Friends of Fulham

 
Arsenal vs Fulham: Stunned Gunners seek reprieve against Ranieri's men

It was a disasterclass for Arsenal. Poor clearance, sprawling defenders and harebrained challenges. The 5-1 shellacking at Anfield against Jürgen Klopp's men felt like a blitz that the leaden-footed Arsenal players were ill-equipped to deal with. Liverpool's menacing front three pumped in four goals before half-time after Arsenal had opened the scoring.

If Liverpool's first goal could be explained away as a mix-up and an unfortunate ricochet that saw Roberto Firmino produce a no-look finish for the tap-in, the Brazilian's second goal was symptomatic of the state of Arsenal's defenders and defending. Bobby seemed to tap dance through the defence on an ethereal bop beat blaring within the Kop.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos went one way, Shkodran Mustafi went the other and Lucas Torreira's hapless slip made it all worse. Sokratis and Sead Kolasinac gave away two penalties which Liverpool scored to complete the masterclass on how not to defend.

Arsenal coach Unai Emery confirmed as much in his post-match press conference.

"But defensively we need to be stronger, to work. Our defensive moments in our box, it's my responsibility and then we need the balance."

While Arsenal's defending has been questionable for a while, the midfield which had Torreira and Granit Xhaka was overwhelmed in the fixture against the Reds.

Xhaka and Torreira, who are both in Twelve's top three Arsenal players for the season, were played off the park with Torreira winning just two out of his seven attempted tackles, according to WhoScored.

(http://blog.twelve.football/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Arsenal-Top-Five.jpg)

The pint-sized Uruguayan was also partly culpable for Firmino's second goal when he was disposed of the ball by Sadio Mané. His relatively barren dashboard tells the story of his match.

Creatively the Gooners were lacking as Aubameyang suffered isolated in attack. The Gabonese forward had only 13 touches before he was hauled off in the 70th minute. Six of those touches were from kick off.

The Gooners are in need of a response and could bounce back against 19th placed Fulham. They are due a jolt after picking up just four points from their last four games.

Emery is likely to field a more attacking team with Alexander Lacazette returning to the starting lineup and Mesut Ozil (if passed fit) replacing Ramsey.

Though Fulham look a renewed side under Claudio Ranieri, less adventurous and shipping fewer goals, Arsenal still look primed to get the victory at the Emirates.

It took a stoppage time goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic to secure their win against Huddersfield, their first in the last eight matches.

Mitrovic, who has an impressive eight goals in the Premier League, will look to test his might against Arsenal's defence. Though cut from a different cloth to Firmino, the big Serb could hurt Arsenal's misfiring back line just as much.



http://blog.twelve.football/2018/12/31/arsenal-vs-fulham-preview/

 
When does the January transfer window open and close? Everything you need to know

Clubs have a month to do their business as they look to boost their chances for the second half of the season

The January transfer window is very nearly upon us with plenty of clubs needing to do business.

The 2018 window saw some big names on the move as the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk secured transfers.

Some have worked out, while others haven't, but that won't stop sides looking to bring in new faces next month.

It remains to be seen which Premier League clubs will be doing business with teams at both ends of the table needing reinforcements.

But how long do clubs have to snap up players?

Here is all you need to know ahead of the January transfer window.

When does the transfer window open?

The Premier League transfer window opens at 12:01 on January 1.

When does the transfer window close?

The window will close on Thursday January 31.

Clubs will be unable to make signings from 11pm - although deals can get over the line if the necessary paperwork is done.

When can players make their debuts?

It has been agreed that no players registered at the start of the window will be eligible to play in matches between January 1-3.

What about in Europe?

France and Germany will play by the same rules as Premier League sides.

The transfer window opens on January 2 in Spain.

In Italy, the window is only open for a fortnight - from January 3-18.

Deals likely to happen

Christian Pulisic could well be on his way to Chelsea amid reports a deal has been agreed with Borussia Dortmund.

Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill could be on their way out of Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Manchester United interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to be given the funds to strengthen his defence - with Toby Alderweireld still a target.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/january-transfer-window-open-close-13795685

 
Arsenal Injury Blow: Emery Suffers Fresh Fitness Concern Ahead Of Fulham Showdown

Arsenal have suffered a fresh fitness concern with Ainsley Maitland-Niles a doubt to face Fulham on New Year's Day after picking up a knock against Liverpool, according to the Daily Star.

Maitland-Niles started as a right winger at Anfield on Saturday evening and opened the scoring in the 11th minute as he swept home the ball at the far post from a pin-point Alex Iwobi cross to give Arsenal a surprise lead.

The 21-year-old was one of our better players as he was a real threat in behind Andrew Robertson but he couldn't prevent Arsenal from slumping to another heavy defeat against one of the 'big six' as a Roberto Firmino hat-trick helped Liverpool to a 5-1 comeback victory.

Maitland-Niles was able to complete the full ninety minutes but the Daily Star are reporting that the versatile midfielder picked up an unspecified injury at Anfield and is now considered as a doubt to face Fulham tomorrow afternoon.

The news will come as another concern to Unai Emery as he is already having to deal with a lengthy injury list as the Gunners boss looks to try and get our season back on track following a disappointing end to 2018.

Mesut Ozil missed the Liverpool game with a knee injury while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck are on the sidelines with long-term problems. Hector Bellerin is also still out with a calf strain so Emery's options down the right will be severely limited if Maitland-Niles is also ruled out.

Stephan Lichtsteiner endured a torrid time against Liverpool and has struggled to cope with the demands of Premier League football since arriving on a free transfer from Juventus last summer so Emery will be hoping Maitland-Niles is able to make a swift recovery.

The boss has been forced to move away from a back three in recent games due to our limited options in the middle of defence with Rob Holding, Dinos Mavropanos and Nacho Monreal injured while Laurent Koscielny is still working his way back to full fitness.

However, given Lichtsteiner's struggles, the Arsenal manager may be tempted to revert to a back three if Maitland-Niles is available as the versatile youngster seems well suited to the right wing-back role.

Arsenal head in to the Fulham game tomorrow sitting five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea so we desperately need to get back to winning ways before we're cut off from the Champions League qualification places.



https://football-talk.co.uk/145522/arsenal-injury-blow-emery-suffers-fresh-fitness-concern-ahead-of-fulham-showdown/

 
Fulham's Aboubakar Kamara racially abused after Huddersfield

Fulham 1 – Huddersfield 0

Fulham left it late to beat Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a 90th minute winner for the Cottagers to boost their survival hopes.

However Fulham's victory could have been wrapped up earlier.

Fulham won a penalty in the second half, however Aboubakar Kamara wrestled the ball away from usual penalty-taker Mitrovic.

Sadly for Kamara, he missed his penalty.

Aboubakar Kamara racially abused

Aboubakar Kamara has suffered racial abuse since his penalty miss.

As reported by RMC Sport, Kamara has been subjected to unacceptable abuse on social media as some have posted monkey and banana emojis in reaction the player's social updates.

Fulham have now issued a statement regarding that racism:

We are aware that numerous hurtful comments have been posted on Aboubakar Kamara's social media account.

As a club that prides itself on our respect and civility, we condemn anyone associated with this repulsive activity.

The club will provide all necessary support to Aboubakar and take the strongest possible action against those responsible.

Claudio Ranieri: I wanted to "kill" Kamara

After the Huddersfield game, Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri revealed he wanted to "kill" Kamara for his penalty miss.

Arsenal vs Fulham

Fulham are back in action on January 1 when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are coming into the match off the back of their 5-1 mauling at Liverpool.



https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/fulhams-aboubakar-kamara-racially-abused-after-huddersfield/

 
Fulham vow to take action after Aboubakar Kamara racially abused on social media
The forward was criticised for refusing to allow Aleksandar Mitrovic to take a spot-kick.

Fulham have vowed to take the "strongest possible action" after Aboubakar Kamara was racially abused on social media following his penalty miss on Saturday.

The forward was criticised for refusing to allow the club's designated penalty-taker Aleksandar Mitrovic to take a spot-kick during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Huddersfield while the game was still goalless, and then missing it.

Mitrovic scored in stoppage time to secure a crucial victory but Kamara was later abused on social media and Fulham have promised to act.

"We are aware that numerous damaging and hurtful comments have been posted on Aboubakar Kamara's social media account, and as a club that prides itself on our respect and civility, we condemn anyone who may be associated with this repulsive activity," a club spokesman said in a statement.

"This is not representative in the least of genuine Fulham supporters, many of whom have posted messages of support and encouragement to the player.

"The club will provide all necessary support to Aboubakar and will take the strongest possible action against those identified and responsible for these posts."

Speaking post-match, Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri accused Kamara of disrespecting the club, his team-mates and their supporters through "thinking of himself".

Mitrovic instead insisted he understood why Kamara had acted as he did, saying: "He's a striker, he's hungry for goals as well, maybe he wanted to score as well and he scored his last penalty.

"It's normal. He's young, these kind of things can happen. It's normal.

"You need to take care of each other."

Ranieri also believes their hopes of survival would be strengthened if a winter break was introduced to the English football calendar.

The experienced Italian is managing his third club in English football, following Leicester and Chelsea, and while familiar with the intense run of festive fixtures he is wary of how they will gradually affect his players.

On Saturday they Fulham lost defender Alfie Mawson to a knee injury Ranieri fears could prove to be serious and on January 1 they visit Arsenal, where they will hope to build a sense of momentum.

The boss said: "It's important that the players get a rest. The pitch needs a rest, and the teams that play in the Champions League need a rest.

"In March, April you would feel better if you had two weeks' rest. It would be good for English football to have some teams who fight for the final of the Champions League.

"(But) this isn't frustrating – I accept it. I know the tradition here is good. It's fantastic."

If 19th-placed Fulham were celebrating victory while Arsenal were losing 5-1 at Premier League leaders Liverpool, their manager Unai Emery is still widely considered to have made a promising start to his career in north London.

Like Ranieri, Emery once managed Valencia, and the former Nantes head coach said: "Unai Emery is working well and it will be another tough match for us.

"I've come across him before. Maybe I played against him when he was at Paris St Germain. He's an intelligent and experienced coach.

"He was also in France. When you move countries, you open the mind. Also the Premier League is in my opinion the best league in the world.

"Arsenal are one of the best teams and is working to achieve a place in the Champions League.

"There are so many managers and big champions. When there are more big champions, you have to think more."



https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-vow-to-take-action-after-aboubakar-kamara-racially-abused-on-social-media-37669178.html

 
Arsenal team news vs Fulham: Mesut Ozil to be assessed as Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal could return

The Arsenal midfielder missed the heavy defeat against Liverpool with a knee injury

Arsenal will give Mesut Ozil every chance of proving his fitness ahead of their New Year's Day Premier League clash with Fulham.

Ozil missed Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool with a knee complaint but will be assessed ahead of the visit of Claudio Ranieri's side.

Unai Emery gave a series of short and snappy answers when asked about Ozil's condition after the Liverpool defeat. He confirmed Ozil had a knee injury, but could not predict a date for his return.

"I don't know if it's big or not big, but it's his knee," said the Arsenal manager.

Stephen Lichtsteiner and Shkodran Mustafi passed fitness tests to play Liverpool at the weekend, but the game came too soon for Hector Bellerin (calf) and Nacho Monreal (hamstring).

The defensive duo could feature against Fulham as Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) miss out.

Provisional squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Medley, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-team-news-mesut-ozil-injury-vs-fulham-latest-update-unai-emery-a8705151.html

 
Everton, Fulham table big bids for Liverpool, Arsenal linked defender

Domogoj Vida has been the subject of more Premier League interest, with reports in Turkey claiming both Everton and Fulham have launched January bids for the Besiktas defender.

Vida played a starring role for Croatia as the unfancied European side reached the final of the World Cup in Russia this year, with his displays at the tournament seeing him heavily linked with Liverpool and Arsenal among others during the summer.

West Ham were also in the running to sign the muscular centre-half having seen a bid of €25m (£22.4m) reportedly rejected by the Turkish side, while French giants Monaco also saw an offer of €30m (£27.2m) turned down towards the end of the summer window.

But according to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Besiktas' determination to retain Vida's services have now softened and the Turkish clubs have let suitors know they are ready to entertain offers for the 29-year-old defender.

And it's reported that both Everton and Fulham are the first to show their hand, having both expressed their interest in Vida, who looks set to be allowed to leave for a fee of around €25m (£22.4million).

Of the two, Fotomac believe Fulham are in the driving seat to sign the player, with Claudio Ranieri ready to gamble on the Croatian to add muscle and guile to his backline as they look to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Vida's agent confirmed earlier this year that the Premier League clubs aren't the only sides interested in his client's signature.

"It is normal for there to be interest what is important is that the offers satisfy Besiktas and then Vida," said Ugur Avadan.

"Liverpool and Everton are huge clubs that have made offers.

"Barcelona scouted Vida and had him on their shortlist but I do not see a move there happening.

"Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are also interested from Spain."



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/everton-fulham-table-big-bids-for-liverpool-arsenal-linked-defender

 
Defender offers himself to Fulham ahead of transfer window

Fotospor claim Galatasaray defender Serdar Aziz has offered himself to Fulham ahead of the January transfer window.

Aziz was ruled out of the Istanbul club's last game back before Christmas due to illness, but the player went to the Maldives on holiday that same day.

It seemed like he'd faked being sick to go on his vacation early, but his wife posted a photo on Instagram of Aziz in the Indian Ocean paradise... and it gave the game away.

The Turkish media say as a result the footballer won't wear the Galatasaray shirt again and now Fotospor report he could be heading to Craven Cottage.

According to the Turkish newspaper Fotospor, Aziz's preference is to play abroad if he leaves Galatasaray and the player has offered himself to Fulham via his agent.

It's claimed Fulham had a previous interest in the Turkish international and this transfer could be a possibility when the window opens in January.

Claudio Ranieri will be looking to bolster his defensive reinforcements in the new year and signing Aziz may be an option for the Fulham boss.

The 27 year old has made 15 appearances for Galatasaray this season.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/defender-offers-fulham-ahead-transfer-window/

 
Should Aleksandar Mitrovic take the Fulham captaincy off Tom Cairney?


Aleksandar Mitrovic was outmuscled by Aboubakar Kamara when deciding who would take the Fulham penalty against Huddersfield on Saturday, a dramatic flashpoint that raised many questions about the Fulham squad.

Although there was little Tom Cairney could have done about the penalty incident, Mitrovic's magnanimous response and match-winning goal raised questions over who should assume the role of the captaincy in SW6.

Cairney is the longstanding Fulham captain, but during the Whites' promotion season the true vocal presence in the squad was vice-captain Kevin McDonald, who assumed the role in Cairney's injury absence.

A vital player in the centre of midfield and a key part of how Fulham play, Cairney is integral to Fulham — but he is far from the most authoritative and inspiring of leaders.

When Cairney was dropped to the bench against Wolves on Boxing Day, Mitrovic was handed the captain's armband and rose to the occasion, dominating play and urging his teammates on at every opportunity.

And even when the Scot returned to the starting lineup and was captain against the Terriers, Mitrovic appeared to assume most of the captain duties, conferring with the referee, encouraging his teammates, and taking the high road in the penalty dispute.

The Serbian was the designated taker, but when it was clear Kamara would not give the ball up, Mitrovic kissed him on the head and wished the Frenchman luck before the spot-kick.

It was a remarkably cordial gesture after such disrespect, a move worthy of a true leader.

And true to form, Mitrovic bagged the winner in stoppage time minutes later, saving Fulham and even high-fiving Kamara in his celebrations.

Nonetheless, it would be cruel and unnecessarily divisive to strip Tom Cairney of the captaincy and hand it to Aleksandar Mitrovic. Yet the Serbian striker has shown impressive leadership qualities and captain material in recent weeks, even without the official title.



https://tbrfootball.com/should-aleksandar-mitrovic-take-the-fulham-captaincy-off-tom-cairney/

 
Arsenal injury, suspension list: Team news for Premier League match vs Fulham

Arsenal could again be without Mesut Ozil when they welcome Fulham to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Ozil missed the thumping defeat to Liverpool with a knee injury picked up ahead of the trip to Anfield.

When asked if the injury is serious, Arsenal coach Unai Emery said: "[It's] His knee. I don't know if it's big or not big, but it's his knee."

Meanwhile, the Gunners are still facing a defensive injury crisis with Hector Bellerin (calf), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) and Rob Holding (knee) all definitely out.

Shkodran Mustafi returned for the defeat at Liverpool but was withdrawn at half-time after the Gunners shipped four goals in the first period, while Nacho Monreal (thigh) remains a doubt,

Further up the field, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is out for six weeks with a broken metatarsal, Emile Smith Rowe (groin) remains out, while Danny Welbeck (ankle) is a long-term absentee.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal/arsenal-injury-suspension-list-team-news-for-premier-league-match-vs-fulham-a4027596.html

 
The Trials And Tribulations Of Being A Long Standing Fulham Fan In 2018

Our guest writer, Brian Gower, returns with another thoughtful and interesting article.

If like me, you have been a supporter of Fulham Football Club for many years, you have been accustomed to the ups and downs of this wonderful 'family friendly club' and 'away team supporter's joyful trip' to the banks of the River Thames in South West London.

There have been many more 'downs' than 'ups' as we all know, but once the addiction of following this quaint club captures you, you are captured for a lifetime.

With the end of another year upon us, what a year it has been. Starting 2018 near the bottom of the Championship, it looked like another year of disappointment was about to occur after reaching the play-offs and failing at the first hurdle against Reading the season before. How wrong we were.

Jokanovic rallied the players and gave the supporters everything they could have wished for on that great 23-game unbeaten run. Although it ended abruptly meaning another play-off saga was to come, Fulham thoroughly deserved their Wembley win against Aston Villa and a return to the EPL after a four-season absence.

Now we look forward to 2019 and what that may bring to the loyal supporters of this wonderful club. Watching the last game of 2018 against bottom of the table Huddersfield and comparing it with the previous season, is quite a baffling experience but not an unexpected one for seasoned Fulham followers.

Our promotion last season playing some very attractive possession style football was a joy to watch. Turning the possession style tactics encouraged by Jokanovic, into victories gave Fulham and their players rave reviews in the media. Bettinelli for England, Tim Ream fans player of the year, Tom Cairney captain, and the young 17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon, who made the headlines most weeks and watched by top clubs in Europe and at home, and not forgetting the 'fantastic loaned striker' from Newcastle, Mitrovic, scoring for fun.

Suddenly, the excitement of promotion quickly became a nightmare for all these 'wonderful gifted players' as soon as the reality of what their Premier League opponents had in their lockers. From the first match at home to Crystal Palace and the first defeat with no goals scored hit home, the players, and the manager Jokanovic must have realised, there is a huge gulf between playing Championship football and that of the EPL.

Even after spending £100m on 11 new players, it seemed obvious to Fulham supporters that unless you have a team of players such of those at Man City or Liverpool, where players can cost £100m+ each, the possession style of football would not work. Everyone that was, apart from Jokanovic, who repeatedly stated that he would not change their style of play. This, unfortunately, cost him his job.

In came a master Italian defensive minded tactician, Claudio Ranieri. His first task was to stop the defensive errors and become harder to beat. In came Rico in goal, and soon followed a back three with two wing-backs. This total change of tactics was hard for some players to adapt to. Suddenly there was not an emphasis on keeping the ball at all costs. It was to defend in numbers and attack quickly on the break.

Favourites from the season before were being omitted. Bettinelli, Ream, McDonald, Johansen, Cairney and the wonder-kid Ryan Sessegnon were overlooked as Ranieri was after stronger, faster, more ball-winning style players rather than the ball-keeping, passing side-to -ide and backward tactics these players were encouraged to produce for Jokanovic.

So here we are, with Arsenal up next away, second from bottom, and a tough 17 matches to follow. The players must quickly adapt to Ranieri's style of play. Cairney is a very skilful player but needs to be tougher and make those important tackles. Sessegnon, although only 18 must be included regularly and build up some physical body strength. Seri must get up to speed and show more effort to match his obvious skills.

It was woeful the first half against Huddersfield. No tempo, no fight, no desire to push forward and go for the win. Luckily it improved in the second half. As for the Kamara penalty decision to wrestle the ball away from Mitrovic, was appalling to witness at the time, it showed how much he wanted to win.

He decided to put all the pressure on himself to convert the spot kick. If he had blasted the ball into the top left corner of the net all fans would have made him a hero. He missed with an awful attempt and would have learned a lesson he will never repeat again in his career. We all make mistakes. Luckily for all Fulham fans, Mitrovic gave his team the three points with a late winner.

Fulham fans must stay loyal as they always do. Support the team, support the manager. Ranieri is a superb tactician who lives in Fulham. I believe his heart is with the club and he will do everything he can to keep Fulham in the Premier League, but it will be tough.

As always, enjoy the rocky ride, it is part and parcel of the life of being a loyal Fulham FC supporter.

COYW's



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/the-trials-and-tribulations-of-being-a-long-standing-fulham-fan-in-2018/

 
Arsenal squad vs Fulham revealed as Unai Emery considers changes

Emery will be looking for a response after the Gunners were thrashed by Liverpool

Arsenal will give Mesut Ozil every chance of proving his fitness ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Fulham.

Ozil missed Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool with a knee complaint but will be assessed ahead of the visit of Claudio Ranieri's side.

Full-backs Hector Bellerin (calf) and Nacho Monreal (hamstring) could also feature as Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) miss out.

Arsenal have now won just one of the last five matches after putting together a 22-game unbeaten run in all competitions earlier in the season.

Manager Unai Emery accepts some work needs to be done on their structure.

"Defensively we need to be stronger, to work," he said.

"Our defensive moments in our box is my responsibility and then we need the balance. We need to keep the balance in the middle.

"We need to be serious and continue on Tuesday with a big match at the Emirates (against Fulham).

"We need to show our supporters there we are standing up after the result."

Provisional squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Medley, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-squad-vs-fulham-revealed-13796640

 
The enforced absence of Calum Chambers against Arsenal is a hammer blow for Fulham


When Fulham travel to the Emirates on New Year's Day, the Whites will be without Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers as he faces off against his parent club.

The enforced absence of Fulham's standout central midfielder is a hammer blow for Claudio Ranieri's men, leaving the defensive midfield position glaringly sparse.

Chambers began the campaign at Fulham terribly, playing centre-half and failing to show anything resembling top-flight quality. When stationed at right back against Cardiff in October, Chambers produced an abysmal display and lost his place in the squad.

Yet a surprising reprieve arrived in Slavisa Jokanovic's final match in charge, where the loanee returned to the starting lineup and was utilised as a central defensive midfielder.

The decision proved to be a masterstroke from the Serb, as Chambers has been excellent ever since in midfield. Taking cues from coach Scott Parker, the Arsenal loanee is a vital cog in front of the defence, with an ability to read the game and cut out opposition attacks at will.

The combative presence of Chambers will be sorely missed against the Gunners, as Fulham's centre-midfield options are worryingly thin.

Kevin McDonald may be forced to start in the anticipated injury absence of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, a scary thought for Fulham supporters who believe the Scot is far too slow for the pace of the Premier League.

Arsenal may be ruing their decision to loan out Calum Chambers this campaign, but nonetheless will be delighted their player will not feature for Fulham on Tuesday afternoon.



https://tbrfootball.com/the-enforced-absence-of-calum-chambers-against-arsenal-is-a-hammer-blow-for-fulham/

 
Arsenal vs Fulham preview: Mesut Ozil given chance to prove fitness
Watch in-game clips and goal as they go in on the Sky Sports app

Arsenal will give Mesut Ozil every chance of proving his fitness ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Fulham.

Ozil missed Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool with a knee complaint but will be assessed ahead of the visit of Claudio Ranieri's side.

Full-backs Hector Bellerin (calf) and Nacho Monreal (hamstring) could also feature as Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) miss out.

Alfie Mawson is set to miss the trip to the Emirates. The defender suffered what manager Ranieri fears could prove a "serious" knee injury in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could yet return from an ankle injury, while Ranieri could consider dropping Aboubakar Kamara for a disciplinary matter.

Opta stats

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    Arsenal have never previously lost at home to Fulham in any competition, winning 23 and drawing five of their 28 home matches against the Cottagers prior to this match.
    Fulham's only league victory over Arsenal in their last 12 such encounters was in January 2012 (W1 D4 L7), a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage under Martin Jol.
    Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has never won a Premier League match against Arsenal in 10 previous attempts (D4 L6); he has a worse points-per-game ratio against the Gunners (0.40) than he does versus any other opponent in the competition.
    Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 22 home league matches against newly promoted opposition (W19 D3) since losing 1-0 to Newcastle United in November 2010.
    In all competitions, Fulham have lost 11 of their last 14 away matches (W1 D2), though their one win did come in London against Millwall in the League Cup in September.
    Arsenal have won all five of their home Premier League games on New Year's Day - their last top-flight defeat at home on that day came in 1985 against Spurs at Highbury.
    Claudio Ranieri's last Premier League match on New Year's Day was also away at Arsenal in 2003, when he was Chelsea manager - a 2-3 defeat.

Merson's prediction

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The other day was typical Arsenal, wasn't it. I don't know what's changed. I know they went on that run but half of those games, they could have probably lost. Then you go to Southampton, they're settling for a draw and end up winning the game, go to Liverpool and it was same-old, same-old. This one, I'll go for them because... this is Arsenal. They're flat-track bullies, they'll beat the lesser teams all day long.

After the win over Huddersfield the other day, it was a big goal from Aleksander Mitrovic, but I watched them at Newcastle too and they were solid and Newcastle never looked like scoring. I know that attack is nowhere near Arsenal's but they defended well and they'll try that too here. If I was them though I'd try and have a swing, although you don't want to be on the end of a six

MERSE SAYS: 3-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)



https://www.skysports.com/football/arsenal-vs-fulham/preview/390957

 
Claudio Ranieri should continue to put Ryan Sessegnon on Fulham's bench - for now at least

The 18-year-old is one of Fulham's star players, but could he sometimes be better suited to being a substitute?

It's not a surprise that people are calling for Ryan Sessegnon's return to Fulham's starting XI. In two substitute appearances he has directly contributed to each goal scored by the Whites in both games with a strike and an assist.

Even without that kind of impact it is clear the kind of ability he has, there's no doubting he's good enough.

But as the prototypical 'super-sub' in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns to the Premier League, perhaps it is time we appreciate his ability to both analyse and take advantage of tiring defences rather than simply allowing it to be a mythical quality - and perhaps Claudio Ranieri can create players in his mould in an attempt to seal Fulham's survival.

It often feels like substitutes in football are a form of going through the motions but with Ranieri, his Tinkerman moniker is not just superficial.

It was a surprise to see Luciano Vietto start against Huddersfield, a nice tactical twist, but with the Atletico Madrid loanee and Tom Cairney slotting in behind Aleksandar Mitrovic it was impossible for the bench not to catch your attention.

Sessegnon, Andre Schurrle and Aboubakar Kamara would all be donning their tracksuits. None are true strikers, but that is some impressive quality to bring on and change the tempo of any game.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham looks on prior to the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage on December 26, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Ranieri said that Fulham did not play well in the first half against Huddersfield but it also looked like the Cottagers achieved what they set out to for the most part. There was defensive solidity from the backline and the shape of the whole team was very consistent and denied the Terriers space to truly threaten. The likes of Mitrovic and Vietto were probably too isolated, and the lack of possession and forward play understandably frustrated fans but in the second half Ranieri responded.

The former Leicester boss sent on Kamara and would have also brought on Sessegnon if not for Alfie Mawson's injury, but it wasn't just the personnel that changed - Fulham's style did too. Flashes of last season returned with neat passing exchanges and quick breaks. While it wasn't perfect, it was reassuring to know the team still have that in their locker.

The fact that Ranieri had planned those two substitutes at half time could suggest a graduation of his philosophy since taking the helm in west London. It felt preordained in some way. The cautious approach has been consistent in the 67-year-old's tenure and has reached the stage where individual errors are costing Fulham points.

Against Newcastle we saw something similar. Fulham stayed in the game until late on when Kamara - from the bench - tested the Newcastle defence repeatedly and nearly led his side to a winner. Sessegnon obviously produced against Wolves, while both were asked to make an impact this weekend.

England coach Eddie Jones popularised the idea of 'finishers' in rugby union and there is a growing consensus due to the physicality of the game that those on the bench are as important as those that start. Of course, in part it massages ego but it highlights the importance of substitutes and their role in winning a game.

The two sides of Fulham we saw on Saturday may become more common as they first look to build a platform before truly taking the game by the scruff of the neck and changing the pattern of a match.

Sessegnon may not be a player who will overwhelm tired legs due to his sheer pace and strength, but he will overwhelm tired minds that lack concentration due to his incredible movement.

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Ryan Sessegnon is challenged by Diogo Dalot (Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Within seconds of coming onto the pitch on Saturday he'd stormed into the box, without anyone marking him, and darted to the front post to to guide a cross just wide. The impact was immediate.

Solskjaer had an innate ability to analyse his opposition while he watched from the sideline and Sir Alex Ferguson always had faith that the forward could deliver the goods as a match wore on. I think Ranieri could find similar strength in using his young star this way, as the intelligence of movement the England under-21 international exhibits will challenge any team.

Of course this kind of role could be frustrating for the youngster who started 45 of Fulham's 46 league games in the last campaign but Ranieri has noted he has doubts about Sessegnon's physicality.

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(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

He said: "Sessegnon is young but he is fresh.

"[Sessegnon] needs experience, he needs to play. He is a very good player but of course he must improve his strength.

"When there is a tackle, he is not so strong. He must understand this, be a little more aggressive. But he is young."

There is no doubt the academy product will get time on the pitch, but by introducing Sessegnon later in the game it helps nullify any physical disadvantage he may have.

Against Huddersfield, if nothing else, Vietto made sure his presence was felt by Zanka by consistently challenging him with his pace. The Argentine was on the receiving end of a couple of robust challenges as a result.

We must remember that Sessegnon is just 18, with a long career ahead of him, and sometimes it could be better to not expose him to unnecessary physicality. His progress must be managed so he doesn't burnout later on and he can continue to grow.

We know he's up to the physical challenge but perhaps sometimes we can gain more value from a late cameo. Sessegnon shouldn't by any stretch be confined to the bench for the rest of the season but it's crucial that Ranieri continues to show tactical flexibility and continues to evolve Fulham's play.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/claudio-ranieri-ryan-sessegnon-fulham-15609885

 
Edun Set to Return to Fulham

Town boss Paul Lambert has confirmed that Fulham midfielder Tayo Edun's loan spell with the Blues is being ended early, the England U20 international having been back at his parent club in recent weeks in any case due to an eye injury which has required an operation.

"He's away back to Fulham," Lambert said when quizzed about the 20-year-old's surgery just before Christmas.

"Again, he's Fulham's player and you can't do anything about it. His operation is going to keep him out into the new year, so Edun will probably go back, [that will mark the end of his loan spell]."

Asked whether anyone else is currently lined-up to move on, he added: "Nobody will move on unless I get people in. That's impossible, that can't happen."

Edun made four starts and three sub appearances for the Blues, scoring on his debut having come on as a sub in the opening day 2-2 draw with Blackburn.

The Cottagers' youngsters departure, the exit of winger Jordan Graham who is set to join Oxford and the end of injured ex-skipper Jon Walters's spell from Burnley means the Blues now have three loanees, Trevoh Chalobah, Matthew Pennington and Janoi Donacien until his permanent leave to remain has been confirmed.

Regarding the Town players currently out on loan, Tristan Nydam's half-season spell at St Johnstone is up in January and Lambert is going to speak to general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill about the 19-year-old's situation.

"I'll need to speak to Lee about that," he said. "I've met the kid when he came in a few weeks ago. I spoke to him, so we need to speak to Lee and see what St Johnstone felt about him. That will probably be ongoing.

"He's not played much at St Johnstone [one start and four sub appearances]. When you send people out on loan you've got to hope they play as many games as they can but he hasn't played as much.

"But again, he's a young player coming back and at this moment, in normal circumstances you'd bring them back and have a look at them, but at this moment we need a bit more experience."

Out on loan for the season but with the Blues able to cut their spells short in January are Josh Emmanuel at Shrewsbury, Luke Woolfenden at Swindon and Ben Morris at Forest Green Rovers.

Asked whether he has any plans to bring them back, Lambert said: "They're kids, you're calling back kids to help kids. That's a difficult situation to put anybody in.

"They need a little bit of experience. The younger ones need a little bit of experience to help them, even the lads that have not played at this level for a long time or most of their careers, a lot of the lads haven't played at this level. A lot of them came from the lower leagues.

"That's fine, but they need a bit of help with it and I think that's what we have to get in, we have to get people who know the league, have played in it or have been around the block a little bit.

"You can take one, one can be a risk but you can't do eight or nine or 10, you can't do that."



https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/35153/edun-set-to-return-to-fulham

 
Games for the New Year
After a win & clean sheet on Saturday we now travel to North London to face Arsenal for our first game of 2019
As a 'by-the-by' the very first game I attended was Fulham v Arsenal on New Years Day 1966, on that occasion we won 1-0, and I was hooked! How much I'd love to see a repeat of 52 years ago.

I'm guessing that AK47 won't be in the squad as a punishment for his penalty antics on Saturday, even if he'd scored I've a feeling that he wouldn't have been included?

Arsenal are having a bit of a bad run at the moment having lost against Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton, drawing against Brighton and only beating Burnley in their last 5 games, so it looks as if they'll be looking forward getting a result against us.

Games of Interest
Tuesday 1st
Arsenal v Fulham
Cardiff v Spurs

Wednesday 2nd
Bournemouth v Watford
Chelsea v Southampton
Huddersfield v Burnley
West Ham v Brighton
Newcastle v Man Utd

---

come on over to the forum and join in the discussion
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=563

 
Arsenal Team News Update: Emery Could Be Without 9 Players For Fulham Clash

Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from their Anfield nightmare when we host Fulham at the Emirates on New Year's Day.

The club have issued a team news and injury update ahead of the game with the latest on Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin, Dinos Mavropanos, Emile Smith Rowe, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck.

Ozil missed the 5-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday evening after suffering pain in his knee following Friday's training session and the playmaker remains a doubt for the visit of Fulham on New Year's Day.

Mustafi returned to the starting eleven at Anfield after sitting out our previous five games but the centre-back was substituted at half-time after aggravating his hamstring injury and will need to be assessed to see if he can face the Cottagers tomorrow.

We've been without Bellerin for the last four matches due to a calf problem while Monreal has been struggling to overcome a troublesome hamstring issue in recent weeks. The pair have been pictured in light training today and will be assessed ahead of tomorrow's game.

Mavropanos is close to making his return from a groin injury but the Fulham game comes too soon so he remains out along with Smith Rowe – who's still two weeks away from recovering from a hip problem.

Mkhitaryan is also out for the next few weeks as he's not due back until February from a fractured foot so he's out along with long-term injury victims Holding and Welbeck – who won't play again this season.

The update on Arsenal.com said:

    Mesut Ozil
    Left knee. Being assessed ahead of Fulham (h) on Tuesday, January 1.

    Shkodran Mustafi
    Right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Fulham (h) on Tuesday, January 1.

    Nacho Monreal
    Right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Fulham (h) on Tuesday, January 1.

    Hector Bellerin
    Left calf. Being assessed ahead of Fulham (h) on Tuesday, January 1.

    Dinos Mavropanos
    Groin injury. Being integrated back into full training.

    Emile Smith Rowe
    Right hip. Expected to return to full training in two weeks.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan
    Right foot. Fractured metatarsal. Expected to return to full training in February.

    Rob Holding
    Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

    Danny Welbeck
    Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.

It seems unlikely that Ozil, Bellerin or Monreal will be fit after not taking part in full training today while Mustafi is obviously a doubt so Emery could be without nine players for the Fulham game tomorrow afternoon.

That's a nightmare situation as the Arsenal boss looks to get us back to winning ways after falling five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.



https://football-talk.co.uk/145533/arsenal-team-news-update-emery-could-be-without-9-players-for-fulham-clash/

 
Claudio Ranieri ends row with Aboubakar Kamara after penalty incident

Claudio Ranieri has patched up his differences with striker Aboubakar Kamara over the penalty debacle in Fulham's win over Huddersfield.

After winning a late spot-kick, Kamara stopped designated taker Aleksandar Mitrovic taking the shot and took it himself - then missed.

Ranieri criticised Kamara's behaviour at full-time, labelling him "disrespectful" and said he would consider punishing the forward, perhaps by removing him from the squad as they prepare to face Arsenal on New Year's Day.

But on Monday, he told the club: "Now everything is finished. He came to me after I called all the squad, all the people around us, and they (all) apologised. For me it's finished.

"The team is the first in my idea, if I need him he continues to play but he has to improve what I ask. He's a good guy and I hope also the fans are behind him and all the team."

Meanwhile, Fulham are continuing their investigation into racist abuse directed at Kamara on Twitter, in the wake of the incident at Craven Cottage, where the hosts won 1-0 thanks to Mitrovic's stoppage-time strike.

The club said on Monday that they will take the "strongest possible action against those responsible".



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11595773/claudio-ranieri-ends-row-with-aboubakar-kamara-after-penalty-incident

 
Arsenal v Fulham: Ozil could return along with Gunners defenders, injury blow for Whites

Arsenal will give Mesut Ozil every chance of proving his fitness ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Fulham.

Ozil missed Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool with a knee complaint but will be assessed ahead of the visit of Claudio Ranieri's side.

Full-backs Hector Bellerin (calf) and Nacho Monreal (hamstring) could also feature as Rob Holding (knee),

Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) miss out.

Provisional squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Medley, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.

Alfie Mawson is set to miss out when Fulham visit the Emirates Stadium.

The defender suffered what manager Claudio Ranieri fears could prove a "serious" knee injury in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could yet return from an ankle injury, while Ranieri could consider dropping Aboubakar Kamara for a disciplinary matter.

Provisional squad: Rico, Bettinelli, Fabri, Fosu-Mensah, Christie, Odoi, Chambers, Ream, Ayite, Bryan, Seri, Johansen, De La Torre, Anguissa, McDonald, Kebano, R Sessegnon, S Sessegnon, Schurrle, Vietto, Mitrovic, Fonte, Cairney, Kamara.



http://londonfootballnews.co.uk/arsenal/arsenal-v-fulham-ozil-could-return-along-with-gunners-defenders-injury-blow-for-whites/

Cottage Talk: View Of The Opposition - Arsenal
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

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This episode is an interview with Larry Guinan, who has been an Arsenal supporter for many years. He was on the show to give the Arsenal perspective on this upcoming match. Larry shares his thoughts on this season so far for Arsenal, and then later on shares his view on the upcoming match. This show is our preview episode for this match.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/12/31/18162690/cottage-talk-view-of-the-opposition-arsenal

 
Everton face competition from Fulham for January transfer target

Everton are set to face competition for January transfer target Domagoj Vida from another Premier League club, according to FotoMac.

Reports suggest that the Croatian defender is also being chased by Fulham, who are looking to strengthen for their battle against relegation.

Everton reportedly made an approach for the Besiktas centre half during the summer, but were unable to agree a deal to bring him to Goodsion Park.

Instead, Marco Silva brought in Yerry Mina on a permanent basis while Kurt Zouma joined the Toffees on loan from Chelsea.

The Everton boss still has concerns over his defence though, as they have conceded 30 goals during the current campaign and sit 10th in the Premier League table.

Fulham are currently in the bottom three of the table and have expressed an interest in the Croatian international Vida, as they aim to improve a defence that has leaked 43 goals this season.

They have already made positive steps under new head coach Claudio Ranieri, having climbed off the bottom of the table heading into the New Year.

Fulham have already conducted business with Vida's club, Besiktas, this season having signed goalkeeper Fabri during the summer window.

Ranieri will be hoping this potential transfer is more successful though, as the shot-stopper has featured just twice this campaign.

Everton and Fulham could both benefit from the signing of Vida, and it will be interesting to see if the Croatian will playing in the Premier League in 2019 and who will win the race for his signature.



https://ninetyminutesonline.com/everton-face-competition-from-fulham-for-january-transfer-target/

 
Could Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama be a better Fulham target than Mousa Dembele?

Reports in the Daily Mail earlier this week linked Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama with a move away from north London.

Mousa Dembele was also listed as a player who would be allowed to leave in January, a claim that excites many Fulham fans.

But could the winter purchase of Wanyama provide a better acquisition than former Fulham star Dembele?

One factor that must be considered is Dembele's age and injury concerns.

The Belgian international is currently recovering from ankle surgery and likely will not be fit in all of January. In addition, the defensive midfielder is 31 and would not be a long term solution for the Whites' issues.

Wanyama, on the other hand, is 27 years of age and can offer a more energetic presence in the centre of the park that could be vital for Fulham's survival. Although Wanyama is also currently sidelined with injury, his age advantage when compared to Dembele will allow him to recover quicker.

In addition, as a former Southampton player, the Kenyan has experience in steering smaller clubs clear of danger and into impressive top-half performances.

With most rumours linking Dembele to Italian or Chinese clubs, perhaps his fellow Tottenham teammate Victor Wanyama would be the more pragmatic and effective January signing for Fulham.



https://tbrfootball.com/could-tottenham-midfielder-victor-wanyama-be-a-better-fulham-target-than-mousa-dembele/

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 21 vs. Arsenal
Can Fulham start 2019 like they left 2018?

If only we had some time to revel in their last gasp victory over Huddersfield last weekend. Better yet, I hope the players and supporters can revel in what has happened throughout all of 2018. It was truly a special year for Fulham Football Club as they finally returned to the Premier League after four long years of hard work and adversity. Now the lows that have been presented since then have tainted what happened in that special Championship season that resulted in a famous Playoff victory at Wembley. However, no one will ever take away that special day at the home of English football, with a white wall made by 30,000 of Fulham's finest and a team that was so together, that the sky was the limit on their potential.

The sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic really brought an end to a magical era for the club, but it is the cruel and miserable reality of what it takes to survive in the Premier League for the long term. Heroes don't last forever and the past is only told by those who win. Slav stopped winning because he couldn't solve the defense, made horrific substitutions and lineup decisions, and stopped sticking to who he was. Therefore, the Premier League swallowed him up versus what should have been the other way around.

No matter the case, Claudio Ranieri has come in and has done his best to create a cohesive unit again, but with a rock solid backline this time around. He has gotten wins over Southampton and Huddersfield, and draws against Newcastle and Wolves as a result. But much more will be required as the likes of Cardiff and Burnley got crucial wins over the weekend. What has been possible for teams above Fulham to avoid relegation so far is to grab three points against a team that they have no business beating. That team could be Arsenal if things break right for them. Boy, what a way to start 2019 if Fulham were to pull off that result!

Since going unbeaten in 14 Premier League fixtures in a row, the Gunners have now slipped a bit by losing twice in their last four contests. Now Unai Emery has had his squad over-acheive his team's underlying numbers all season, but this past month has finally had them regress to the mean a bit. Starting with their defeat to Southampton, Arsenal have been outscored 7 to 10 in actual goals and 5.80 to 6.74 in expected goals.

All of this includes the 5-1 thrashing they just received from league leaders Liverpool, but that still doesn't dismiss the fact that this club has given up 30 goals this campaign: poor enough to not even be ranked in the top ten in goal prevention. Along with that, their 42 goals scored well exceeds their 30.36 expected goals accumulated. If it wasn't for their Premier League best 8.71 passes allowed per defensive action and taking advantage of teams on the counter as a result, their attack would be much worse.

So Fulham can treat tomorrow's contest at the Emirates as two ways. They can either see this as an opportunity unlike any other to claim another famous victory. Or they can sit back some more, as they have all season against top six sides, and hope their defensive wall can hold down the fort like they did against Huddersfield and unlike they did against Wolves. With that said, here are the three players from Arsenal that will be key to getting their season back into gear.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

It was quite odd to have one of the Premier League's leading scorers not profiled in the home fixture back in October. But take note that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's place in the starting XI wasn't a guarantee at the time. That's quite odd to say in comparison to where his form is now, but with Emery previously implementing a 4-2-3-1 system, there just wasn't room for him and Alexandre Lacazette both playing together unless one of them played out of position.

Of late, Emery has been trying different formations to get them to both play as strikers, but it is quite clear which one is getting the most out of this season. The things to watch out for for the Guinea International is that his shot rate of 2.77 per contest is the lowest it has been since 2010/11 and his 25.0% goal conversion rate is the highest it has been in his professional career. So bad luck could be upon him in the coming future and it would be nice if that all starts this fixture.

Granit Xhaka

Next up is a midfielder that divides opinion depending on which side of the argument you are on. Some see Granit Xhaka as someone that can start Arsenal's attacks well from central midfield. Others see the Switzerland International as a walking red card or penalty waiting to happen. Fortunately for Gunners fans, his foul rate has decreased dramatically since arriving to North London from 2.49 to 1.48 per contest. However, his interception rate has decreased at roughly the same rate as well from 2.42 to 1.23 per contest. Either way, these numbers don't make him less of the "hard man" he is advertised since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2016. Considering how porous and untrustworthy Arsenal's backline has been, there is no denying Xhaka will be among the reasons why they will look strong in defense or not on New Year's Day.

Lucas Torreira
All data from whoscored.com

Lastly, because of so much uncertainty on that Arsenal back line, I will not be highlighting an opposing defender for the first time this season. So instead, let's pay attention to the closest thing Arsenal has had replacing Patrick Vieira. That might be saying a lot, but Lucas Torreira has come on in and done a fine job in his first season since arriving from Udinese. And at 22 years old, there is plenty of time for him to fulfill his potential as a hard-nosed defensive midfielder.

Shkrodan Mustafi and Xhaka can only come close to the 69 total defensive actions the Uruguay International has accumulated, so the foundations are there to build something solid in defense. But another center back to pair with Mustafi, plus another fullback to replace the aging Nacho Monreal is vital to put Arsenal back into Champions League contention. For now, Fulham's effort in midfield will determine whether they can be able to score on an Arsenal side that has shown enough signs to be vulnerable.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/1/1/18163424/three-players-to-watch-matchday-21-vs-arsenal

 
Arsenal discuss recalling loan duo to make up for quiet January transfer window

Arsenal chiefs have reportedly had conversations about potentially recalling Reiss Nelson and Calum Chambers from their respective loans at Hoffenheim and Fulham this January.

The Gunners look set for a quiet transfer window due to a lack of funds, so could look to make up for that by bringing these two back from their loan spells early, according to BBC Sport.

However, the report stresses that there could be complications in doing so, with Arsenal having to pay a fee to Fulham to bring Chambers back in the middle of the season, while the club are also described as being reluctant to interrupt Nelson's fine rise in his time in the Bundesliga.

Overall this is not the most promising situation for Arsenal at present, with loan signings also the most likely thing for them this winter.

The report links the north London giants with a possible move for Barcelona outcast Denis Suarez, but most fans will surely want to see their club aim higher as they face the summer departure of Aaron Ramsey.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/01/01/arsenal-nelson-and-chambers-recall-in-january-transfer-window/

 
Revealed: 72% of Leeds fans would support a move to sign Tom Cairney in January

The majority of the Leeds fans that answered our recent poll said that they would support an ambitious move to sign out-of-favour Fulham captain Tom Cairney in January.

According to a recent report from The Sun, new Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri is on the lookout for a defensive midfielder, and he is willing to swap Cairney for Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey.

The Italian boss was tasked with stopping the flood of goals that Fulham were conceding on their return to the Premier League and, although he started in the weekend's win over Huddersfield, Cairney has been a casualty of the Cottagers' new defensive formation.

The 27-year-old then could look to move away in the winter window, and there is no better place for him than back to where it all began at Leeds. Cairney came through the ranks at the Leeds academy but was released at 16 years of age.

Now though the Whites are at the top of the Championship and the Fulham captain's experience would help them get back to the Premier League. Check out the full results of our poll below, where 72 per cent of Leeds fans said they would back a move.



https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/leeds/revealed-72-of-leeds-fans-would-support-a-move-to-sign-tom-cairney-in-january

 
A very serious and tactical preview of the Fulham game

First thing I should do is wish all of you a very happy new year. It's now 2019, we still don't have proper hover-boards or flying vehicles so essentially the future is a bag of crap but let's not start on a downer. I don't want that Elon Musk fella chancing across this blog and trying to convince me after he takes 4 Es and a pile of shrooms that the plug-in cars  he shoots into space are evidence that technology is great or anything, I'm far too hungover for that this morning.

We play Fulham later. After the defeat to Liverpool – did I mention I spent yesterday evening with a Mugsmasher who was far too gracious a host to talk about the game the other night? – Unai Emery must be thinking about changes for today. As he can't load Mustafi into a cannon and shoot him into space like Voyager 2 he's somewhat restricted. That said, imagine the NASA control room when the Mustafi probe shot past Pluto and instead of sending back pictures of the farthest reaches of our universe it was a selfie of him singing along to Live Is Life by top pop combo Opus, the zany p****.

My point here is that I'm ok with any team once it doesn't have Mustafi in it. Something like:

Cech, a chair, Hector Bellerin's fashion pants, three small boys in a long coat pretending to an adult so they can get into an over 18s film, Steve, a massive squirrel on drugs, Inanimate Carbon Rod, a booze globe, my slippers, next door's wheelie bin, Lacazette.

Just get out there and win and stop being such twats. If it were me my teamtalk would be encouraging, looking to get the best out of the chaps I picked, but I'd also make it very clear that unless they played well I'd kill them. Not 'have them killed', because I believe a manager should take responsibility. You could hand this stuff over to an assistant but I wouldn't trust a single one of them. What do Steve Bould and Spanish Steve Bould do anyway? Beats me. E-Steve Boold-eh. I think I'd kill them too.

Look the point I'm making in a very subtle way is that we need a response today after such a dismal defeat in our last game. And when I said I wish all of you a happy new year, I meant that, but on the off chance that anyone from KSE is reading this, it does not apply to you. I wish you pestilence and bum itches for the duration of 2019 and beyond or until you go away or put some money into this club. Especially Stan, but especially Josh.

Yesterday, we were told that January funds were limited so loan deals were our most likely option when the transfer window opens. In the meantime, the club's highest scoring central midfielder of all time and the man who got the winner in two FA Cup finals, will have talks with PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus and others. I realise his availability of a free has opened doors in this regard, but look at the calibre of clubs that are after him. It tells you plenty, and it's further evidence that some people are in need of real super-wedgie, whether they're still at the club or not. I tell you, if I saw Ivan Gazidis right now I'd capture him and paint his stupid head with road tar, the winker.

Anyway, I can't even explain to you what a chore this has been to type so I'm going to leave it here and go back to lie down for a while. We will have a live blog and all the other stuff we do on the site, so I'll see you later on for the game.

In the meantime, I'll reiterate my best for 2019 once more unless you're Stan, Josh, Ivan, Phil Collins, John Terry, a Premier League referee, Nigel Farage and his ilk, a person who doesn't cover their mouth when they cough, anyone who treats dogs badly, the man up the road from me who discards the scratch cards he never wins on the street rather than in a bin, or someone who films themselves during football games. I hope you all get SARS.



https://arseblog.com/2019/01/a-very-serious-and-tactical-preview-of-the-fulham-game/

 
Out-of-contract Premier League players - who could leave for free this summer?

FULHAM

    Stefan Johansen
    Floyd Ayite
    Neeskens Kebano
    Denis Odoi
    Cauley Woodrow



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11595964/out-of-contract-premier-league-players-who-could-leave-for-free-this-summer

 
Fulham Preview: 2019 Needs To Start With A Bang

Or Thus Spake Ornstein. There was some evidence that eternal recurrence isn't as far-fetched a notion as its' critics would have you believe. Take the case of Ornstein. Another transfer window, another message that we've got no money. I'm certain we've heard that one before. It's lunacy to expect the club to announce that we're loaded; that just begs for the sharks to circle that much more aggressively.

However, it's not much of a motif for a club which claims to be pushing for a return to the Champions League. The squad needs more than rejuvenating and we don't have the Champions League income to invest. The longer we are absent from the top table, the harder it will be to return. If Enos doesn't want to see the value of his investment fall, he needs to rethink his philosophy.

That's to admit defeat before we've begun. The defeat at Anfield was a chastening experience, more so than in previous years. To see experienced defenders play so amateurishly – and that's harsh on amateurs – shook an optimism about a top four finish from before our eyes. It's one match against probably the best team in the country so should we be overly concerned?

This afternoon gives us some answers. It's trite to say the players 'owe us a performance' but they need one for themselves, for their own self-belief. It's been a month – nine matches – since we put in a good, strong performance: Tottenham. Across a range of competitions, we've stumbled until falling flat on our faces – or arses, whichever you prefer – at Anfield. If we're going to progress in any of the competitions, we need to improve dramatically our performance levels and on a consistent basis.

Make no mistake, it's a tall order for Unai Emery with this squad.

Welcome to the Bus Depot
Fulham are a different proposition to Liverpool. They won't overwhelm or swarm around the ball; it's very much a home match where we'll see a lot of the ball and need to be inventive in our possession. It's a game which is made for Mesut Ozil and I'm sure his knee will hold up to the rigours of it.

He is just one of a few changes I'd expect. Monreal, Bellerin and probably Koscielny into the starting line-up with Ramsey into midfield? Arsenal are not minded to sell him this winter, preferring to keep the player on the books. No reconciliation, however; he is leaving and Juventus reportedly offered him a deal worth £150k per week. Ivan's was more generous by all accounts and those numbers certainly support the notion it was unrealistic.

The decision on financial grounds makes sense but less so in a footballing sense. As we transition from Wengerball to Emeryball, we're crying out for a box-to-box midfielder. Ozil is unreliable and certainly from the outside looking in, being eased out of the club if we can. He, it's claimed, isn't leaving in January; next summer is a different story.

I've steered the conversation away from the defence quite deliberately because every time you come back to it, you see a back three formation which doesn't work, principally because Mustafi is in it. His was a calamitous signing and if Anne Robinson were in charge, we'd have no argument declaring "You are the weakest link! Goodbye!"

The uncertainty he transmits is as big a problem as the rash penalty-area tackle. What triggers these panic stations in his mind? I wouldn't mind if his response was to put the ball in row Z every time. That's safety first, no-nonsense and not conceding goals kind of defending.

He Flies Through The Air With...
It's 'fight or flight' with Mustafi. Sadly, we get the flight element, usually into an unnecessary challenge in the area. Or onto his arse.

There's only so many times you can look at a player and think he isn't good enough for this level. Sadly, we've done than that on 94 occasions. Which is 95 too many.

Which begs the question of whether we continue with a back three. If you don't trust Mustafi, the answer is not with Lichtsteiner. Monreal adapts comfortably to the wide central defender role but the Swiss hates it more than biting too hard into Toblerone and getting the top of the triangle stuck in the roof of your mouth.

The photo of he and Mustafi berating each other at Anfield sums up their relationship on the pitch: one disaster followed by another.

So, Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis, it seems you are the answer. Hopefully the pair of you can calm Mustafi's lunatic tendency and make a back three work. I say that because I don't think we're strong enough for a back four which leaves the line-up:

Leno; Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny; Bellerin, Torreira, Xhaka, Monreal; Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

The reality is we need three points. United solved their crisis for the most part when they sacked Mourinho. Now, we can't rely on them cocking it up to stay in fifth.

I hope Anfield was the wake-up call and that there's been no marking it down as a 'one-off'. It wasn't; it had been coming. Now is the chance to make sure the message has been "it won't happen again".

Finally, thanks to you all for dropping in during 2018. I hope 2019 is as good a year as we want it to be.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

'til Tomorrow.



https://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/2019/01/01/fulham-preview-2019-needs-to-start-with-a-bang/

 
Mesut Ozil and Hector Bellerin could feature against Fulham after returning to training

Arsenal boss Unai Emery hopes to be able to call on Hector Bellerin and Mesut Ozil for the Gunners' clash against Fulham at the Emirates today.

Bellerin limped out of Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Southampton a fortnight ago with a calf strain and had been expected to be out until the New Year.

However, the Spaniard confirmed on his Instagram page that he had returned to full training and he may take a place on the bench against the Cottagers.

'No matter what, so happy to be back out on the grass,' said Bellerin.

Ozil was hooked at half-time in Arsenal's Boxing Day draw away at Brighton and was ruled out of their 5-1 drubbing against Liverpool three days later with a 'knee injury'.

The club say they will assess the German's injury before today's game but he's likely to be fit to feature at some point after returning to training.

Arsenal are believed to be open to selling Ozil this month but the club will have to cover some of his £300,000-a-week wages if they ship him out on loan.



Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/mesut-ozil-hector-bellerin-feature-fulham-returning-training-8298536/?ito=cbshare

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

 
Fulham Face Opposition When it Comes To Signing International Defender

As of midnight, the transfer window was finally declared open.

In the next month, decisions have to be made that could help safeguard a clubs' position in the division they now play in.

It's a statement that fully applies to our own club, Fulham.

With relegation a real possibility, Claudio Ranieri will have to move quickly to bring in the players he believes can contribute to preserving Fulham's top-flight status.

At the weekend, one piece of transfer speculation, presented by the tabloid source, the Mirror, implied that Fulham were among a trio of Premier League clubs interested in Nathaniel Clyne.

Clyne, 27-years-of-age and an England international, has fallen down the pecking order at title-chasing Liverpool and could be ripe to the suggestion of moving on to seek a new challenge.

At the weekend, one piece of transfer speculation, presented by the tabloid source, the Mirror, implied that Fulham were among a trio of Premier League clubs interested in Nathaniel Clyne.

Clyne, 27-years-of-age and an England international, has fallen down the pecking order at title-chasing Liverpool and could be ripe to the suggestion of moving on to seek a new challenge.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/fulham-face-opposition-when-it-comes-to-signing-international-defender/

 
Good news for Emery over key Arsenal star ahead of Fulham

Unai Emery has been boosted by the news that one of his key defenders – who has recently been on the sidelines – is set to be assessed ahead of the clash with Fulham in the Premier League.

Arsenal were in action against Liverpool on Saturday, only a couple of days after a 1-1 draw away to Brighton.

Despite taking an early lead, the Gunners ended up being thrashed 5-1 at Anfield in arguably their worst performance of the season so far.

Hector Bellerin is one of the key players who were not able to feature in the defeat to Liverpool due to injury.

The Spanish defender was sorely missed as his deputy Stephan Lichtsteiner was exposed by Jurgen Klopp's side.

However, there is some good news for Emery ahead of the clash with Fulham on Tuesday.

The club's medical staff has revealed an update, stating that Bellerin is actually in contention for a return and he will be assessed ahead of the match.

"Left calf. Being assessed ahead of Fulham (h) on Tuesday, January 1." an official update from the club said



http://www.redlondon.net/good-news-for-emery-over-key-arsenal-star-ahead-of-fulham/

 
How Franz Ferdinand Can Inspire Arsenal in 2019 |Line-Up v Fulham

I was 'at the world's biggest New Year's Eve street party', so they told us, at the foot of the wonderful Edinburgh Castle – one of the world's most beautiful city-settings, I am sure you'll agree. Tickets at £75 a head, taxis double the price, buses triple the price and two cans of beer, a red wine and bottle of water an eye-watering £22... but it was totally worth it.

The Hogmanay party had two highlights: the fireworks which were simply godly and Franz Ferdinand's 1.5 hour fabulous performance on stage. I didn't expect too much from FF, but boy did they give a show on the night: true entertainers who live for the music, and, all together, performed 'in the moment'! Going since 2002, so 16 years and counting, and they still love to be on stage; and that happiness gave us all a buzz on the night. Alex Kapranos, Lead Singer, kept asking us 'Are you with me, Edinburgh?', and yes we 'were with him' all the way.

It made me think again that what's is so important in anything that is being done by humans, whether it is serving food in a restaurant, driving people from A to B, managing an organisational change process, operating on a patient, selling fish from a market stall, performing on stage, or indeed, manage a sports team, is threefold: focus, energy/joy, and team work. Talent/know-how help too, but most things can be learned through hard work, education/training and tenacity; and relying on talent alone will not get you far. Without focus, energy/joy and team work there will not be real success, it will not be enjoyable and you will not be adding much if anything to the job at hand.

And that is what I would like to see at Arsenal – on all levels – in 2019: focus, passionate commitment and VCC.

Yes I like some new good players too, but let's not believe too much in shopping-therapy. Just look at Manure and you know we cannot just buy ourselves out of a crisis.

Despite some personal irritations about Unai's team selection and handling of players, I have no doubt that Unai offers Arsenal all three aspects in abundance. He is focussed: knows his targets, knows how he wants to play and knows what needs doing to make progress. He has tons of energy and really, really enjoys managing our club: his energy is infectious and he lives for football. And he is also a real team player even though certain players do not seem to fit into his team for the future, which is natural when a manager takes over.

Fact is it is going to take time, but let's not forget Unai beat the Spuds already, we drew at OT and got close to winning there, gave Pool a real game at the home of football and could have won that one too, and we had a 23-game unbeaten run and are just a handful of points behind the fourth-placed Chavs. These are all signs that Emery has what it takes to make our club great again... eventually.

As JW1 keeps reminding us, perspective is required, and we as considered supporters need to trust the club and Emery and be patient. I have been critical about some of Unai's player choices and decision making until now but am also aware that he is leading the troops from the front, and I am not. It takes time to reach a true crescendo of fireworks, and let's see where Emery will take us in (just) 12 months from now. Victory Through Harmony is our club's motto after all...

Line-up for today's game?

Hard to predict but this is of course a must-win so I expect the strongest possible team out (with the exception of Ramsey who has his head turned by five 'big' clubs who have a space on the bench for him to keep warm apparently – the sooner he sods off the better).

My line-up would look like this:


Let's get the job done in the first half/60 minutes. Play with the strongest team and aim to score three before half time. High tempo, crisp passing, good movement, Ozil as the conductor (aligned with composer Emery), Auba with focus, Laca to get the service he deserves, Iwobi to do the penetration, Xhaka-Torreira to boss the midfield again, and Nacho to bring back balance on the left side and in defence.

We got a kicking at Anfield and nobody likes to experience this. But real winners don't doubt themselves too long and definitely don't become all self-deprecating. No they get up again, lick their wounds and go and win the next game.

Hope 2019 will bring you health, happiness and joy/success at whatever you do.



https://bergkampesque.com/2019/01/01/how-franz-ferdinand-can-inspire-arsenal-in-2019-line-up-v-fulham/