Fulhamvs.Arsenal

The Gunners are sure to be without long-term knee victims Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu again, while Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori also missed the 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday.

However, neither man is nursing a long-term issue, and there is optimism that they will be fine to start Sunday's derby, but do not expect Arteta to give any definitive answers in his pre-game press conference.

If Calafiori and Gabriel are fit, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko's brief stints in the first XI should come to an end, as the former two join William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and David Raya in a first-choice defence.

Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are indispensable in the engine room, but with a Champions League game against Monaco on the horizon, Arteta may encase Thomas Partey in bubble wrap and start Mikel Merino instead.

At least one attacking alteration should be on the cards too, as Gabriel Martinelli could cede his place to Leandro Trossard, who caught the eye with a bright substitute cameo in midweek.

However, Kai Havertz should hold off the misfiring Gabriel Jesus to continue up front, while Bukayo Saka - recently compared to the legendary Thierry Henry in terms of having a 'good arrogance' - struts his stuff on the right.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Written by

Ben Knapton