Arsenal v Fulham: Preview and Lineup – The Return of the Zinch, Big Gab and Maybe Even the Dancer

TotalArsenal

Here we go again, folks. PL#3 game is v Fulham and what a fine fixture this is. The Cottagers play fine football under Silva and Arsenal have made a good albeit not convincing start. We had to battle hard for those six points and lean heavily on our defence, but the boys did the job and the points are in the bag.

With the horrible red Mancs coming to the Home of Football next week, we need a really good win today to boost morale. And with two home games in a row (three out of four since the start) we have a great opportunity to build on those early wins. Of course, the biggest risk is to underestimate Silva’s men, and with Palhinha returning to Fulham’s midfield, they will make it difficult for us.

I wrote in a previous post that our left side is not ticking along as yet. We still miss Granit, and we need much more cohesion between the players there. A lot seems to be going through Bukayo and we have become a bit predictable as a result. Now, with the likely return of the Zinch as left back and possibly Gab Jesus, we should see an improvement, both on the left and through the middle. it has been a bit static until now, and with the added thrust of Zinchenko and movement up-front of Jesus, I think we will be dancing again.

Reading between the lines, I don’t think Jesus -the Dancer- will start today, but it is good to know that he is almost fully fit again. Eddie really is the perfect alternative: more of a line-dancer than a specialist in the Charleston, but it works somehow. IF he was any better he would not be our backup CF, and yet he is good enough to do a more than decent job every time he starts. Eddie is also still young and will develop further, so all good.

No Tomiyasu, after a ridiculous double yellow on Monday, probably means another start at right back for Thomas. I am still struggling with playing him there, as I feel he needs to be the back up for Declan Rice, and we all know that Partey is injury-prone. But Arteta knows best of course.

I am hoping that Big Gab will start again and that there is no fall-out between him and the manager. For the rest I expect the same players starting as in previous matches.

Predicted (and hoped for) Lineup:

Ramsdale

White-Tequila-Big Gab-Zinch

——Declan Rice——–

–The Ode—–Havertz–

Bukayo—Eddie—Marti

Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners.

By TotalArsenal.

A great article about Bukayo. What a player.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/25/bukayo-saka-nothing-worth-having-is-easy-its-about-how-much-you-want-it-arsenal

80 thoughts on “Arsenal v Fulham: Preview and Lineup – The Return of the Zinch, Big Gab and Maybe Even the Dancer”

  • Matt, I believe that Trossard should be getting more starts however, I also believe that Kai’s efforts are going under the radar and he should be getting more credit for what he’s contributed so far. There’s a reason that he was left on in the previous game as was articulated in the Football London article recently.

  • I strongly believe including Trossard and Nelson in the starting up will give Arteta more solid combination options going into the Champions League. The tactical change he made after Tomi was sent off kept on the back foot. Overall, we have a pool of talented young squad.

  • Trossard is a good player, but if he were to start it surely would be for Martinelli. Havertz, like Rice, is gradually becoming embedded in the team.

    A start for Nelson is only possible if Bukayo is moved to another position, which is highly unlikely.

    But I also would like to see Nelson play more minutes. 🙂

  • Good preview, TA, and well said on the need for momentum, going into that next game vs the red mancs. The lads cannot allow for any scoreline that may put them on edge in that game. Chances are they may have minds on that game but best to go OGAAT (easier to say, I know) .

    The team sheet is out and suggests it is going to be same line up, except that Kiwior plays at left back and Trossard is on for Eddy; with Gabriel Jesus, Nketiah, Nelson, ESR, Gabriel Maghalaes, Vieira, Jorginho, Zinchenko and Raya on the bench.

    COYG!

  • Annoyingly, the spuds are winning away at Bournemouth. They are being made to look really short, the home side.

  • Good to see Kiwior starting a game and Trossard’s control should get more out of Martinelli and Havertz, Jesus and Zinchenko to get a run-Out in preparation for Man Utd…

  • Saw another 11 with Nketiah starting.
    Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Partey, White, Saliba, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

    Subs: Raya, Zinchenko, Gabriel, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Jesus

    Suspended: Tomiyasu.

  • Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukic, Andreas; Wilson, Jimenez, Cordova-Reid

    Subs: Rodak, Tosin, Mbabu, Reed, Cairney, Harris, Traore, Muniz, Vinicius

  • This should be more reliable. Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Partey, White, Saliba, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

    Subs: Raya, Zinchenko, Gabriel, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Jesus

  • Fulham are not going to sit back even after getting that early goal, from a misplaced Saka pass and a bit of luck. We have had more possession but not enough penetration, except for a few sighters that we’ve not had men positioned for.

    You feel we would need to hit back fast as they would only grow in confidence, otherwise.

    Patience is key here. We keep rushing our opportunities.

  • Half time amd still 0-1, but no longer for lack of openings and attempts. Martinelli needs some more support from Havertz or Trossard, whoever is occupying that Xhaka shaped hole.

    We seem to lack composure at critical moments. This has to change. We should be drubbing Fulham here but rather, they are getting sniffs at our goal, even as we dominate the ball.

    I can’t even propose the right changes now because unless we get a goal and draw them out of their defensive shape, it may mean the same result till they start to tire.

  • Yeah, we do. That early change(s) may not be what we needed but let’s see if it makes a difference.

    Some changes are better when the opposition start to tire. They are starting to believe in whatever it is Marco Silva has instructed them to do. I think now we have Eddy in there, crosses can start to come in.

  • That’s 2 goals, back to back. 2-1!! Nketiah!

    Vieira has had an impact on the game, it’s got to be said.

  • 2-2! From a corner that may not have been had the ref agreed it was a foul on Martinelli by Jimenez and not a corner kick.

    The thing with Zinchenko is that he has a misplaced pass or two in him. He caused that equaliser when he lost the ball there. However, we needed to be tight there for that corner kick.

  • Not the result we expected but we have a lot to learn in a season where we need to be consolidating on the gains of last season, rather than be experimenting.

    We move on to the next game.

  • It just wasn’t happening for us today, misplaced passes, no snap to our play, it all seemed a bit laboured at times, I blame Paul Tierney, he’s a right Jonah.

    I felt sorry for Havertz because nothing worked for him, he looks a bit like Pablo Vieira looked a year ago, but didn’t he look sharp when he came on, show what confidence can do for a player who previously was going nowhere, so there’s hope for Kai, he just has to keep working and eventually his luck will change.

    First Eddie goal from the subs bench, he looks mustard, can’t say the same about our defence…

  • It’s disappointing now ESR is being treated. He is a academy kid for god’s sake and someone who came good during our dark times. He can’t get any minutes and looks like his career lies elsewhere. Bitterly disappointed for him seeing how ineffective Havertz has been surely it’s time ESR gets to play. Vieira did very well today , time for ESR as well.
    Nothing much to say about the match today.

  • Wow! West ham are going top of the table, for now. 0-3 at Brighton amd they have played with very little possession.

    Strange game, football.

  • We need to play our players in their natural positions , this experimentation isn’t working , ben white at right back is a must just like last year , partey there is not working , center backs should be Saliba and gabrielle (unless there is an injury ) which there isn’t , we are over thinking this team selection and positions thing to our detriment , today we were poor and the team selection was wrong , arteta deserves credit when he gets it right but at the moment he should be criticised as he’s getting it wrong . Why’s tierney not in the team ? Why are we selling a young player who scored twenty goals last season for 35 mil ( balogun) , whys one of our two best central defenders not playing although he’s fit ? Why’s haiverts started all three games but not looked great at all ? Some of this Makes no sense

  • ESR is our academy star and no matter what you say this treatment of his is unacceptable. This not only thanks his value as an asset but kills his confidence as well. Surely he gets some minutes to build up his confidence and form. I am sure we would still be the same.chaos or may be better. This treatment of an academy start cannot be condoned. I would rather have an academy player playing in our setup than a Chelsea reject for 65M who hasn’t contributed anything meaning full till now.

  • You just don’t know anything about Arteta’s plans and communications wth Emile, Madhu. Just venting your seemingly limitless frustrations. Support both and take it easy, buddy.

  • Sorry Ta this is the way I am and I wouldn’t change for anything. Arsenal is my escape world from the pretty grim scenarios in my country and around the world. I got one is a steadfast supporter of Hale end. We cannot survive buying expensive rejects from Chelsea.

  • Pablo Vieira copped a load of criticism last season and tbh he was fairly uninspiring for a player who cost £34m, but yesterday, for the first time I saw the spark from him that had been missing for 12 months, and who knows why that was, maybe he had problems settling into a new country?

    Anyway he looked mustard when he came on and was a major component in turning a losing situation into a winning situation.

  • Now Pablo has to do it again because one swallow doesn’t make a summer but if he can be as effective the next time and the time after that and when he actually starts a game then we may finally have a player on our hands and a proper alternative to Odegaard when he needs a rest?

  • There are too many fans who had a downer on Havertz when he arrived and I’m not going to lie because I also questioned the wisdom of spending £65m on a guy who’d been bang average for Chelsea for three years (maybe someone can bring up his stats at the Bridge, you know appearances and goals etc?). I can’t ever remember Kai having a good game against Arsenal or scoring a goal.

    But I’ve got faith in our scouting and analytics dept as well as Arteta and Edu because signings are a collective effort, especially at that figure. So I do trust the process and I do trust our manager and his coaching staff and trust tha5 we’ll have more good days this season than bad.

    There’s a lot of angry and frustrated people out there online and on other blogs, who only seem to be happy when they have something to complain about, I see them on other blogs, when we play well they’re absent but if something goes awry they’re out there telling anyone who’ll listen how Arteta is a tinkerman, that he doesn’t know what he’s doing and they target certain players in order to take their audience with them. Debating with them is a waste of time because their issues must go deeper than football.

    And I’m not digging you out Madhunis case you think that, I’m making a general observation and am not pointing any fingers at you

  • I go on Le Grove a lot mainly because there are some interesting posters on there and it has a lot of traffic, but the downside is the negativity it creates from a sizeable group of posters with anger management issues and hidden agendas, I also suspect that as the busiest Arsenal blog that it attracts trolls from other clubs, wannabe comedians and wind-up merchants who just stir the pot, all that also makes it lively and interesting, up to a point. But if you spend all of your blogging time on X, Facebook and LG you’re going to get a perverted view of the Arsenal diaspora and that’s why I visit several blogs, it gives me a more balanced view and after a disappointing result it afford a haven from the madness.

    I mean ffs it’s only football….

  • You are on fire this morning, Kev. My theory is there are a lot of unhappy people out there and they need Arsenal for a ‘happy-fix’, and when they don’t get they go cold turkey. Nasty really.

  • Madhu, love and be kind and forgiving to the ones you love, even when they let down occasionally.

    Re Kai… Remember Bergkamp took a few months to settle in. He just needs a goal. KtF. 🙂

  • 3 games our of 28 does not tell us much. Yes we are stuttering but be remain unbeaten with 78% of our points won. It’s easy to pick holes but I prefer to retain my faith in both our team and management.

  • Total, I can understand expressions of anger during and immediately post a match but for some it’s a way of life, they never let it go, it’s luck a drug and it’s quite worrying because there are a lot of constantly angry people out there.

    Apparently Arteta should be sacked for signing Havertz..,

  • Some turnaround that was by Liverpool at Newcastle.
    Our lads have a thing or two to learn from the response of ‘Pool to going down to 10 men and that it’s not always a “death sentence”, if you stay composed. We don’t always have to fold once we get a red card. Indeed, it is a time to show defiance and keep heads up.

    Lately, we have started to drop our intensity after going a goal better, especially when fighting back. Take the game yesterday, we entered defence mode and Arteta made defensive subs, which sends the wrong message to the players.

    That was a captivating finish to that game.

  • I was so happy for Eddie and Vieira. Sad that a lapse on a set piece cost us the 2 points. I’m a big supporter of Havertz. Do all other teams fans have such unrealistic expectations for immediate results? The guy hasn’t scored, I know, but theyre not clicking on that left side at all.
    Doesn’t help that we’ve started 3 different left backs so far, all down to bad circumstances…injury to Timber, unfair double yellow to Tomi.
    Martinelli has also been poor, but maybe for similar reasons. Havertz has all the attributes need for that midfield role. Will need some time.

  • Competition results.

    For the weekend:-

    1st Total & PB with 4 correct predictions, 1 correct score & share of most correct predictions = 8 points.
    3rd Eris with 3 correct predictions & 1 correct score = 5 points.
    4th OX10 with 2 correct predictions & 1 correct score = 4 points.
    5th Kev, Madhu & GN5 with 3 correct predictions = 3 points
    8th Stuart with 2 correct predictions = 2 points
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Season to date:-

    1st PB with 17.33
    2nd Stuart with 16.00
    3rd Total & OX10 with 11.00
    5th Eris with 10.33
    6th Kev with 9.33
    7th Madhu with 9.00
    8th GN5 with 6.00
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Well done PB for taking the lead – not unexpectedly I might add.
    Total made a big move from 8th to 3rd, while GN5 stayed in his normal place at the bottom.

  • Next weekends selections:-

    Sheffield United v Everton *
    Brentford v Bournemouth *
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest *
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United *
    Arsenal v Manchester United *
    Rangers v Celtic *

  • Thanks for the update, GN5. Wow, it’s nice to win with PB this week. PB got the West Ham result and score right, which was some prediction in my opinion.

    Your time will come, GN5 ⚽ ⚽ ⚽

  • Nice going TA and PB. Not to worry, GN5, the way the competition rules are now, all you would need for a good bump is to get some correct scores right and Boom! Top of the log.!!

    TA, I think it was the Bournemouth v Spurs game that PB got the correct score in. Then he called a West ham win against the high flying Brighton. That one blew me.

  • Sheffield United v Everton * 1-2
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 2-0
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 2-0
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 1-1
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 2-1
    Rangers v Celtic * 2-1

  • Kev even if you are pointing to me that’s fine. My point is that last season after those 3 games the narrative was the same. It’s at Anfield, tired players, Injured players, they will come good etc. Now the last 3 games there are glimpses of what happened last season. Gaby M is a problem brewing and again without knowing facts I can’t say much but it surely seems a problem where none existed. By the way it’s not some fans saying this Ian Wright has suggested the same. If we don’t recognise the issues then you are not going to solve it.
    Also this notion that if you complain or point out issues somehow you are whining or not a fan or asking for sacking gof Arteta is plain childish. You can support your club yet find away to point out issues out of concern is possible in the same world. It makes me no different fan than others who always try to look at positives. Isn’t the idea of blogs to get different perspective in a civilised manner. Have I used any uncivilised comments when I put forth my views?

  • Hi Madhu, look mate, you was not in my mind when I posted my comments the other day, I just added you at the end as I didn’t want to offend anyone, what I commented on was an observation on the more extreme remarks to read online and in particular on LG, as we both know.

    I’m sure you don’t need me to point out some of the outrageously ill informed posters on LG and elsewhere as it’s a litany of negativity and the regular abuse of our manager and by extension club. I mean, do you ever ask yourself if some of the remarks on LG are coming from bona fire Arsenal fans, because if they are Arsenal fans then they have a very miserable existence my friend, but not you, we may disagree but I believe that your criticisms come from a good place so that’s fine.

    I will always lean towards the positive regarding my club and I will always support the manager and try to see what he is doing from a positive stance.

    After all, what is the point in investing so much of yourself in something that you don’t have to if it’s making you miserable?

  • Seems that Nuno Tavares has had a medical and will be joining Nottm Forest on loan until next summer for a loan fee above £1m with an option to complete permanently for another £12m, which sounds about right.

  • Rob Holding to Luton Town on loan seems the next deal likely unless Monaco get their finger out over Balogun.

  • Nicholas Pepe’s case seems to me like petulance from the player and his agent. Perhaps, the thinking is to force Arsenal to cancel his contract, as has been the treatment for a fair few of our ex-players, lately.

    If he is to stay, then I’d expect Arteta to hurriedly re-integrate him with the group and hope he can do a substitute job sometimes.

    Here’s hoping the players going out on loan have great seasons out there.

  • Sheffield United v Everton * 1-1
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 2-1
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 2-2
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 4-2
    Rangers v Celtic * 1-1

  • Sheffield United v Everton * 2-1
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 3-1
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 1-2
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 3-1
    Rangers v Celtic * 1-2

    A really tough collection of games, GN5. Well picked, mate. 🙂

  • Sheffield United v Everton * 1-0
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 2-0
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 2-1
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 2-2
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 2-1
    Rangers v Celtic * 0-1

  • Where’s the choke on this thing, Kev? I can’t seem to get it started again…

    Sheffield United v Everton * 1-1
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 2-0
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 2-0
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 1-1
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 2-1
    Rangers v Celtic * 1-2

  • And the winner is…………..

    Bukayo Saka has been named PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season, beating Haaland in the process. He joins former Gunners Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Nicolas Anelka, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere as winner of the award – and who could really argue that he didn’t deserve it and what an honour to be so recognized by fellow professionals?

    Erling Haaland, unsurprisingly, won the PFA Player of the Year award and Bukayo held off competition from teammate Gabriel Martinelli, Evan Ferguson and others to win the gong for young player. For Arsenal, he scored 15 goals and assisted 11 goals in all competitions, and at international level he scored consistently for England. He got three in the mid-season World Cup, not to mention a hat-trick in a European Championship qualifier in June.

    All hail Bukayo!

  • Automatic choke Stu, you’re pressing the wrong buttons.

    Sheff United vs Everton……. 2-1
    Brentford vs Bournemouth.. 3-0
    Chelsea vs Nottm Forest……. 2-0
    Brighton vs Newcastle Utd.. 3-2
    Arsenal vs Man United………… 2-1
    G. Rangers vs G. Celtic……….. 3-2

  • Sheffield United v Everton * 0-2
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 1-1
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 3-0
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 0-0
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 1-0
    Rangers v Celtic * 1-1

  • Kev, Raya can play against Brentford, but only if they give him permission to do so. That’s what the rules say for on-loan players. So, it’s up to Brentford and there is no news yet about their disposition on the subject.

    There’s also a rule against players playing for multiple clubs in the same season, but that’s no issue here, as Raya had already left before Brentford’s opening win over Newport County on penalties.

    Let’s see how that goes then.

  • Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray
    Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV, Lens
    Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin
    Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad
    Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
    Group F: PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle
    Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
    Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp

  • I have already sent them yesterday.
    No error message, simply the comment didn’t appear.
    If TA set the rule to consider my comments as spam I cannot really complain, but if it was the blog engine’s doing, then the artificial intelligence is becoming quite capable and efficient. 🙂

  • I have freed your comment, Agent PB. 🙂

    GN5, if you cannot find it, here is PBs selection:

    Sheffield United v Everton * 0-2
    Brentford v Bournemouth * 1-1
    Chelsea v Nottingham Forest * 3-0
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United * 0-0
    Arsenal v Manchester United * 1-0
    Rangers v Celtic * 1-1

  • How is it Man United can get £15m for Dean Henderson while Arsenal can’t seemingly get a bean for the excellent Arthur Okonkwo?

  • Just over 24 hours for Arsenal to bring anyone else in and that’ll be governed by how well we do in moving on Cedric ‘the limpet’ Soares, Nicholas ‘sleepy’ Pepe, Sambi ‘Yaya’ Lokonga and Rob ‘the hairpiece’ Holding?

  • Eris, I’m sure I heard on a podcast recently that the rules around loans had be updated and that loanee players can play in cup ties with needing permission, but anyway I guess we’ll soon find out?

    Also if Brentford want to encourage Arsenal to complete on the deal then blocking him from playing wouldn’t be the most sensible move in their lexicon of ideas.

  • Yes Total I expect to see Raya get a few games in the CL, I’m quite confident that Arsenal will win all of our home games and should probably be enough?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *