrap.

But, unless the club can quickly start to add to their paltry tally of five points earned this season, that could be exactly the outcome.

Today, Slavisa Jokanovic held his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Arsenal, on Sunday, during his chat with the journalists, Slavisa admitted that the start to the season has not been good enough, remarking:

    "We cannot be satisfied with this spell during this first seven games, it's huge room ahead of us to improve and we must try and work hard to fix all our problems."

Continuing, Slavisa went on to discuss our poor defensive record, a record that has seen the side concede a division high of 16, with the Serbian remarking:

    "One of these is conceding so many goals and we are working in this direction to try to find a solution."

Perhaps, the re-introduction of a fit-again Alfie Mawson can assist us with that particular problem.

But, with improvement urgently needed, Slavisa spoke about the level the side is operating at, further adding:

    "This is not our best level...we need to be more ambitious and need to show more aggression and more speed."

Step forward Tom Cairney, your stage awaits you.

COYW's



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/aggression-speed-a-better-defence-jokanovic-speaks-the-truth/

 
Rotation is the now the way forward for Arsenal but is tiredness a problem?

Unai Emery took many of the Arsenal first-teamers on the 12 hour return journey to Qarabag, which seems like a big gamble ahead of the tough trip to Fulham on Sunday, but he left quite a few on the bench and used many peripheral players but still got the result. The coach doesn't think the travelling will affect the squad too much. He said: "For us it's not a problem to play on Thursday and then on Sunday because we want to play a lot of matches and a lot of competitions,"

"We also want to give the players the chances and opportunities to play, to give them confidence, responsibility and rhythm like today for all our players.

"Today, the players who sometimes don't play played, and for us it's very important on Sunday to produce the best performance. But then also, maybe, players who played today can play on Sunday too. We can do that with some players."

So it is obvious that we will need to rotate some more on Sunday, and Emery admitted that it is not going to be a simple derby for the Gunners. "Fulham is a very big challenge for us, first because it's away and second because each match in the Premier League is very, very difficult," Emery said.

"Fulham bought very good players like Seri, like Anguissa, and they have Mitrovic and Schurrle too. It's a very good team and I think their coach is a very good coach with experience in England.

"We need to push against them on Sunday and also show our best performance. Our idea is to be focused on Sunday with all of our players."

If we do get our ninth win in a row at the weekend it would be an amazing feat, considering that even the players that were left on the bench still had to do the gruelling journey and didn't arrive back until Friday morning. Could tiredness have a big effect on our players at Fulham?

Admin



https://www.justarsenal.com/rotation-is-the-now-the-way-forward-for-arsenal-but-is-tiredness-a-problem/152453

 
Why Ryan Sessegnon's England snub will only further motivate the youngster


Fulham's 18-year-old English phenom Ryan Sessegnon disappointingly was left out of Gareth Southgate's latest Three Lions squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.

The snub was exacerbated by the inclusion of Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho, two contemporaries of Sessegnon that were expected to enter the England senior set-up at the same time as the Fulham youngster.

Although the blow of missing out on the England squad will undoubtedly be demoralising for Sessegnon, the 18-year-old will use the disappointment as motivation to improve himself.

The versatile Fulham player is not one to let his head drop after suffering a setback, as Sessegnon's work ethic is second to none. His maturity and levelheadedness are well beyond his years and Sessegnon will simply tune out the noise and focus on improving his own play.

Sessegnon has found it difficult to adjust to life in the Premier League at times, but has also shown flashes of brilliance and turned in impressive displays that indicate he will excel in the top flight.

With a string of good performances at Craven Cottage, there is no reason why Fulham's 18-year-old star cannot force himself into Southgate's plans and gain a richly-deserved senior call-up.



https://tbrfootball.com/why-ryan-sessegnons-england-snub-will-only-further-motivate-the-youngster/

 
Arsenal motivated for 'big challenge' at Craven Cottage on Sunday

Unai Emery insists that his rejuvenated Arsenal set-up are motivated for Sunday's Premier League encounter against Fulham at Craven Cottage, an intriguing London derby that the Spanish tactician also labelled a 'big challenge' due to the Cottagers' underlying proficiency.

The Gunners swatted Qarabag aside with an assured 3-0 victory in the Europa League on Thursday, and now that the north-Londoners' attention is fixed firmly upon their next domestic meeting on the banks of the Thames, Emery is wary of what Slavisa Jokanovic's stuttering fold is ultimately capable of.

Emery opted to rotate his starting XI in Baku with a number of eye-catching inclusions, although as the vast majority of his contingent are fit and ready to lock horns with the Whites, the former Paris Saint-Germain boss has called for his available personnel to exhibit their dominance and put Fulham to the sword.

    Speaking to the media – via Daily Star – Emery expressed: "Fulham is a very big challenge for us, first because it's away and second because each match in the Premier League is very, very difficult.

    "Fulham bought very good players like [Jean Michael] Seri, like [Andre-Frank Zambo] Anguissa, and they have [Aleksandar] Mitrovic and [Andre] Schurrle too. It's a very good team and I think their coach is a very good coach with experience in England.

    "We need to push against them on Sunday and also show our best performance. Our idea is to be focused on Sunday with all of our players."

Competing in Europe is exceedingly strenuous and fatigue can consequentially affect a player's exploits as the campaign progresses. Emery, however, is seemingly relishing the journey ahead of his triumphant outfit on the continent and is not fazed by the demanding fixture schedule.

    "For us it's not a problem to play on Thursday and then on Sunday because we want to play a lot of matches and a lot of competitions." He added.

    "We also want to give the players the chances and opportunities to play, to give them confidence, responsibility and rhythm like today for all our players.

    "Today, the players who sometimes don't play played, and for us it's very important on Sunday to produce the best performance. But then also, maybe, players who played today can play on Sunday too. We can do that with some players."



Read more: http://goonertalk.com/2018/10/05/arsenal-motivated-for-big-challenge-at-craven-cottage-on-sunday/#ixzz5T8FvdLUu
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Fulham v Arsenal: Fulham duo out, Gunners stars could return

Fulham defenders Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have been ruled out of Sunday's clash against Arsenal.

Bryan has a hamstring injury and Fosu-Mensah (pictured) has a dislocated shoulder, with the pair joining midfielder Neeskens Kebano (ankle) on the sidelines.

Defender Alfie Mawson is in contention to return following a back injury, while fit-again midfielder Tom Cairney is pushing to start.

Provisional squad: Bettinelli, Rico, Fabri, Christie, Odoi, Chambers, Mawson, Ream, Le Marchand, Ayite, Ryan Sessegnon, Seri, Cairney, McDonald, Johansen, De La Torre, Anguissa, Steven Sessegnon, Schurrle, Vietto, Mitrovic, Fonte, Kamara.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is likely to make wholesale changes.

The Gunners boss made nine alterations for the 3-0 Europa League win in Qarabag and will be hoping to have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back from illness – while Aaron Ramsey could feature as he waits for his wife to give birth.

Petr Cech (hamstring), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg), Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are missing but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in the squad after missing the trip to Azerbaijan.

Provisional squad: Leno, Martinez, Bellerin, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette, Aubameyang.



http://londonfootballnews.co.uk/arsenal/fulham-v-arsenal-fulham-duo-out-gunners-stars-could-return/

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 8 vs. Arsenal
Another week, another matchday against a big six club

The good news is that Fulham have one more Premier League fixture to go against a tough opponent before the International Break and before the next round of matches gets easier. The bad news is that this is against a white hot Arsenal side that has won all of its fixtures after losing Chelsea and Manchester City to start their Premier League campaign. Along with that, Fulham will have to pull the impossible without fullbacks Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah due to a hamstring and shoulder injury, respectively. These two are expected to only be gone for a few weeks, but already the club are showing a true lack of Premier League caliber talent in those positions, so any injury is a major cause for concern.

Calls have been made for Slavisa Jokanovic to implement a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 as they did in their League Cup victory over Millwall. But as has been the case all season, it is another sign that the boys from Southwest London still don't know what their best XI or system is with almost a quarter of the season past. And with six-pointers against Cardiff and Huddersfield coming up soon, Jokanovic better figure all of that out fast or Fulham might be doomed for relegation before they know it.

As has been the case against previous "big six" teams, the club don't need to come away with three points. But they do need to come away with a good enough performance and scoreline that will be encouraging for the matchdays ahead. Somebody not named Aleksander Mitrovic has to contribute in the goal scoring and the defense has to be settled enough that it can hang with the best the Premier League has to offer. Maybe that is too much to ask in 2018/19, regardless of how much was spent this transfer window. But somewhere along the line, questions have to become answers.

In a strange way, Arsenal could provide a good opportunity to see if Fulham can push them around. Unai Emery has had a bit of a test in pinning down his playing style and culture after the two decades tenure of Arsene Wenger. In spite of the Gunners being on a good run of form, their underlying numbers paint a different picture. Expected goals only has them scoring 9.27 instead of the 14 actual tallies they have put up. Along with that, Arsenal have given up over 14 shots per contest. That is downright horrendous for a club demanding to return to the Champions League and opportunities will be present for Fulham at Craven Cottage as a result.

The question will be if they can take complete advantage of that. This match could either go as 4-2, 3-3 type of contest or a dull 0-0 or 1-1 draw depending on how committed and efficient both attacks are. But either way, both sides know they will need to put in a great result in order to feel good about themselves with plenty of rest ahead.

And with that, let's take a look at the players to watch for on Sunday.

Alexandre Lacazette

First up is Arsenal's £40 million man that is finally looking to turn good. This past season, Alexandre Lacazette joined North London from Olympique Lyonnais and went from being a consistent 20-goal scorer to only racking up 14 in 2017/18. Plenty of that had to do with his shot output (2.77 per 90 minutes) being the lowest in four seasons. If it weren't for his 51.5% shots-on-target ratio, who knows how little Lacazette would score.

This season, his two goals in 435 league minutes only has him at 0.39 per 90 minutes: his worst rate since 2012/13. However, Lacazette's shot rate is back to 3.35 per 90 minutes and if he can get back to hitting his career norms of going more on target (just 35.3%), the Frenchman will be back in business. Here's to hoping he doesn't find his groove on Sunday.

Matteo Guendouzi

I could go for Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey as my midfielder to profile, but along with mostly the rest of their teammates, their radars have looked worst this season than last. Among the exceptions is of their 19-year old wonderkid Matteo Guendouzi. The French Under-20 International has really caught the eye of Emery over the summer and has never left his place as the midfield destroyer next to Xhaka in the double pivot. With 26 tackles and interceptions, no other Arsenal player has contributed more defensively and Guendouzi has already been a smooth passer of the ball in his early career at the Emirates Stadium. Eventually, Lucas Torreira will get himself more acquainted and take over in that role. But for now, the position is looking more like Guendouzi's to lose.

Shkrodan Mustafi
All data from whoscored.com

Lastly, we talk about a defender who is always struggling to replace someone like Laurent Koscielny, let alone a Sol Campbell or a Tony Adams. Their closest bet is the 26-year old German with a keen passer, but little in the way of defensive effort. Worst case scenario, he is Arsenal's answer to Tomas Kalas, who seems a bit too cultured of a defender to everyone's liking. Hector Bellerin, Saed Kolasinac and Sokratis could have been better options to profile, but all three are either not in their best form or coming back from injury.

On the whole, Arsenal's defense is solid and in line with their nine goals given up. However, their press is the third best in the Premier League at 8.67 passes allowed per defensive action. But their 45 passes along in the final 20 yards from goal is just 11th in the league. The emphasis of Emery-ball has been to commit as many players as far forward as possible and hope the remaining five center backs and center midfielders can cover ground and play solid defense.

That system can work when you have world class talent. But it would not work once that defense begins to break down more often than not with fast counter-attacks. Either way, Mustafi will have a major part to play in determining if his defense doesn't break down in front of them.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/10/5/17939194/three-players-to-watch-matchday-8-vs-arsenal

 
Fulham vs Arsenal Preview: Arsenal look for their ninth straight win

A London derby! A return to Craven Cottage! A chance for nine wins on the spin and six league victories in a row! A chance to get above Spurs with a big win!

There is a lot at stake for Arsenal as they visit London neighbours Fulham on Sunday in the lunchtime match. Arsenal are the heavy favourite in this tie but after a punishing travel schedule to Azerbaijan on Thursday in the Europa League with a surprisingly strong squad this could still end up a tricky match for the Gunners.

Fulham, a pretty good attacking team, a bad defensive team

Fulham in the league have continued their attractive attacking style that got them promoted from the Championship. They are averaging nearly 13 shots per match, which is good for seventh best in the league. They are taking most of those shots from outside of the box, with over seven per match coming from long range which makes their expected goals (xG) per match in the bottom half of the league.

The standout offensive player for Fulham is Aleksandar Mitrovic.

He has compiled the second most total points for Fulham in the Twelve rankings. He currently leads the Premier League in my xG model this season which is very impressive in a league with such amazing attacking talent. I really enjoy watching Mitrovic play and while I am an Arsenal fan, I think that he could really terrorize Arsenal's defenders in this match.

On defense, well the short answer is that it isn't pretty.

No team has given up more xG than Fulham. No team has a higher xG per shot allowed than Fulham. No team allows more big chances than Fulham. No team allows more shots in the danger zone than Fulham. Essentially take a bad statistic and odds are that Fulham are at the top of that list.

Looking at the shot chart they have allowed it becomes clear just how easy teams have carved them open this season.

Fulham, much like Arsenal, are a team that likes to attack but struggles to defend. The biggest issue for Fulham is that they don't have the talent on either side of the ball to be able to make that trade-off pay dividends.

Arsenal are winning, but the results are flattering

Look at the above expected points and expected goals table. Find Arsenal, take a moment to be sad that with that much attacking talent they have been mediocre and then wonder how in the world they have 15 points this season.

Arsenal are currently over-performing their expected points by over five points. Their performances peg them in mid-table instead of challenging for a top four spot. They currently have a negative xG differential and have the second biggest difference between their expected goals for and against compared to actual goals for and against.

They started the season with tough matches against Manchester City and Chelsea but since then they have played teams that are expected to be in mid-table or worse. They have gotten wins against teams they are supposed to beat but they haven't done it convincingly according to the statistics. This is a red flag that the Gunners could see a down turn in results unless they start to up their performances.

Prediction: Fulham 2-3 Arsenal (with a lot of dodgy defending).



http://blog.twelve.football/2018/10/05/fulham-vs-arsenal-preview/

 
Slavisa Jokanovic reveals job his mum wants him to take if he gets sacked by Fulham

EXCLUSIVE: The Serbian is not under pressure at Craven Cottage but Radmila Jokanovic is keen on her son to find a safer vocation

Slavisa Jokanovic is too long in the tooth to start worrying about his job.

Former Chelsea and Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Jokanovic joked his mum Radmila used to say he could get a job in a hotel if his team kept losing.

It has not been an easy start for Fulham since their return to the Premier League but Jokanovic is not thinking about a career change just yet.

"My mother was always so worried about my job," said the Fulham boss. "OK, if it all ends, she said, 'don't be worried.' Many years ago when I played, and we couldn't win the game, she said: 'don't be worried, you speak many languages you can work in reception at some hotel.'

"I mean, it is part of the job, if you are a manager, some big managers say there exists two kinds of manager, the sacked, and the ones who are about to be sacked. I don't interpret anything that happens around me as a tragic situation.

"She still watches all the games. The Premier League is around the world, and she says: 'OK, it is complicated.' But I say: 'I will find a solution. Don't be so worried.'

"I am more experienced in this than people really close to me! I need to manage them, need to manage my players and manage myself. I have never panicked."

It is no time for panic stations either despite Jokanovic being under no illusions that Fulham's summer spending spree - they spent in excess of £100m - ratcheted up the pressure on their Serbian manager.

Fellow Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose goals on loan last season took them up before a £22m permanent deal in the summer, has been the biggest success with five goals already.

Others are taking time to adjust to the top flight and it has been a tough baptism for Fulham who find themselves just above the drop zone with just one win from their opening seven games. Now they face Unai Emery's in-form Arsenal.

Support has, however, come from unlikely quarters with text messages from under-pressure Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho playing the unlikely role of the Godfather of managers just like Sir Alex Ferguson used to.

"Nobody supports us like him," said Jokanovic of Mourinho. "This is for personal reasons, but when we play against them, I will do everything to win the game. That's the challenge.

"I respect the guy who has won everything. In short distance, he's a fantastic man and I wish him all of the best. When all the people are against him, I'm in favour.

"There is respect among the managers here. I like that. I don't know Unai Emery personally, I follow his work, he is a really successful manager and I believe he will be successful with Arsenal.

"He has had great years and has a big experience. I know him over the last ten years more or less. He probably knows me for 30 years from my playing career. I won the title with La Coruna. I am more famous than him in Spain!

"It's a big challenge here. You want to live life in a positive way and you ask me about how difficult it is to be a manager, about pressure and how it affects people around me. In the end I try to interpret everything that happens around me in a positive way."

Jokanovic also does not shy away from the issue of Fulham's transfer policy which means he does not have the final say on signings. "Welcome to modern football," he said. "I am here as the head coach and I have some kind of power but my word is not the last word."

Jokanovic helped Deportivo La Coruna win their only La Liga title during his playing days in Spain and now he takes pride from being the first Serbian manager of a Premier League club.

He is always quick to praise Serbian tennis champion Novak Djokovic on his social media account and the pride in what he has achieved is obvious.

"He is the most famous Serbian guy and he has made history, his family have made important investments to make him successful. He has paid back his family and his country," said Jokanovic.

"I must be proud of where I'm coming from, I must be proud of my parents, of my friends, I'm Serbian man, I was born like a Serbian man and will die like a Serbian man.

"People talk so much and you need to balance who is more patriotic and I am proud, I must be proud of my friends, my parents and my family. You must be proud of where you come from."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/slavisa-jokanovic-reveals-job-mum-13369721

 
Fulham EXCLUSIVE: Kevin McDonald certain Cottagers can achieve Premier League survival
KEVIN McDONALD is determined that Fulham do not become a one season Premier League wonder.

As we chat at their training ground Motspur Park, sat in the wooden pavilion of what used to be Kingston upon Thames's borough sports ground, the Scotland midfielder exudes an easy-going chirpiness.

But there is an unmistakable inner steel.

Fulham have fought long and hard to return to the Premier League and they are not going to give this moment up easily.

All too clear in McDonald's mind is the agonising play-off failure against Reading two years ago.

And then last season they had a late stumble before the Wembley glory in the play-off final win over Aston Villa at Wembley which hauled the Cottagers back into the big time after a four year absence.

"We don't want to be a one-season team and go straight back down," says McDonald, 29. "That's not what anyone wants, we have worked far too hard as a whole club.

"It is going to pick up, but we have to work hard on the training pitch and cut out the mistakes we are making. We are letting in two to three goals a game. Last year we were solid. But in this League you can't afford to do that. We have been taught some harsh lessons.

"We should have gone up that first year. But oddly, Reading were the one team that had worked us out. There could have been a hangover but in the end we went up the best way.

"There was that amazing 23 game unbeaten run but then we faltered and people thought we had blown up, the wheels had fallen off. We were great in the semi-final against Derby and then at Wembley it was my best moment as a professional.

"It was a great feeling to get promoted to the Premier League."

Despite a summer spend of some £100 million and 13 new players walking in, reality hit.

An opening day defeat by Crystal Palace, despite a good performance, rammed home the message.

This was a different level.

The Cottagers, who will face another tough test in a rapidly recovering Arsenal tomorrow, have now let in 16 goals in their first seven games, which have brought just one win.

Such was the level of spending and the quality of the squad already there, that most observers felt that a stylish Fulham, under the astute Slavisa Jokanovic, would not be one of the teams to struggle

That, McDonald says, is dangerous thinking.

"The manager is not going to change the way we play. That is not going to happen," he says.

"But we have leaked some easy goals and the clinical side of things has been much more evident in the Premier League. These teams take their chances. That has killed us.

"We can't afford to be scoring three goals to win every game. That's impossible. People thought that by spending £100m, Fulham were going to have a right go.

"But it's harder than people think, bringing in quality players and thinking everything is going to work perfectly straight away."

The one shining star for Fulham this season has been Aleksandar Mitrovic, the tough as teak Serbian striker who made such an impression in the Championship on loan last season.

Acquiring the 24-year-old on a permanent deal was a crucial signing for Jokanovic.

Already, the charismatic Serb has five goals.

But he cannot do it all on his own.

"Mitro is clinical when he gets his chance, but we can't rely on him every week," says McDonald. "We need more players to chip, in whether it's coming from midfield, set pieces, anything.

"There will be times when he has a bad game. He needs help, he can't do it all on his own. The boss has says he wants more from the rest of us. There has to be."

McDonald squares his shoulders, "There is too much at stake," he adds.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1027574/Fulham-news-Kevin-McDonald-Premier-League-survival

 
Slavisa Jokanovic issues warning to Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli despite England call-up

The current Fulham number one has been called up to Gareth Southgate's squad for games with Croatia and Spain

Slavisa Jokanovic has called on Marcus Bettinelli to improve on his performances for Fulham this season - despite another England call-up.

The 26-year-old was called-up to the England squad for the first time last month and has kept his place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the games with Croatia and Spain in the Nations League later this month.

That's despite Fulham conceding 16 goals this season, with Bettinelli letting in 11 of those since being recalled to Jokanovic's side for the 4-2 victory over Burnley at the end of August, with the side yet to keep a clean sheet so far this season.

Bettinelli will be part of a unit of four goalkeepers called up to the England squad, with Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Alex McCarthy also getting a place in the latest squad.

But ahead of the Arsenal game and the international break, Jokanovic insists that Bettinelli 'must be hurt' over the amount of goals conceded this season in the Premier League.

"He needs to improve," Jokanovic said.

"He needs to make the step forward like other parts of the team and it's simple, he can be satisfied with the call-up.

"I had a question before about the numbers of the goals conceded at Fulham, he must be hurt, I can't give you another answer.

(https://i2-prod.getwestlondon.co.uk/incoming/article15241201.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Manchester-City-v-Fulham-FC-Premier-League.jpg)
(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

"Congratulations for this call, I believe he can make a better job than what he's made now, it's not just Marcus, I am talking about all the players.

"Marcus Bettinelli for England and another ten players for different national teams, it's not so special or big news for myself.

"As head coach, I am going to lose ten players plus, Marcus for the next international game and that's it.

"I want him and other players who play for the international team to be successful and play a good game, but my job is here.

"I am only interested about what Marcus and all the players make here, this is my job to observe the situation, the encourage them to work hard and to make this famous step forward.

"[He can improve with England] if he's in the goal, if he's on the bench then a little bit less.

"It's positive to have a player to have the opportunity to defend the country and positive for Marcus too, but there's huge years behind him to make this job and I believe he deserves the opportunity.

"It's good for experience and himself to feel important, but this job never stops and after the break, or before they go to play for national team, it's a really important game for us and he must be focused for the job here and when he goes there he needs to do a job for the national team."

Bettinelli is one of three goal keepers at Craven Cottage this season, with the club signing Fabri from Besiktas and Sergio Rico from Sevilla in the summer transfer window.

Fabri started the season in goal but lost his place after two games, while Rico has started both Carabao Cup games and looked decent as the side beat Exeter City and Millwall.

Jokanovic has admitted that the number one spot is a complex position, with all three keepers pushing for the opportunity to be the starting keeper for Fulham this season.

He believes that experience is similar to what Bettinelli experiences with the national set-up and insists that every player that steps out at Motspur Park has a chance to 'earn a ticket' into his starting XI.

He added: "The benefit is more or less similar.

"They are good players and a similar level like good players for the national team.

"English national team and Southgate made his choice, I will make mine and what I try for my side is to encourage all the people to push forward, like Marcus too.

"Thee famous question is what is my best starting XI, here it's not so loud and all the people can earn and not buy the tickets on the training ground.

"The situation is similar for the keepers, defenders and the strikers.

"It's my job - I observe the situation. This position is a complex, complicated position.

"They take part of the responsibility; they decide to be goalkeepers. I know this position doesn't change daily.

"My job is to keep going, working with them, push them to compete, and at the end to take a decision.

"At the moment my decision is Marcus Bettinelli; this is good news for him. I expect this choice encourages him to keep working hard.

"I have two (other) very good, very professional goalkeepers with great experience. They understand the situation and push for the opportunity. In my position I must take the best option for the team."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/slavisa-jokanovic-issues-warning-fulhams-15241063

 
Arsenal FC – our record against the Cottagers

Our first game against Fulham was on February 6th, 1904 when Fulham, then in the First Division of the Southern League, passed through all seven Preliminary Qualifying Rounds to make their debut in the First Round of the FA Cup. The eighth game was one too many as Woolwich Arsenal won 1-0. This was the one and only time the two clubs have met in any Cup competition.

Fulham gained professional status on 12 December 1898, the same year that they were admitted into the Southern League's Second Division. They were the second club from London to turn professional, following Arsenal in 1891- then named Royal Arsenal.

While Fulham have never beaten Arsenal in away games (they have lost 22 tied 5 and been outscored 67 to 23), their home record is a tad better having won 8 tied 5 and lost 14 and were outscored 13 to 38. Their last away win was on Jan 2nd 2012 when they won 2-1.


London Club Trivia

Chelsea beat Clapton Orient in the first Football League derby between two London clubs – in November 1905.

The first derby in the top flight, between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge (November 1907), was watched by an estimated 55,000.

As Highbury Stadium was built in 1913 on land owned by the Church Commissioners, Arsenal agreed not to play on Christmas Day or Good Friday, until they bought the freehold in 1925. The last Christmas Day game there was against Chelsea in 1954.

When Spurs were relegated in 1934-35, a year after finishing third, they lost both games to League Champions Arsenal – by 5-1 at Highbury and 6-0 at White Hart Lane; still their joint record home defeat.

If you think fixture congestion is bad these days, in 1905-06 Chelsea had to play a League game and FA Cup qualifying round tie on the same day. Prioritising the League, they sent their reserves to meet Crystal Palace in the Cup and lost 7-1; still the heaviest Cup defeat by any League club against non-League opposition.

For the 1989-90 season London had a record number of clubs – eight – in the top division, meaning 56 derby matches. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham finished in the top five while Charlton and Millwall were both relegated, the remaining three teams were, Crystal Palace, Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal have finished as highest placed London club 58 times, more than everyone else put together. It includes a run of nine successive seasons from 1996-2004; the longest sequence since they were the capital's only representatives more than 110 years ago.

Steve Bould scored the quickest-ever own goal in the top flight in the Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal fixture on Saturday February 17th 1990. The Arsenal defender put one past his goalkeeper John Lukic after just 15 seconds.



https://arsenalarsenal.net/2018/10/06/arsenal-fc-our-record-against-the-cottagers/