Arsenal Starting XI vs Fulham: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal Primed for Fulham Clash amid Injury Challenges

Arsenal enter a hectic Premier League period with seven fixtures in 22 days, beginning with a tricky visit to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Mikel Arteta has confirmed several key absentees, yet there is confidence within the squad as new signing Piero Hincapie edges closer to involvement.

“He will be training today again with us. If everything is right, he will be available,” said Arteta when asked about Hincapie’s status. “He is a player that is going to help us a lot, he is going to bring something different to the team. We need to get him going.”

Injury Concerns Mounting

Arsenal will be missing Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, all ruled out with knee injuries. Those absences reduce attacking depth, especially with Champions League commitments looming.

There was initial concern after Ben White and Martin Zubimendi were absent from training earlier in the week. Arteta clarified that neither player is injured, explaining that their workloads were simply being controlled after heavy international involvement.

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“All the players come from different countries, different amounts of games and minutes played,” he said.

“And we believed that it was the right thing to do [to allow Zubimendi to miss training on Thursday]. He played two games again [for Spain], his load has been really high recently and he needed an extra day. He will be available.”

Squad Rotation Essential

Fulham will sense an opportunity, especially with Arsenal short of senior options in forward areas. However, Arteta’s side remain favourites due to their defensive consistency and midfield control. Declan Rice, Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba are all expected to start, anchoring a lineup designed to maintain possession and suffocate counter attacks.

The congested schedule also means opportunities for fringe players. Atletico Madrid visit the Emirates on Tuesday in the Champions League and Arteta will need freshness across both fixtures. Players like Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyökeres could become decisive figures across this demanding spell.

Predicted Lineup for Arsenal at Fulham

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Rice, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Kick off is scheduled for 5:30pm BST on Saturday October 18, with live coverage on Sky Sports. Craven Cottage has not always been a forgiving venue for visiting teams, but Arsenal have demonstrated resilience throughout this campaign.

Victory in west London would provide momentum before European duties resume. With rotation inevitable and expectations high, this match could set the tone for the crucial weeks ahead.