46.
4:05 p.m
Substitution at Arsenal FC: Takehiro Tomiyasu
46.
4:05 p.m
Substitution at Arsenal FC: Jakub Kiwior
46.
4:05 p.m
Kick-off of the 2nd half
45.+5
15:52
Half-time conclusion:
Then it’s break, the score is 1-1 between Fulham and Arsenal. The Gunners took the lead early on and actually had everything under control, but the lead faded as the game wore on. Similarly, the Cottagers came into the game and got a not undeserved equalizer. Overall, the guests lack determination and assertiveness, so there has to be an improvement if the next points are not to be given away. The hosts can be satisfied, but they have to be careful that they continue to provide relief. We can look forward to an exciting second section. See you soon.
45.+5
3:50 p.m
End of 1st half
45.+4
3:49 p.m
Arsenal have the ball for a long time, and Rice ultimately looks for a finish from the second row. The attempt from almost 30 meters goes way over.
45.+2
3:47 p.m
Ødegaard sends Nketiah into the box on the right, but he chases the ball clear past the right. There was also an offside position.
45.
3:46 p.m
There are four more minutes in the first section. Will we see another hit?
45.
3:46 p.m
Official added time (minutes): 4
45.
3:46 p.m
Gabriel Martinelli plays a simple bad pass into the feet of Willian in midfield. This type of mistake often happens to guests during this phase.
43.
3:44 p.m
Arsenal almost took the lead again! Out of nowhere there is an opportunity, after a pass from Rice to Ødegaard on the right in the box, the captain passes it on for Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian takes the ball directly from a central position in the penalty area, but the low left-foot shot from 15 meters just misses the left. Leno couldn’t have intervened.
41.
3:42 p.m
The game has clearly lost momentum. The Gunners don’t really know how to crack the hosts. They, in turn, stand low and wait, allowing practically nothing to happen.
39.
3:40 p.m
Even a free kick from Ødegaard from the left half of the field poses no danger. Although the Cottagers cannot clarify immediately, Jiménez then clears up the situation with robust physical contact against Saka.
36.
3:38 p.m
Fulham are very deep in this phase, Saliba and Gabriel are still playing in the opponent’s half. However, it will not be mandatory at Arsenal, so there is little to report at the moment.
33.
3:35 p.m
After Saka sharpens a cross from the right at the far post, Nketiah comes into the scene somewhat happily. However, the attacker is too surprised by this and is unable to achieve a proper finish from five meters. Leno buries the play equipment under himself.
31.
3:34 p.m
Now the Gunners have to invest more again, they have already given up the early lead. But there is still a lack of real opportunities.
29.
15:29
Tooor for Fulham FC, 1-1 by Raúl Jiménez
There is the not undeserved compensation. Fulham comes forward on the left, Willian sends Cairney to the edge of the box. The captain delivers the ball superbly flat to the second post, where Jiménez is free and shoots in from six meters. David Raya has no chance, even though the play equipment hits the center.
27.
15:27
After a pass from Rice, Saka has space in a central position. However, his through ball to Havertz on the left in the box is too long, so the ball is for Leno.
27.
15:26
With the lead behind them, Arsenal sat back a lot. Although they continue to control the ball and opponents, there is hardly anything happening going forward. Fulham, on the other hand, has shown that they are willing to use the space that presents itself.
25.
3:25 p.m
After the treatment, David Raya can continue. As a precaution, Ramsdale still warms up.
23.
15:24
An Arsenal attack has to be stopped because David Raya is sitting on the ground. The goalkeeper appears to have a problem with his right eye.
22.
15:22
Iwobi takes a corner from the right to the penalty spot, where Jiménez, who has run in, finishes with his foot. The dropkick lands in the parking lot.
20.
3:20 p.m
A cross from Iwobi from the right slips through to Willian after Jiménez blocked Saliba in the middle. The Brazilian shoots from 13 meters from the left-hand position, but the shot goes clear and David Raya doesn’t have to intervene.
19.
3:19 p.m
Slowly but surely Fulham are in the game, they are getting closer to the Arsenal penalty area. But the Gunners are not yet impressed by this.
17.
15:18
On the right, Castagne Kiwior escapes and advances to the baseline. However, his subsequent cross finds no taker and so poses no danger.
15.
3:16 p.m
This is the first good opportunity for the hosts. A nice move lands over Willian on the left to the overflowing Robinson. He passes it flat to the edge of the box, where Jiménez takes the ball straight away. However, the shot from the inside is too central and so David Raya can safely hold on to it. Still, that was a good attack.
12.
15:13
The Cottagers dare to move forward a little more on the right, but Decordova-Reid’s cross is intercepted. Castagne in particular often leads the way forward via the right.
10.
3:10 p.m
Kiwior sends Gabriel Martinelli behind the chain on the left, but the Brazilian’s subsequent cross lands directly in Leno’s arms. The guests stick with it and continue to dominate the game, but that doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
7.
3:08 p.m
The early lead should give the Gunners security. After opportunity after opportunity was wasted against West Ham, today is the first real attempt. How does Fulham react?
5.
3:05 p.m
Tooor for Arsenal FC, 0-1 by Bukayo Saka
The guests take the lead early and it’s a counterattack. Gabriel Martinelli has a lot of space on the left and marches, coming from a half-left position in the penalty area after cutting inside and finishing. Leno is able to fend off the shot at the far corner, but the play equipment falls right at Saka’s feet, who, surprised by this, stabs it.
4.
3:04 p.m
From midfield, Willian plays a dream pass into Castagne’s path. However, the right-back only brings the ball from the baseline on the right side of the box into the arms of David Raya.
3.
3:03 p.m
Ødegaard looks for the first shot from a half-right position. However, the attempt from 16 meters clearly missed and Leno did not have to intervene.
2.
3:03 p.m
The guests first let the ball run through their own ranks in peace. Kiwior is at six next to Rice, so it’s a three-man setup.
1.
3:00 p.m
Then the ball starts rolling. Arsenal kicked off.
1.
3:00 p.m
Game start
14:56
At this moment the teams enter the pitch together with referee Josh Smith. The game can begin in a few minutes.
2:47 p.m
Without question, as the table also shows, Arsenal are the big favorites in today’s encounter. But that doesn’t mean anything, in the first leg Fulham managed to equalize 2-2 with a late goal when they were outnumbered. Overall, however, the statistics speak clearly for the Gunners; the Cottagers’ last league win against their current rivals dates back to 2012, shortly after the turn of the year on January 2nd. At that time, Arsenal’s starting line-up included a certain Mikel Arteta.
2:35 p.m
Of course, the problems at Arsenal are not that serious, but there is still a bit of pressure here too. With 40 points you are in fourth place, a win today and you would even temporarily regain the lead in the table. The Gunners are still in contention for the championship title, but recently only played a draw against Liverpool and then even lost against West Ham. In today’s game, another explosive London derby, the guests want to get back to winning ways.
2:19 p.m
It’s the start of the second half of the season in England, so it’s worth taking a preliminary assessment just in time for the end of the old year. Fulham is currently 14th in the table with 21 points, six points above the line. After the Cottagers got off to a good start to the season, they have slacked off recently. The last three Premier League games were all lost, including Burnley and Bournemouth against opponents from the bottom third of the table. The hosts’ great weakness also became apparent: in all three defeats, not a single goal was scored.
2:08 p.m
To start, let’s take a look at the lineups. At Fulham, coach Marco Silva is making three changes compared to the last game. Castagne, Willian and Jiménez come into the starting line-up for Tete, Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz. Ream and Adama Traoré are missing due to injury. On the other hand, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is also rotating in three positions. Zinchenko, who is not in the squad, as well as Trossard and Gabriel Jesus will be replaced by Kiwior, Havertz and Nketiah. In addition to the Ukrainian, Partey, Timber and Fábio Vieira are also missing.
13:56
Welcome to the 20th matchday of the Premier League, on the last day of the year Fulham FC and Arsenal FC face each other in a London derby. Kick-off at Craven Cottage is at 3pm!