Fulham v Arsenal betting preview: Free prediction & best bets for Premier League game at Craven Cottage
Arsenal are taken to make it six wins in a row as they face Fulham in what promises to be an entertaining London derby at Craven Cottage.
Recommended bets
1pt Arsenal to win & both teams to score at 7/4
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Fulham v Arsenal (1200 BST, BT Sport 1)
It’s an intriguing early Sunday kick-off at Craven Cottage between two very similar teams in terms of style but ones at opposite ends of the Premier League spectrum so far this season.
Fulham could be seen as an ‘Arsenal light’ with their attacking style and suspect defence almost a carbon copy of the Gunners side of recent times – and it’s those frailties that sees them struggling to adapt to Premier League life so far.
Both teams are also going slightly under the radar with Arsenal quietly stringing five wins in a row together to sit in fifth and Fulham quietly being pretty awful in winning just once and having the joint-worst defence in the league.
The Cottagers had chances at Everton last week but were ultimately soundly beaten and their inability to stop conceding will cost them dear against a team full of both confidence and goals in this London derby.
Betting guide
Prediction: Fulham 1-3 Arsenal (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
The Gunners are well placed to make it six wins in a row in the league – and nine on the spin in all competitions – but their successive league clean sheets are a bit misleading as both Watford and Everton should have scored and with Aleksandar Mitrovic around Fulham always carry a threat.
Best bet: Arsenal to win & both teams to score at 7/4
Not quite a no brainer but pretty close - Fulham have shipped 16 goals already and although Arsenal have had two Premier League clean sheets they were far from comfortable at the back so there should be plenty of opportunities for both sides to score.
Goals: Aleksandar Mitrovic and Alexandre Lacazette both to score at 4/1
Nothing too original here but it's a decent price for two decent goalscorers in a game that should provide plenty of opportunities to hit the back of the net - and both of these players have shown they know exactly how to do that when given the chance.
RequestABet: Arsenal win, over 2.5 goals, Lacazette to score and Granit Xhaka to be carded at 11/1
Throwing in a Xhaka yellow card always has some appeal - he's been booked four times this season, three of those for Arsenal and two of those coming away from home so, with a lively Fulham midfield in opposition it's about time he found his name in the referee's notebook once again. The referee on this occasion is Paul Tierney, who's dished out 20 bookings in six games.
Fulham v Arsenal Opta stats
- Fulham last faced Arsenal in January 2014 in the Premier League, losing 2-0 – the Cottagers have won just three of their 26 Premier League games against the Gunners (D5 L18).
- Arsenal have won their last two Premier League matches at Craven Cottage, with this their first visit since August 2013.
- Fulham haven’t kept a clean sheet in a home Premier League London derby match since beating QPR 6-0 in October 2011 – they’ve conceded in each of their 14 such matches since.
- There have been four red cards shown in the last four Premier League meetings between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage (2 each).
- Arsenal have won only one of their last eight away London derbies in the Premier League (D2 L5), winning 3-2 at Crystal Palace in December 2017.
- Arsenal have a 51.3% win rate in Premier League London derbies (123/240) – the best in the division. Meanwhile, Fulham have the lowest win rate in these games (20.8% - 25/120).
- Arsenal have won their last two Premier League away games under Unai Emery, the same number they won in their last 12 on the road under Arsene Wenger (W2 D3 L7). They last three in a row in October 2016 (a run of four).
- Fulham are one of just two teams yet to keep a Premier League clean sheet this season, along with Brighton.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored nine goals in his last 10 league appearances for Fulham at Craven Cottage (excluding play-offs).
- In the Premier League this season, Arsenal concede on average 0.5 goals per 90 minutes when Lucas Torreira is on the pitch, compared to 2.2 per 90 when he isn’t. Both of Arsenal’s clean sheets in the league this season have been when the Uruguayan has played the full 90 minutes.
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Odds correct as of 1750 BST on 05/10/18