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Fulham and Arsenal, both looking to recover from recent losses, clash at Craven Cottage in their last Premier League game of 2023 on New Year's Eve.
It's their first encounter since August, when Joao Palhinha's late goal secured a 2-2 draw for Fulham against Arsenal.
Except for their shootout win against Everton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, Fulham haven't had much to celebrate over the holidays. They faced a third straight Premier League loss, falling 3-0 to Bournemouth on Boxing Day, failing to score.
Despite a solid first half, Fulham conceded just before halftime to Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert, followed by goals from Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra. This defeat marked their 10th loss in the league. Fulham sits 13th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone, having played more games than 18th-placed Luton.
Fulham has found success at Craven Cottage, gaining 15 of their 21 Premier League points there this season. They had a streak of three home wins, scoring 13 goals, before a surprising 2-0 loss to Burnley in their last home game.
Fulham hasn't won against Arsenal in their last 11 meetings and has lost their last seven home games against London rivals. However, history shows they often win their final league game in five out of eight calendar years, suggesting a positive outcome is possible on Sunday.
As the New Year beckons, Arsenal's quest to clinch the Premier League title after two decades demands a more clinical approach in front of goal. Despite their recent stumble, Mikel Arteta's squad aims to kickstart 2024 on a high note as they face a struggling Fulham on New Year's Eve.
A 2-0 defeat to West Ham, marked by goals from Tomás Soucek and former Arsenal player Konstantinos Mavropanos, left the Gunners trailing leaders Liverpool by two points before Matchday 20. Arsenal's frustrating loss saw them make a record-breaking 77 touches in the opposition box without finding the net, with missed opportunities from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard, and a crucial stoppage-time penalty save by David Raya.
Suggestions abound that Arsenal should seek a goal scorer in the January transfer window. However, alongside bolstering their scoring prowess, they also need to enhance creativity when facing defensive walls. Despite excelling with 11 set-piece goals, their open-play expected goals (21.44 xG) rank 10th in the league, lagging behind 12 other teams, including Fulham who have scored 18 open-play goals.
Captain Martin Ødegaard, a standout in the Opta Player Ratings Team of the Season so far, could be pivotal in revitalizing Arsenal's performance. With an impressive away record, Ødegaard has been directly involved in the most away Premier League goals for Arsenal since last season, while Kai Havertz might join him in midfield after missing the previous game due to suspension. Despite no fresh selection issues for Arteta, Fábio Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Thomas Partey remain sidelined.
Defender Gabriel Magalhães, having scored against title rivals Liverpool earlier in the festive period, boasts a commendable track record against Fulham, having scored in three out of four Premier League clashes against them, twice at Craven Cottage in 3-0 victories.
At the midway point of the season, Arsenal finds themselves 10 points adrift compared to the same stage in the previous season. Fulham, mirroring this decline, has experienced erratic form, oscillating between impressive wins and consecutive losses, most recently succumbing to defeats against Newcastle United, Burnley, and Bournemouth by a collective score of 8-0, following dominant victories over Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
João Palhinha secured a late equalizer in their previous encounter at the Emirates, where Fulham managed a commendable draw despite Bassey's dismissal. This season, they have the chance to avoid defeat against Arsenal in both matchups, a feat achieved only twice before in the Premier League: in 2008-09 and 2011-12, securing one win and one draw each time.
Arsenal holds a remarkable track record at Craven Cottage, triumphing in their last five away league games against Fulham, scoring at least three goals in their four recent visits. Their only comparable streak dates back to the 1930s against Aston Villa, where they scored three or more goals in five consecutive away league matches.
During their last visit in March, Arteta's team cruised to a 3-0 victory, witnessing Trossard make Premier League history by assisting three goals before halftime in an away match.
Arsenal typically performs well in London derbies away from home, maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last nine Premier League away matches against London-based teams (seven wins, two draws). Their longest such streak was between 2001 and 2005 under Arsène Wenger, spanning 19 games without defeat.
Contrastingly, Fulham's recent record in home London derbies has seen them lose five of their last seven Premier League matches (one win, one draw), failing to score in each loss, although they did manage a convincing 5-0 win against West Ham in their most recent encounter.
Following a tough Christmas period, Fulham faces the risk of four straight league defeats without scoring, a feat not seen since September 1971 when they were in the second tier.
Despite this, Silva’s team has shown strength at home, winning six out of their last nine games at Craven Cottage in various competitions, though they've also suffered three losses.
Arsenal, on the other hand, has struggled in their recent away matches, failing to win in their last three across different competitions. They lost to Aston Villa and drew with PSV and Liverpool.
However, Arsenal tends to perform well around the New Year, winning their final league game in 12 of the last 16 calendar years, including the last three years. Last year, they secured a 4-2 victory against Brighton on December 31. Notably, this match marks the first time they've played on New Year’s Eve in consecutive years.
In contrast, Fulham has secured wins in their final league game in five of the last eight calendar years, with their only loss in that sequence occurring against Sheffield United in the Championship in 2021.
