By Goal.com News on Sunday, 18 April 2021
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Arsenal vs Fulham

9' Smith Rowe has been very lively for Arsenal so far, constantly trying to get on the ball and link up play to the attackers. He was a surprise inclusion today, after a good performance in midweek following his return from injury.

7' SAVE! Lovely move down the right wing, after a couple of quick passes by Saka and Smith Rowe, the ball breaks fortunately for the latter, who races into the box and then pulls it back from the byline for a team-mate to meet. Martinelli manages to fire an effort towards goal, but Areola makes a brilliant save, pushing it out wide.

5' Fulham have hardly touched the ball in the opening five minutes of the game, they are penned inside their own half. However, they will be happy for the scoreline to remain goalless as long as possible.

3' It is all Arsenal at the moment, they are keeping the ball well, with Fulham sitting deep and soaking up the early pressure.

1' CLOSE!  Bright start here by Arsenal and they almost take the lead within the first minute! Lacazette chips the ball over the top of the Fulham defence for Martinelli to chase and he just gets to it ahead of Areola and flicks it towards the far corner of the net. However, it flies just inches wide of the post.

1' We're under way!

The teams are out on the pitch and kick-off is just a few minutes away, stay tuned for all the match action!

Scott Parker has also made five changes to their starting XI, with Kongolo, Tete, Reed, Loftus-Cheek and Mitrovic all missing out and they have been replaced by Adarabioyo, Cavaleiro, Anguissa, Lookman and Maja.

Mikel Arteta has made five changes to team that beat Sparta Prague in midweek, with Ryan, Bellerin, Gabriel, Elneny and Martinelli all coming into the side and they have been replaced by Leno, Chambers, Mari, Partey and Pepe.

FULHAM SUBS: Fabri, Michael Hector, Tim Ream, Denis Odoi, Joe Bryan, Harrison Reed, Josh Onomah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Alphonse Areola; Ola Aina, Joachim Andersen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Antonee Robinson; Ivan Cavaleiro, Andre-Frank Anguissa, Mario Lemina, Ademola Lookman; Bobby De Decordova-Reid, Josh Maja.

ARSENAL SUBS: Bernd Leno, Cedric Soares, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, Thomas Partey, Willian, Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Mat Ryan; Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Gabriel, Granit Xhaka; Mohamed Elneny, Dani Ceballos; Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli; Alexandre Lacazette

Meanwhile Fulham are in the midst of a relegation battle and games are starting to run out for them. They are currently 18th after four consecutive defeats, which leaves them seven points behind Burnley in 17th and Brighton in 16th. However, both those teams have a game in hand. 

It has been an excellent week for Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United last Sunday to move up to ninth in the Premier League, was followed up with a 4-0 win against Sparta Prague, to book their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE match commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Fulham at the Emirates.

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