Arsenal are set for a huge match in the Premier League as they take on London rivals Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will take on some familiar faces in the away ranks, with the Cottagers taking on quite a few former Arsenal players.
With Mikel Arteta set to welcome some of those old players to the Emirates Stadium, just how have they been doing with Fulham, and how much damage could they cause?
Arsenal Insider spoke to Fulham expert Ben Evans to get the lowdown on just how they have all been getting on.
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On Emile Smith Rowe’s impact so far
- Emile Smith Rowe had a quick start to life at Fulham this season, but has since struggled
When Emile Smith Rowe first arrived at Fulham, there was a huge amount of excitement. He was a rare statement signing for us and appeared to fill an immediate need within the team after Willian left.
Initially, he combined brilliantly with Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi down the left and chipped in with a few important goals.
However, his influence has waned in recent months, not helped by an injury he picked up over the Christmas period.
Some fans have been underwhelmed by his impact this year, but there are glimpses of a player who could make a real difference for Fulham in the coming seasons.
Personally, I see plenty of reasons to stick by him, and while the move from Arsenal to Fulham might take some time to adjust to, a full pre-season with the team next year should give him the perfect platform to kick on.
On Emile Smith Rowe’s recent struggles
- Marco Silva called for Emile Smith Rowe to gain some more consistency after recent difficulty
He’s not been at his very best over the past few months and as a result, he’s struggled to nail down a place in the starting line-up.
Smith Rowe plays a very similar role to Andreas Pereira, and Silva has quickly discovered that both players need the impressive Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic to sit behind them to get the best balance out of the team.
The 24-year-old looks like a player who relies on being high on confidence and having plenty of minutes under his belt to play his best football, and at the moment, he’s not getting that.
On Alex Iwobi’s impact
- Alex Iwobi has impressed since moving from Everton to Fulham, displaying brilliant versatility and quality
Alex Iwobi has been absolutely superb, and there’s a real argument to be made that he’s been our player of the season.
Not only has he made some vital goal contributions, but Silva’s tactics rely on players in attacking areas playing certain roles in transition and the final third.
The beauty of Iwobi is his ability to expertly play in four or five positions – sometimes in the same game – to allow Silva to make changes around him.
Without Iwobi, Fulham would not still be in contention for European football this season.
On Bernd Leno’s role at Fulham
- Bernd Leno left Arsenal in 2022, becoming Fulham’s first-choice goalkeeper
Bernd Leno has proven to be not only one of the best goalkeepers during our time in the Premier League, but simply one of the best transfers we’ve ever made.
He was brought in for just £8m, which, considering the fees other teams have paid for goalkeepers over the past few seasons, makes it an even more remarkable transfer.
It’s hard to remember a moment since he arrived where he’s let the team down, and his heroics in the penalty shootout at Old Trafford earlier in the season have cemented his status among our fanbase.
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On Willian re-signing at Fulham
- Willian recently re-signed at Fulham after a failed stint at Arsenal
For the first time in recent memory, Fulham went into a transfer window without any glaring issues that needed to be solved, aside from potentially needing a winger after injuries to Reiss Nelson and Harry Wilson.
As soon as it was clear that Willian was available, he was welcomed back to Craven Cottage with open arms, however, it has taken a month or so for him to get back to the level of match sharpness needed for the Premier League.
He was superb before the international break against Tottenham, and his relationship with Robinson and Iwobi means he can always be a threat, no matter who he’s up against.
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