Many fans of the Nigeria national football team will be keeping their eyes on the Arsenal vs Fulham lineups because of one man: Calvin Bassey.
The defender joined Fulham from AFC Ajax a month ago but has not had many opportunities to make his mark. But with Fulham stalwart Tim Ream suspended for the Arsenal game, former Rangers man Bassey is in line to start his first Premier League match.
The Emirates will play host to the London derby which is set to air on the Premier League's various broadcast partners at 3 PM on Saturday 26 August 2023.
Arsenal vs Fulham probable lineups
Here is how we expect these teams to line up in this Premier League match.
Arsenal
- Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale
- Defenders: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Ben White
- Midfielders: Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard
- Forwards: Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka
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Fulham
- Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
- Defenders: Kenny Tete, Calvin Bassey, Issa Diop, Anyone Robinson
- Midfielders: Harrison Reed, João Palhinha, Adama Traoré, Andreas Pereira, Bobby DeCordova-Reid
- Forwards: Raul Jimenez
Arsenal vs Fulham confirmed lineups
*Lineups will be automatically updated shortly after they're released
Arsenal vs Fulham predictions
Fulham have one win and one loss, which amounts to three points in two games. Back-to-back London derby defeats are not what Marco Silva would like to start his season with. Calvin Bassey will be keen to help him achieve that, seeing that he is a shoo-in for the central defender role after Tim Ream's red card against Brentford on the last matchday.
Prediction 1: Arsenal to emerge victorious
Arsenal, however, will emerge victorious this clash, continuing their great run in the early stage of the 2023/24 Premier League season. Arsenal vs Fulham lineups will see both managers try to use team balance to cancel out each others' tactics but home advantage, better quality players and history will count in favour of the Gunners who will have the Cottagers in their firing range.
Prediction 2: Over 1.5 Total Goals
Arsenal will score more than one goal in the game. Fulham are not in their best goalscoring form at the moment so it is unsafe to predict that they will find the back of the net in this game. Fulham fans, however, can look to Arsenal's instability in defence as a ray of hope and Silva will explore all avenues to capitalise on it.
Arsenal vs Fulham head-to-head
History has not been kind to Bassey's new team in this fixture because in the last six games, Arsenal have won five and drawn one. It is a one-sided affair but with Bassey set to be announced in the Arsenal vs Fulham lineups as the game approaches, fans of the “Original London Club” will have something new to look forward to.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago