football.london reporters select their Arsenal starting XIs for the Premier League clash against Fulham
Arsenal are looking to capitalise on the chance to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League when they host Fulham on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta has already confirmed that Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz won’t be available due to injury, while captain Martin Odegaard remains a fitness doubt.
Bukayo Saka is pushing to return to the starting line-up following his lengthy absence but Arteta will be mindful that his winger’s conditioning needs to be managed during the run-in.
football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have selected the Arsenal XIs they want to see versus Fulham.
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Tom Canton
It seems like the next step is to now start Bukayo Saka in this game, take him off after an hour or so to build up to when he will play more. Then it will be about rotating in and out some players.
It seems an ideal time to rest Martin Zubimendi and bring in Myles Lewis-Skelly to play the box-to-box role, while Declan Rice can move to the No.6 position. Both full-backs can change, too, with Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera coming in.
Then Leandro Trossard comes in to play on the left flank, and Eberechi Eze starts centrally. Martin Odegaard is to be given a much-needed rest to avoid any further knee pain and have him ready for Tuesday.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Fulham: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Ryan Taylor
There is plenty for Mikel Arteta to ponder this weekend but he must resist any temptation to think ahead to Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Arsenal desperately need to win this game and he needs to go strong.
I’d recall Cristhian Mosquera at right-back as Ben White had a rough time on Wednesday evening up against Ademola Lookman.
I’d also bring Riccardo Calafiori back into the fold at left-back ahead of Piero Hincapie because the Italian needs to be ready to play a part during the run-in.
In midfield, Declan Rice plays as the No.6 as he has done in the past two matches with Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze further forward.
The onus should be on Eze to take centre stage while in attack, Bukayo Saka starts his first match since the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
On the other flank, I’d keep Gabriel Martinelli in the starting XI with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line as he looks to build on his midweek penalty.
Taylor’s Arsenal XI vs Fulham: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
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