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The Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, spoke to Sky Sports, starting with that defeat of Bournemouth last week.
I love winning in any form or shape. It’s not a good thing [winning in the last minute] for my health but the energy that generated in the stadium is great. It gives you belief. Every game is different, the margins are so small and we need to win by bigger margins so we need to improve on that.
I trust my players. We made six changes on Thursday and we make changes again today.
Really happy with Trossard. We have been looking at him for a while. He gives us adaptability and creativity in the final third. He’s a really important player for us.
Every manager wants to end before the international break in good form and it’s no different for us. They are a well organised team. They are good on set-plays and direct play. They can play off Mitrovic and don’t lose many games. Today will be tough.
What do these teams mean? Well, Fulham are without Willian, the Arsenal bust turned rather useful Cottager. He’s not even on the bench as Bobby Decordova-Reid and Tosin Adarabioyo come in for the Brazilian as well as Issa Diop. Joao Palhinha is still missing through suspension.
For Arsenal, beyond Jesus’ place on the bench, Leandro Trossard is back after his injury last week. Ben White is back at full-back, and so is Granit Xhaka in midfield. Strong Arsenal team with Thomas Partey starting. Add Jesus to that and you pretty much have their first choice.
The teams – Gabriel Jesus on the bench for ArsenalFulham: Leno, Tete, Tosin, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Lukic, Pereira, Decordova-Reid, Solomon, Mitrovic. Subs: Rodak, Wickens, Wilson, James, Diop, Vinicius, Francois, Harris, C Robinson.
Arsenal team: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard. Subs: Turner, Tierney, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Holding, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Vieira, Nelson.
Church on a Sunday, Jesus returns?….Nah, best left.
Are you one of those who thinks Arsenal are overdoing the celebs? Well, Mikel Arteta has a thought for you.
Well, [if] you want passion and emotion there is nothing better than scoring goals and winning football matches. So if not, you go to church. For sure, I won’t be telling the players not to celebrate on Sunday.
There’s more than a few London churches that will be full of passion and emotion today but Arteta’s point is that the flush of emotion that many dismiss has also been a key facet of an unlikely title charge.
That’s the story at the top. Should Fulham win, they can actually draw level on points with Liverpool though they have an inferior goal difference. What a season they’ve had. Remember when it was suggested they would be a “yo-yo” team, a label Marco Silva thought was a fitting label.
PreambleThat late Erling Haaland penalty at Selhurst Park was a blow to Arsenal, just when it looked as if they might steal a further march on Manchester City. No matter, on with the business of winning matches and staying five points clear, which can be a fraught business, judging by last week’s 3-2 win against Bournemouth, a victory secured in the dying seconds from Reiss Nelson, who with three goals and two assists in his short cameo is one of the most potent players around.
Perhaps though, we might get a glimpse of Gabriel Jesus today, at least on the bench for what looks a tough trip to Fulham, who began their season with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool that signposted a fine campaign ahead. They will, though, miss Joao Palhinha, one of the signings of the season, in midfield. Marco Silva’s team work hard, and press hard, with what promises to be a chilly March afternoon by the Thames. The stakes are getting higher with each turn in the title race, and there’s all to play for.
Kickoff is at 1pm UK time. Join me.