Sunday Fulham Stuff - 31/06/23...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Saturday 30/12
Luton	2-3	Chelsea
Villa	3-2	Burnley
Palace	3-1	Brentford
Man City	2-0	Sheff Utd
Wolves	3-0	Everton
Forest	2-1	Man Utd

[WhiteJC]

Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on Fulham vs Arsenal prediction amid title claim
Arsenal hero Paul Merson and former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton have both delivered their predictions for Sunday's Premier League clash between the Gunners and Fulham

Paul Merson has delivered his prediction for this weekend's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Fulham. The north London outfit spurned the chance to return to the top of the table on Thursday night, losing 2-0 at home to West Ham United.

It was a tough day in front of goal for Mikel Arteta's men, who registered 30 shots but were unable to find a way past the Hammers, who clinched all three points thanks to goals from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos. But it is a quick turnaround for the Gunners, who travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday to take on Marco Silva's Fulham.

Arsenal hero Merson has now given his prediction for the match, backing his former side to come out on top. He told Sportskeeda : "Fulham are another funny team. They couldn't score a goal to save their lives at the start of the season but were flying along a month ago. However, it looks like they are back to square one at the moment as they've scored just one goal in their last four games.

"London derbies are always tricky and Fulham will want to win this one, but I think Arsenal will get all three points away from home. It's looking good for Mikel Arteta's side at the moment, but they have to stay consistent and keep going as they look to get their hands on the Premier League title.

"It depends on what happens when the Gunners take on West Ham later today, but I think Arteta will go full strength and start all his key players. Gabriel Jesus is the connecter up front for Arsenal, so I doubt he'll put the Brazilian on the bench for Eddie Nketiah or Leandro Trossard.

"Kai Havertz has been good in recent weeks after a tough start to his Arsenal career. I was always a big fan of him and knew he'd come good, so it's been nice to see him emerge as a key player for the club during the festive period."

Merson's prediction: Fulham 0-2 Arsenal




https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/paul-merson-chris-sutton-agree-28367109

[WhiteJC]

Rooney: Fulham Have Window in Which to Recall Stansfield
Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney has confirmed that parent club Fulham can recall Blues target Jay Stansfield during the January transfer window, but is hopeful that the 21-year-old will remain at St Andrew's for the rest of the season.

As previously reported, Stansfield is a player who manager Kieran McKenna has eyed for a number of transfer windows - Town initially showed interest in the summer of 2022 - and he is well up the Blues' list of January potential recruits with adding strikers a priority, even more so since George Hirst suffered a hamstring injury.

A move to the Blues would require the Cottagers to recall Stansfield, who is also said to be interesting Sunderland, from his loan spell at Birmingham where he has scored seven times - including one in the 2-2 draw with Town - since joining them in August.

"Jay has been great for us," Rooney told the Birmingham Mail. "He's an important player for us. Of course he's a Fulham player and he's gained great experience here, and he will continue to do that.

"Ultimately, we have been in touch with Fulham. As far as we're aware, he will be with us. Fulham have a window where they can pull him back. If that's what they do then it's out of our control."

Quizzed on when that period might be, the former England skipper added: "I'm not too sure off the top of my head. It's a small window.

"I would imagine Fulham can only be delighted with the goals he's scored here and the experience he's getting. He's getting a lot of minutes so we're really hopeful that continues."

The striker signed a new contract at Craven Cottage which runs to the summer of 2027 in the summer with the Premier League side having an option for a further year.

Meanwhile, Town sources have played down loan links with 21-year-old Manchester United forward Amad Diallo.




https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/46325/rooney-fulham-have-window-in-which-to-recall-stansfield

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva names FOUR Arsenal players who can "punish any team in the country"
Arsenal are looking to get back to winning ways when they head to Fulham following their loss to West Ham with Marco Silva talking up the attacking talent at their disposal

 Marco Silva believes Arsenal have a quartet of attacking stars - Gabriel Martinelli among them - that "can punish any team in this country" as he looks to thwart them once again with Fulham.

The Cottagers showed real character to claim a draw at the Emirates earlier this year and are now preparing to host the Gunners. Arsenal head to Craven Cottage following a surprise loss against West Ham but Silva is aware of the quality possessed by the north Londoners.

Mikel Arteta is not short of attacking talent with the Fulham boss namedropping four names whom he believes can cause any defence problems. Playmaker Martin Odegaard and winger Bukayo Saka were among them but called on his side to showcase their quality when they get the opportunity.

He said: "They are a top side, no doubt. Their defensive organisation is really good and with their positional attack it means they can perform at the highest level. They have the capacity to push a team back really low and it is difficult to press them really high because when they beat the pressure they are a tough team to face.

"(Oleksandr) Zinchenko gives them quality with an extra man in the middle and the likes of (Gabriel) Martinelli, (Bukayo) Saka, (Martin) Odegaard and (Kai) Havertz are a threat and can punish any team in this country. We need to be well organised and stick together in certain moments. They are pressing us, putting us under pressure in moments and when we have the ball we have to express ourselves as well."

Arsenal's loss last time out meant they missed the chance to go back to the top of the table. It was their third reverse of the campaign and, should results go against them, they could find themselves down in fourth by New Year's Eve such is the competitiveness in the top flight.

Arteta though was keen to focus on what they can achieve: "We can be second as well, and winning we can be first so we have to do what we can control. There's no time to look at other teams, you see how difficult it is for other teams yesterday and today and it's going to continue to be like that because the level of the league is incredible."

Fulham have been well beaten in their last three outings, conceding eight without scoring. Prior to that they'd shown how free scoring they could be and will hope to see that form return when they welcome Arsenal to west London.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fulham-arsenal-marco-silva-saka-31772871

[WhiteJC]

Fulham player highlights two stars from former club for transfer – Was "surprised by their quality"
Fulham star Andreas Pereira has advised the club to move for Flamengo duo Arrascaeta and the attacker Bruno Henrique after being "surprised by their quality" when playing alongside them.

The midfielder has been speaking to Star + in Brazil, relayed by Netfla, when he was asked about which players he would bring from Brazil to Fulham if he had the chance.

The midfielder moved to Fulham from Manchester United in July 2022 in a €9.5m deal after a loan spell at Brazilian side Flamengo, who he joined on loan in August 2021.

He went on to make 53 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring eight and assisting three before eventually returning to England with Manchester United before being moved on to Craven Cottage.

His time in Brazil was something of a tumultuous one, particularly towards the end, with a falling out with Flamengo's fanbase ensuring he didn't make the move there permanently.

It seems, though, he still has some fond memories of his time playing at the club and some of those revolve around his teammates, who'd he be more than happy to see join Fulham if given the chance.

"From Brazil today I would take Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique," he said.

"I knew Gabigol while playing, I played with him in the national team too, but I didn't know them that well yet and I was surprised by their quality.

"Them coming to Europe, I would like to see them playing here."



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-star-highlights-two-stars-former-club-transfer-surprised-quality/

[WhiteJC]

Preview: Fulham v Arsenal

We're aiming to end 2023 on the highest note possible by beating Fulham at Craven Cottage, and return to the top of the Premier League ahead of the new year's celebrations.

While we head into this encounter searching for our first win in three games, we can take some solace in the fact that we are unbeaten in our last 11 Premier League games against the west Londoners, stretching back to January 2012.

However, the Cottagers proved that they were a tough nut to crack back in August when they snatched a late 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, and have won three of their last four on their own patch, netting 13 times in the process. That means there is plenty of work to do if the champagne corks will be popping with extra vigour come midnight.

Silva's mixed bag
Just like most of their season so far, December has been full of ups and downs for Fulham. They have been in the bottom half of the table for most of the campaign, sliding as low as 16th midway through last month after a run of one win from seven.

But then came a superb stretch of games which saw them strike late to beat Wolves 3-2, before falling to a last-gasp defeat of their own at Liverpool. Then came two successive 5-0 wins as Nottingham Forest and West Ham United were thrashed in the space of five days at the Cottage.

However, their last three games have seen them beaten by Newcastle United, Burnley and Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 8-0 to undo that good work, although Marco Silva's side did reach the semi-finals of the League Cup during that run courtesy of a penalty shootout success over Everton.

What the managers say
Arteta: "Winning [against Fulham], we can be first so we have to do what we can control. There's no time to look at other teams. You see how difficult it is for other teams and it's going to continue to be like that because the level of the league is incredible.

"Without a spark, you don't generate what the team generates [against West Ham], it's impossible. But it's the final thing, the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net or not, and that's what we need."

Silva: "Before the West Ham result it was just us and Tottenham to take points from Arsenal at home, which shows that we know how to match them and play against them and we know what to do.

"For sure we have to play at our best level because we can then compete with Arsenal."

Team news
Kai Havertz is available again after sitting out of the West Ham game through suspension. As we have now reached the halfway point of our season, the threshold for yellow card suspensions has now risen to 10.

We are unlikely to see Thomas Parety, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Fabio Vieira as they attempt to recover from their various issues, while Jurrien Timber is still a long-term injury concern following his ACL tear in August.

Raul Jimenez is also free to play in this game having completed his three-game ban following his dismissal at Newcastle. Former Gunner Willian is struggling with a hamstring issue that has seen him miss the last three games, which his side lost all of.

Tim Ream is definitely out with a calf problem, while Adama Traore has missed the majority of the season after suffering setbacks with his recovery from a hamstring tear.

Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke: Marco Silva's Fulham usually adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation that is designed to play fast, neat and tidy, passing football through the lines. In possession they are well coached and confident working in tight areas, making them one of the more press-resistant sides in the division.

Only seven Premier League teams make more short passes per 90 minutes than Fulham, who produce more than the likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa.

The west Londoners' main issue has been finding consistency inside both penalty boxes.

In attack they have lacked pace and penetration up front, registering the third fewest shots from inside the box so far in 2023/24. They did conjure up back-to-back 5-0 wins on home turf, but in general they have been light inside the final third. No team has failed to score more often (8 of 19) than the Cottagers.

Defensively their best work is done inside the middle or final third, where Fulham can press with great intensity when the mood takes them. Protecting a sometimes fragile back four higher up the pitch is their best form of defence.

Even so, they do give up a lot of chances. Burnley and Sheffield United are the only two sides to have faced more shots, and prior to MW20 they had conceded more goals (34) than all but that pair of clubs.

Former Arsenal stars Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi and Willian are integral players within Silva's side. The latter two create the bulk of their chances, while Leno consistently produces game changing saves.

Fulham's star man is central midfielder Joao Palhinha. He has quality on the ball, and can score goals (as he showed at Emirates Stadium earlier on this season) but his main attributes are defensive.

Palhinha has won 43 tackles, the most of any top-flight midfielder, and he ranks second highest for duels won too. The Portugal international will be a combative presence inside the engine room at Craven Cottage.

Facts and stats
Fulham have won just three of their 33 Premier League encounters with us (D7 L23), with all three of those victories coming at Craven Cottage (November 2006, August 2008 & January 2012).

We have won our final league game in 12 of the last 16 calendar years (D2 L2), including each of the last three in a row. This is the first time we've played on December 31 in consecutive years.

Fulham have lost five of their last seven Premier League home games against fellow London opposition, failing to score across all five of those defeats.

We are unbeaten in our last nine London derbies played away from home in the Premier League (W7 D2). We last had a longer run without defeat in such matches between September 2001 and April 2005 (19).

Following back-to-back 5-0 wins earlier this month, Fulham have now lost their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 0-8. The Cottagers haven't lost four consecutive league games while failing to score each time since September 1971.

Gabriel has scored in three of his four Premier League appearances against Fulham. Two of these have come at Craven Cottage – one on his Gunners debut in September 2020, and one in this exact fixture last season (both 3-0 wins).

Willian has been directly involved in 10 Premier League goals at Craven Cottage since the start of last season (eight goals, two assists) – the most of any Fulham player. However, we are the team he's made the most appearances against in the Premier League without ever scoring (12).

Since the start of last season, Martin Odegaard has both scored (11) and been directly involved (17, six assists) in more away goals in the Premier League than any other Arsenal player.

Mikel Arteta has never lost to Fulham in the Premier League, winning three and drawing two of his five meetings with the Cottagers.

Match officials
Josh Smith takes charge of just his fourth Premier League game and his first involving us in any competition on Sunday. He has refereed Fulham twice before in the top-flight, including their 5-0 success over Forest just over three weeks ago and took charge of their League Cup success over Tottenham Hotspur in August.

That is one of five games the Cottagers have won on his watch out of the eight occasions he has refereed them. Smith has shown red cards in two of his three matches at this level this season.

Referee: Josh Smith
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official: Tim Robinson
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger

Recent trips to Fulham
We head to Craven Cottage looking to claim our sixth-straight win at the venue, with our last encounter there coming back in March when goals from Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard saw us cruise to a 3-0 win, with Leandro Trossard grabbing a hat-trick of assists in the first 45 minutes - a Premier League record.

Our Brazilian defender was on the mark again in September 2020 when he netted on his debut to add to strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang which saw us run out 3-0 victors on the opening day of the campaign.

We won by a larger margin the trip before then when a 5-1 success was recorded in October 2018, with the highlight coming when Aaron Ramsey netted a Goal of the Season contender after a fabulous free-flowing team move.




https://www.arsenal.com/news/preview-fulham-v-arsenal-0

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's top 10 moments of 2023

After Jack Stroudley took a look at the low points of the calendar year, George Rossiter steps up to look at the highs of 2023, and there's been a lot of them. You'll enjoy this one...

10. A first defeat for Postecoglu
Coming into round two of the EFL Cup, Tottenham had gained all sorts of admirers for their new "Angeball" style that had left them fighting at the top of the Premier League in the early stages of the season. Postecoglu bought a strong side to the Cottage, including the returning Manor Solomon, but a Micky Van de Ven own goal gave Fulham a first half lead. Richarlison levelled in the second half but neither side could find a winner and the tie ended in penalties. A Davinson Sanchez miss meant perfection from the spot for Fulham would ensure progress in the cup. Pereira, Jimenez, Wilson, Palhinha and Tete duly obliged, and Ange Postecoglu had his first defeat in English football.

9. Palhinha nicks a point at the Emirates
Mikel Arteta's side have made light work of most of their opponents over the last 18 months, and were favourites to take three points from Fulham in this London derby. So it came as a huge shock when Andreas Pereira capitalised on a defensive mistake to give the Whites the lead a minute in. Arsenal rallied in the second half, however, and in a 13 minute period scored twice and saw Calvin Bassey sent off, leaving the game completely in the Gunners' hands. Step up Joao Palhinha, who headed home a Harrison Reed corner to level the tie. 11 minutes of chaos ensued in added time, with wave after wave of Arsenal attacks and a crazy Adama counter which nearly gave Fulham all three points.

8. King Kenny reigns at the Bridge
Just three weeks on from the reverse fixture at the Cottage, Marco Silva's side made the short journey across South West London for the derby with Chelsea. The last three League meetings between the sides at Stamford Bridge has ended in a 2-0 victory for the Blues, but this well-fought and well-earned goalless draw bucked that trend. Kenny Tete in particular put in a masterclass of defending, with one of the great individual Fulham performances in recent memory. That wasn't the only positive result in the derby in 2023, more on that later.

7. Deadline Day drama
There's always drama when the final day of the summer window comes about, for better or for worse. The summer of 2023 was no different. Aleksandar Mitrovic had already left for Saudi Arabia, and the thought of losing another key player was borderline unbearable.

Unfortunately the German powerhouses of Bayern Munich were sniffing around Joao Palhinha, with a deal close assuming Fulham could find a replacement. Unfortunately for Bayern, they could not, and Joao's move was called off at the final hour, to the jubilation of Fulham fans across social media. Within days, the celebrations were reborn as Palhinha signed a new long-term contract. What a roller-coaster of emotions.

6. Top half...and above Chelsea!
The 2022/23 season had been a great one for Fulham. A great run in the FA Cup nearly ended in a trip to Wembley and results in the league had been impressive too. Fulham were by no means favourites for relegation, but for Marco Silva to guide his side into the top half of the table at the first time of asking after promotion was a hell of an achievement. Even more important though, for a generation of fans that had never seen the like, was finishing a top division season above Chelsea, something that hadn't happened for a good 40 years.

5. Back-to-back 5-0 victories
Fulham had found their goalscoring touch for the first time in the 2023/24 season. After previous struggles to work Raul Jimenez into the side amongst Fulham's other attacking options, six goals in two games against Wolves at the Cottage and Liverpool at Anfield had given this side a new lease of life. What happened next though, nobody could've predicted. Nottingham Forest and West Ham came to the Cottage in the space of four December days and were both pummelled by five goals to nil, with seven different players scoring in the process. Not bad for the goal difference, that.

4. Silva's Golden News
After weeks of rumours in the summer regarding the manager's future amid speculation coming from Saudi Arabia, to see him stay was a big relief come the opening day of the Premier League season. What was even more of a relief was the club statement on October 24th announcing that Marco Silva had signed a new deal until the summer of 2026. Most, if not all of the wonderful moments experienced in his tenure since joining Fulham in 2021, have come down to his incredible management of the club. Keeping Silva for another few seasons is the most important business the Khans have done all year.

3. Solomon's seaside smash and grab
Brighton were a force to be reckoned with last season. Roberto de Zerbi's side played superb football and seemed to have a new superstar emerge on a monthly basis, including the likes of Evan Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma. Fulham were missing Mitrovic, Kebano and Cairney through injury and on the day Brighton were clearly the better side. Their xG total was two higher than Fulham's, a result of eight more corners, 16 more shots and a large share of possession. But while any game remains at 0-0, anything can happen. In the 88th minute of the game, Carlos Vinicius held the ball up well and played a perfect pass round his defender for Manor Solomon to run onto. The Israeli winger took the perfect touch towards the left side of the box and finished exquisitely, sending the away fans into absolute delirium.

2. Breaking new ground in the League Cup
When Fulham were drawn away to Everton in the League cup Quarter Finals, fans were optimistic after missing out on the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle. However, come the game in December, Everton had been hit with a points deduction and gone on a brilliant run of wins in the Premier League. The game was a tense affair, with Fulham taking a first half league via an own goal before being pegged back in the second half, much like the Tottenham game in the second round. And just like that game, we went to penalties.

The nerves and atmosphere in the away end were like something I'd never experienced following Fulham before. Every penalty meant so much to a fanbase who so rarely experienced cup joy. After a miss from De Cordova-Reid, it looked to be Everton who would make the semi finals. Alas, misses from Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye left Tosin with chance to send Fulham to a first ever League Cup semi-final. Did he have the bollocks to put it away? You bet he did. Those history making Whites, you've got to love them.

1. Derby Day delight
The last time Fulham won the SW6 derby, our current assistant manager had scored the winner and fights between fans had broken out on the Craven Cottage pitch. We'd come close since 2006 but ultimately never quite got the better of them again since. Clint Dempsey's missed penalty on Valentine's Day 2011 gave us the impression that it might just not happen again. But this year was different. Todd Boehly's Chelsea weren't the same animal that Roman Abramovich's Chelsea were, and Fulham fans sensed an opportunity. Under the lights at the Cottage with the TV cameras around, there was a real sense of optimism in the air. That carried onto the pitch, and 25 minutes in it was Willian who opened the scoring against his former employers, a lead that remained until half time.

That advantage didn't last for long after it though. Koulibably equalised within minutes of the restart, before a moment of madness from debutant Joao Felix left Chelsea with half an hour to play with ten men. That feeling of opportunism was back as the Fulham faithful raised their voices to push the team on. 73 minutes in, the ball falls to Andreas Pereira outside the box, one Brazilian finds another. Enter stage left, Carlos Vinicius Alves Morais. Vini hadn't found his feet in a Fulham shirt, until now, his header going past Kepa Arrizzabalaga and giving Fulham a lead that they kept until the final whistle. A win in the SW6 derby, Carlos Vinicius' name written into Fulham history, and a night to truly cherish.




https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-12-30-fulhams-top-10-moments-of-2023/

[WhiteJC]

Arsenal Matchday Preview
Fulham v Arsenal | Sunday 31st December | 2pm | Craven Cottage | #FULARS

The opposition

    As was the case for much of last season, Arsenal appear well placed to mount a title challenge, currently sitting second in the standings.
    Such is the congested nature at the top of the table, though, they could be anywhere from first to fourth as they enter 2024, depending on results elsewhere and how they fare at Craven Cottage.
    The festive fixtures have been a mixed bag for the Gunners - after securing a vital point at Anfield, they were stunned on home turf by West Ham, who left the Emirates with a 2-0 win.

Fulham team news

Adama Traoré and Tim Ream are still out, while Willian is a doubt to face his former club. Raúl Jiménez is available again following suspension.

Arsenal team news

Mikel Arteta can call upon the services of Kai Havertz once more after he sat out the West Ham loss through suspension. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber are all injured.

Tickets

This match has sold out.

Weather

There is a small chance of rain at kick-off, with temperatures around the nine degree mark.

Player insight

Andreas Pereira is hoping for a similar performance on Sunday to the one which saw us claim a 2-2 draw at the Emirates at the start of the season.

"It gives us a lot of confidence," he admitted. "We know they're a very good team, one of the best teams in the world right now, but we know how to play against them.

"We will try to stop them the best way we can."

Coverage

The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, while FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Fulham Flutter

Win prizes while supporting the Foundation by playing the Fulham Flutter!

Early bird

Fans can take advantage of our early bird offers until 1.30pm! Full price reductions across all items can be viewed here.

Bag policy

Bags larger than A4 in size will not be permitted entry to the stadium. Please see our bag policy for full details, and information on our left luggage facility.

Form

Fulham: WLD*LL
*Won on penalties

Arsenal: LDWDL

Top scorers

Fulham: Raúl Jiménez, Willian (4)

Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka (5)

Matchday programme

As he prepares to take on his former side, Alex Iwobi is the subject of the main interview for Sunday's matchday programme.

"It's always special [playing against Arsenal] and one I'm looking forward to of course," said Iwobi. "Because we've had a lot of matches recently, I haven't given it much thought until now. It has been the old cliché of taking things a match at a time. 

"I've always felt like I've got a point to prove coming up against Arsenal. As is always the case, I want to play my part and be on the winning side."

Elsewhere in the programme, Robert Wilson – who played 253 matches for Fulham in two spells with the Club between 1980 and 1985 and from 1987 to 1989 – features in our 'Ex Files' series.

Priced at £4, you can pick up a copy of the programme on the day or online. 

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/december/30/arsenal-matchday-preview/

[WhiteJC]

Before The Whistle: Fulham v Arsenal

As if Arsenal wasn't a tough enough ask to end the year – they'll now be out to put things right.

After losing to West Ham on Thursday, the Gunners will be eager to return to winning ways and not lose too much ground on Liverpool at the top of the table.

The Whites, meanwhile, are in the midst of some peaks-and-troughs form, and we're firmly in the valley at the moment, losing our last three league games, conceding eight and scoring a big fat zero.

Raul Jimenez is back. But there'll probably be no Willian, who faces a late test. He received his fair share of criticism when he was in the side, but his absence has brought some perspective.

Everyone will be hoping Joao Palhinha starts to regain some form, with some conspiracy theorists believing he's shirking challenges in the hope of a January move. He's got credit in the bank – but how much? Not that we have much to replace him with.

Tom Cairney is enjoying his best run in the starting XI for a few years – and his quality belies the results we're getting. But with our share of the ball expected to be minimum, I expect him to be shuffled out in favour of Reed or Lukic.

The final question is Tete or Castagne? Both men have performed when asked this season, so it's anyone's guess if Silva will go Belgian or go Dutch.

Finally bagging a scalp would be a wonderful way to sign off a banner year for FFC. Here's hoping. You Whites.
ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Sunday, 2.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports

🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Fulham: ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
Arsenal: ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ⬜ ❌
⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Fulham: 24.4%
Draw: 27.6%
Arsenal: 48%
🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

Aug 23: Arsenal 2-2 Fulham
Mar 23: Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
Aug 22: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Apr 21: Arsenal 1-1 Fulham



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-12-30-before-the-whistle-fulham-v-arsenal/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham looking to end 11-year winless run in Arsenal clash
 Fulham will attempt to end an 11-year winless run in meetings with Arsenal when they welcome Mikel Arteta's side to Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Marco Silva will be looking for a positive response from his players after seeing his side lose their last three Premier League matches, including a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in their most recent outing.

As a result of their poor league form, Fulham are currently sitting in 14th position in the Premier League table with 21 points to their name.

 Fulham will attempt to end an 11-year winless run in meetings with Arsenal when they welcome Mikel Arteta's side to Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Marco Silva will be looking for a positive response from his players after seeing his side lose their last three Premier League matches, including a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in their most recent outing.

As a result of their poor league form, Fulham are currently sitting in 14th position in the Premier League table with 21 points to their name.

Although they were unable to pick up a win in their most recent meeting, Fulham managed to rescue a point when the two sides faced off at The Emirates Stadium in August.

Arsenal scored two goals to take the lead after Andre Pereira had opened the scoring, but Joao Palhinha found the net in the 87th minute to ensure the contest finished as a 2-2 draw.

Despite salvaging a positive result from the reverse fixture, Fulham's recent home record against Arsenal makes for grim reading.

They have lost each of their previous four home encounters, conceding at least three goals in their last four meetings at Craven Cottage.

If Fulham are to trouble the Gunners, they will have to do it without the services of Tim Ream and Adama Traore.

Willian is also a doubt for Sunday's home fixture, but Silva will be able to call upon Raul Jimenez, who is available following a three-match suspension.




https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/news/fulham-looking-to-end-11-year-winless-run-in-arsenal-clash_532512.html?newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Premier League clubs are eyeing a move for Atalanta's Ademola Lookman ahead of the January transfer window but face competition for the ex-Everton and Fulham star from Serie A giants Juventus

    Atalanta star Ademola Lookman will represent Nigeria at next month's AFCON 
    The former England U21 international scored in Saturday's 1-0 win over Lecce

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is attracting interest from Premier League and European sides following a string of impressive performances in Serie A.

The former England Under-21 international is understood to be being tracked by Juventus and Nice, while a number of top flight clubs in England are monitoring the attacker ahead of the January transfer window.

Lookman, who will represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Lecce on Saturday his seventh goal of an excellent season.

He has also made six assists with his displays earning rave reviews in Italy.

But Atalanta are bracing themselves for interest in their winger in the next two windows.

Lookman has significant Premier League experience, making close to 100 appearances in England's top league with spells at Everton, Fulham and Leicester.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12913427/Premier-League-Atalanta-Ademola-Lookman-Everton-Fulham-Juventus.html

[WhiteJC]

Willian has made thoughts clear on disastrous Arsenal transfer ahead of awkward reunion
Ahead of Fulham's game against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, Willian has opened up on his disastrous spell at the Emirates, which lasted just 37 matches and one season

Willian has admitted his regret at leaving Chelsea to join Arsenal back in 2020.

The 35-year-old spent seven successful years at Stamford Bridge, scoring 63 goals and adding 62 assists in 339 appearances. He won the Premier League twice, as well as claiming the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. However, Willian decided to leave the club in August 2020.

Arsenal secured Willian's services on a three-year contract and he impressed on his debut, grabbing two assists in a 3-0 win over newly promoted Fulham. However, that's as good as it got for Willian, who scored just once and provided seven assists in 37 matches in a disastrous spell at the Gunners.

In August 2021, Arsenal announced that Willian had departed the club by mutual consent. The Brazilian later described his time at the Gunners as "the worst time that he had lived as a professional". Willian re-joined Corinthians but spent just one season back in his native Brazil, before returning to the Premier League and signing for Marco Silva's Fulham after impressing while on trial.

Willian hit the ground running at Craven Cottage and helped steer Fulham to a mid-table finish, having chipped in with five goals and six assists in 27 Premier League appearances last season. There were fears Willian could leave Fulham in the summer, but he committed his future to the club in July by signing a new one-year deal.

He has been a regular in Fulham's starting XI this term and already has four goals to his name. The Cottagers face Arsenal in a crucial clash on Sunday, and Willian opened up on his time at the Gunners back in November. "Yeah, I wish I'd never left," he admitted to Sky Sports. "Of course, it's easy to say something now, but when I stop to think about the whole situation then yeah, I say to myself I wish I'd never left."

Willian's Fulham have lost their last three Premier League matches and will be looking to bounce back against Arsenal, who have been superb so far this season. Arteta has completely transformed the Gunners' fortunes despite a difficult start to his career as Arsenal boss.

"I'm happy now at Fulham," Willian added. "I'm enjoying myself there, so this is life. "They [Arsenal] are flying now. I don't know, I think I came while it was changing a lot. I was excited when I signed with them, I was training hard but it just didn't work."




https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/willian-fulham-chelsea-arsenal-transfers-31762768

[WhiteJC]

The top 5 best Fulham players of 2023 including 28-year-old superstar and £8m bargain
There aren't too many things that could have gone better for Fulham in 2023 as Marco Silva guided the Whites to a top-ten finish on their return to the Premier

Although plenty of players have come and gone this year, the majority of the main core of the squad have stuck around and now the club have a historic Carabao Cup semi-final to look forward to.

Marco Silva has rightly praised his team's recent performances and there's a lot to look forward to in 2024.

Although it's harsh on some players to only single out five of their teammates, there have been some standout performances this year.

Fulham have to use the upcoming transfer window to build on what they've created under Silva, rather than scrambling to replace any stars who inevitably move on.

Joao Palhinha – Midfielder – 42 appearances, 3 goals, 1 assist
One of the standout midfielders in the Premier League, Joao Palhinha's first full year as a Fulham player has been nothing short of sensational.

He barely missed a game and even after nearing putting pen to paper on a contract in Munich, his ability to immediately refocus on life at Fulham is a huge credit to his character.

Fulham are undoubtedly a much weaker team without the 28-year-old and Marco Silva and the Khans have to do everything they can in January to prevent him leaving halfway through the season.

The Portuguese international deserves a move to a top club but if he can lead Fulham to another top-half finish and maybe even a Carabao Cup final, he will go with many fans' blessings.

Bernd Leno – Goalkeeper – 41 appearances, 10 clean sheets
The £8m Fulham paid Arsenal for Bernd Leno last summer is looking more and more like an absolute steal with each passing game.

Fulham were synonymous with being leaky in defence every time they came back up to the Premier League.

Leno's introduction has provided a stable platform for Fulham to build on for the first time in years and his 10 clean sheets in 2023 don't quite sum up how good he's been between the sticks.

Only Sheffield United's Wes Foderingham has made more saves than Leno, but the fact Fulham are comfortably clear of the relegation zone is testament to how important those saves have been.

Antonee Robinson – Left-back – 44 appearances, 5 assists, 11 clean sheets
One of the highlights of the 2023/24 season so far has been the continued improvement of Antonee Robinson at left-back.

He's now combining his incredible pace with an improved end product and his run of assists at the end of the year are well deserved.

Robinson has formed a fine partnership with Willian and their understanding has seen Silva direct his team to play more attacks down the left wing than the right.

The American international has also improved defensively and while Kenny Tete is still the superior one-on-one defender in the squad, it looks like the Dutchman's influence is rubbing off on Robinson.

Robinson typifies the modern attacking full-back and while he's unlikely to be inverting into midfield like Trent Alexander-Arnold any time soon, his ability to underlap and overlap has made him incredibly difficult to defend against.

Willian – Winger – 37 appearances, 8 goals, 5 assists
A superstar in his own right, Willian has oozed class time after time in a Fulham shirt during 2023.

Technically a new signing this season after his contract expired in the summer, plenty of Fulham fans will be delighted he chose to remain at the Cottage over a move to Nottingham Forest.

As mentioned above, his partnership with Robinson has been really important, but Willian is also capable of producing moments of individual magic.

His goal against Nottingham Forest at the start of the year stands out, but his ability to carve out chances and keep possession in the final third makes him an essential player in Silva's system.

Andreas Pereira – Attacking midfielder – 42 appearances, 4 goals, 8 assists
The lull at the start of the season in Andreas Pereira's form suggested several things.

Firstly, he had set some exceptionally high standards for what we expected from a player who had his sceptics when signed after a loan spell in Flamengo.

He was also coming back from a serious ankle injury picked up at the end of last season and the fact he was even available to play against Everton was remarkable.

Pereira was also adapting to life with Aleksandar Mitrovic whom he had formed such a potent partnership with during his first year at the club.

His hat-trick of assists against Nottingham Forest confirmed what many Fulham fans already knew, the Brazilian was a quality footballer who just needed some additional time to adapt to a slightly tinkered system.

Alongside new signing Alex Iwobi, Fulham appear to have two players who can unlock a defence from central areas in the final third.

Stats accurate as of 29 December



https://www.fulham.news/2023/12/31/the-top-5-best-fulham-players-of-2023-including-28-year-old-superstar-and-8m-bargain/

[WhiteJC]

Everton want to sign Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed as January transfer window rated
Everton want to sign Fulham ace Harrison Reed in the January transfer window, according to The Mail on Sunday.

The newspaper reported on page 84 of its print edition on 31 December that the Toffees are also eyeing Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer, but that there is only a "slim chance" that could happen in the upcoming window.

It added that the budget means loans are more likely for the Blues, with a centre-back and a new left-back on Sean Dyche's wishlist, while Ben Godfrey, Andre Gomes and Amadou Onana are the most likely candidates to leave Goodison Park.

Quiet
It's likely to be a reasonably quiet transfer window for Everton due to the club's well-documented financial issues off the pitch.

That means Dyche is probably going to have to work hard to secure a couple of players on loan to bulk up his squad and strengthen in a couple of areas where he feels they may be light.

The 28-year-old Reed could prove to be an option after he's been a bit-part player for Fulham over the past few weeks, with the midfielder recording more than 100 Premier League appearances to his name, including 16 this season.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see the odd fringe player leave, but the Toffees will surely do all they can to fend off any interest in Belgian midfielder Onana.

There could also be interest in Jarrad Branthwaite after several clubs are believed to have been monitoring his progress over the past few months, having impressed since breaking into the first-team picture.

The priority should still be on getting some players through the door, though, as you never know what could happen in the second half of the season as the Blues look to steer themselves away from danger again.



https://www.goodisonnews.com/2023/12/31/everton-want-to-sign-fulham-midfielder-harrison-reed-as-january-transfer-window-rated/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss Marco Silva denies reports of a Bayern Munich winter offer for João Palhinha
Will João Palhinha stay at Fulham this winter, or he will he go?

It is still completely up in the air as to whether or not Fulham and Portugal midfielder João Palhinha will ever become a Bayern Munich player. After his move to the Rekordmeister fell through in the dying minutes of the summer transfer window, he has signed a contract extension with Fulham, but has maintained that he is still open to leaving the Craven Cottage outfit and he would still very much enjoy becoming a Bayern player.

Semantics aside, the latest updates with the midfielder seemed to suggest that Bayern's board is quite confident they would be priced out of a move for Fulham's holding midfielder. Bayern did not want to wind up in a position where they would have to pay upwards of 60-70 million euros for him in the winter window, though they were prepared to pay that much in the summer, by contrast.

In the latest twist of the tale, Fulham manager Marco Silva has confirmed that there have not been any movements or updates with Palhinha — either a good or bad sign for Bayern fans depending on how you look at the situation.

"I've spoken with the board about it. I can say we have not received anything, no approaches. We have full focus on the games," Silva recently explained to The Athletic's Peter Rutzler (via @iMiaSanMia).

Rutzler also reports that a move to Bayern is still on the table for Palhinha, so long as Bayern are ready to submit an offer somewhere in the range of €65 million, which is the fee in principle that had been agreed upon in the summer when the move nearly took place. One of the biggest reasons why everything fell through at the last minute was Fulham not having found a replacement for Palhinha within enough time for the deal to go through. The German transfer window technically closed a bit sooner than the English one, which briefly cut in to Fulham's time to try to tie down a proper replacement.



https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/12/31/24019930/bayern-munich-fulham-joao-palhinha-transfer-update-the-athletic-bundesliga-premier-league-tuchel-ucl

[WhiteJC]

Up next: Arsenal (h)
Fulham will look to finish 2023 in a far more positive fashion this afternoon after two disappointing defeats by Burnley and AFC Bournemouth after the festive period. Marco Silva's side failed to find the necessary response to a home capitulation to the struggling Clarets when they were well beaten at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day – and they now face Arsenal with the Gunners seeking some retribution of their own after Mikel Arteta's side slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United on Thursday evening.

Arsenal appear well placed to mount another title challenge, having gone close last term and added the former West Ham captain Declan Rice to their midfield. The Gunners gained an important point at Liverpool, but will be looking to bounce back from being beaten by Hammers as they head into another London derby this afternoon. They are unbeaten in their last nine London derbies and have a strong record at Craven Cottage. Arsenal have won all of their last five league visits to the white half of SW6 – scoring three times in their last four outings – and have not lost in eleven meetings with the Cottagers, dating back to January 2012 when Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora secured a late comeback win for Martin Jol's men.

Arteta will be able to reintroduce Kai Havertz into his three-man midfield after the former Chelsea man missed the reverse to West Ham through suspension. He will be without the services of Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira, although full back Takehiro Tomiyasu has returned to training over the weekend. Fulham will need to show far more tenacity and invention than they have managed in their last two fixtures, with Silva's side seeming timid, tired and out of ideas both against Vincent Kompany's outfit and then again at Bournemouth, where they were distinctly second best after a tight start.

The Fulham head coach struck an upbeat tone in his pre-match press conference, instructing his players to take belief from the way they fought to the end to get a point with ten men at the Emirates earlier this season. Attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira has described the previous two results as 'a wake-up call,' whilst admitting that he badly needs to improve his own form. Silva will at least be able to call upon the returning Raul Jimenez up front after the Mexican served a three-match suspension for his ill-timed challenge up at Newcastle United. The former Wolves striker will be warmly welcomed back into the starting line-up, as neither Rodrigo Muniz or Carlos Vinicius have posed much of a threat in his absence.

Fulham are still sweating on the fitness of Willian, with the Brazilian veteran having missed the last three games after injuring his hamstring in the 5-0 hammering of West Ham United. The wily winger will be desperate to return against his former employers – and the Whites have looked pedestrian and rather predictable without Willian in their side. A tactical tweak could be in order against one of the top flight's smartest sides with possession as the two-man central midfield of Joao Palhinha, who has been badly below par of late, and Tom Cairney was easily outfought on Boxing Day. This afternoon may call for the services of Harrison Reed in a more disciplined defensive midfield role to try and disrupt the Gunners' rhythm. Sasa Lukic had his best game in a Fulham shirt at Arsenal back in August, but was pitiful when he came on late in the proceedings at Bournemouth – so the Serbian will be fortunate to settle for a spot on the bench.

There are also some defensive issues to resolve, even if the personnel is largely looking to remain the same. Bernd Leno, who has been exceptional since moving across London eighteen months ago, endured two poor outings and took out his frustration on a Bournemouth ball boy five days ago. The German will be keen to prove his point to Arteta again and there will need to be a bit more cohesion in front of him. Both Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson were off colour in the defeat at the Vitality Stadium, whilst the Whites were far too easy to play through from the outset – as evidenced by Alex Scott's run from halfway line for the Cherries' opening goal just before half time. Any hint of a repeat and this could be a very long afternoon.

MY FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Palhinha, Reed, Cairney; Willian, Wilson, Jimenez. Subs: Rodak, Tete, Ballo-Toure, Adarabioyo, Lukic, Andreas, De Cordova-Reid, Harris, Vinicius.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/up-next-arsenal-h-3/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool player could soon be Fulham-bound after latest transfer development
Fabio Carvalho's career could come full circle amid reported interest from ex-outfit Fulham in taking the player on loan.

The on-loan Liverpool star, currently plying his trade in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, is understood to share the Reds' frustrations over his lack of playing minutes in Germany.

BILD (via Sport Witness), however, reports that the side still hope to keep hold of the attacking midfielder going into the new year.

What a waste of potential
Whatever way Marco Rose's side look at the situation, three starts from 11 appearances for the club simply isn't viable enough to ensure Carvalho's development.

In that sense, we'd be more than happy to see the 21-year-old switch over to Craven Cottage where his talents have been historically far more appreciated.

It's unclear whether or not the Portuguese footballer does genuinely have a future in Merseyside at this stage.

Though, it's a far more likely eventuality if he can earn regular Premier League minutes in London.




https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/12/31/liverpool-player-could-be-fulham-bound-development/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Tottenham ready to offer Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Fulham in player-plus-cash deal for Tosin Adarabioyo
Tottenham are ready to offer Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Fulham as part of a player-plus-cash deal to sign defender Tosin Adarabioyo in January, Tottenham News has been told.

Injuries to first-team centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven leave Ange Postecoglou's side very light at the back.

Postecoglou recently revealed that signing a new centre-back is a "priority" for him in the upcoming January transfer window (Sky Sports News, 15 December).

A recruitment source with links to Spurs has told Tottenham News that the north London side are readying a player-plus-cash deal to sign Adarabioyo from Fulham, in a deal which would see Hojbjerg head the other way.

Adarabioyo has just six months left on his contract at Craven Cottage and Marco Silva's side are wary of losing the 26-year-old for free next summer.

The centre-back has started the club's last five league matches after recovering from a groin injury which required surgery and had kept him out of action since August.

Tottenham News understands that Fulham could be tempted by the offer due to their long-standing interest in Hojbjerg, who turned down a move to the Cottagers last summer (Daily Mail, 1 September).

Hojbjerg joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2020 in a deal worth £15million (Sky Sports News, 12 August), and was a key player for the club under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

He has made 164 appearances in a Spurs shirt and started all 38 of their league matches in his debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, the Denmark international has seen his role in the first-team reduced this year under Postecoglou, starting just five matches in all competitions, and he could therefore look to quit Tottenham in search of more regular first-team football.



https://www.tottenhamhotspurnews.com/exclusives/exclusive-tottenham-ready-to-offer-pierre-emile-hojbjerg-to-fulham-in-player-plus-cash-deal-for-tosin-adarabioyo/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool make contact with Premier League rivals to sign 26-year-old in January
Liverpool are looking to sign a quality left-back during the January transfer window and they have identified the Fulham defender Antonee Robinson as a target.

A report from the Mirror claims that Liverpool have now made contact with the London club regarding the 26-year-old defender and it remains to be seen whether the two clubs can come to an agreement.

Liverpool will need to sign a left-back next month, especially with Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson sidelined with injuries. Jurgen Klopp does not have any other specialist left-backs at his disposal and Robinson could prove to be a useful acquisition.

The 26-year-old USMNT defender has done quite well in the Premier League with Fulham this season and he has the quality to play for big clubs like Liverpool. A move to Anfield would certainly be a major step up in his career and the player could be attracted to the idea of joining the Reds.

However, he is a key player for the London club and Fulham might not want to sanction his departure midway through the season. They will struggle to replace him in January and his departure could affect their chances of securing a top-half finish.

Fulham have been quite vulnerable defensively this season and they have conceded 34 goals in 19 league matches. Letting a defender leave in January could prove to be a disastrous decision.

It will be interesting to see if Liverpool decide to test their resolve with an attractive offer next month.

Liverpool are on top of the league table and they will need to plug the gaps in their squad in January if they want to win the league title. Robinson will add defensive quality and depth to the side. His arrival could prove to be a wise investment.



https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/12/31/liverpool-make-contact-with-premier-league-rivals-to-sign-26-year-old-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss expects Arsenal "to be harder" after shock defeat
Everyone is looking forward to seeing Arsenal play Fulham. All eyes will be on whether the Gunners can regain their winning ways or continue to fall behind in the title chase.

Marco Silva, Fulham's manager, stated in an interview with Sky Sports that in the current situation Arsenal is in (having not won their past two games), he can't help but be concerned since now could be the worst time to play Arsenal. He knows the Gunners, whom he regards as a top team, are hungry for a win, so even if they are eager to return to winning ways (they have lost their last three league games), he believes they will struggle.

"We know what we are going to face, what they are capable to do and things that we can exploit," he told Sky Sports. "If you ask me, it is going to be harder because they will want to bounce back. Top, top sides do not normally have two results in a row that are not positive.

"So, probably because of that, it is going to be harder because they'll want to bounce back. But, at the same time, we want to bounce back and get back to winning ways again. We want this. It is our aim and goal."

The Gunners have the perfect reason to be ruthless against the Cottagers this Sunday, despite not winning their last two games, wanting to be in the title race, and having already ceded two points to Fulham.

 The Gunners are dangerous and frightening; they simply need to capitalise on their numerous opportunities, and victory will be as simple as ABC.

Take the Gooners into 2024 with a smile. That's my request to Arteta and the boys.



https://www.justarsenal.com/fulham-boss-worried-about-arsenals/356785