London duo Fulham and Arsenal will officially raise the curtain on the 2020-21 Premier League season when they lock horns at Craven Cottage in today’s lunchtime kick-off.
The top-flight action resumes just over six weeks after the last, coronavirus-impacted campaign finally drew to a close, with Arsenal since following their 14th FA Cup triumph with Community Shield success over Liverpool at Wembley.
The Gunners have been boosted by deals for Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes and the return of Dani Ceballos as they look to improve radically upon the worst league finish for 25 years, while Mikel Arteta has now seen his role changed from head coach to first-team manager.
A short trip to face a Fulham side full of confidence following their Championship play-off final defeat of rivals Brentford last month is a potentially tricky opener for Arsenal.
Scott Parker’s side are looking to take a different approach to their costly 2018-19 mistakes after bouncing back to the top tier at the first time of asking, though still boast plenty of new arrivals in the shape of Kenny Tete, Alphonse Areola, Harrison Reed (signed permanently after a successful loan spell), Mario Lemina and Antonee Robinson, while ex-Chelsea defender Ola Aina is also expected to join the ranks very soon.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Scott Parker has reported no injury concerns before Fulham’s Premier League return, with loanee Alphonse Areola pushing for his debut.
Fellow summer arrival Mario Lemina could also make a first appearance.
Emile Smith Rowe and Sokratis are sidelined with shoulder and calf injuries respectively.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Fulham have lost their past five Premier League matches against Arsenal.
- They conceded nine goals in the two meetings during their most recent top-flight campaign in 2018-19.
- Arsenal’s only defeat in the past 13 Premier League meetings was 2-1 at Craven Cottage in January 2012.
- The two sides have met once before on the opening day of a top-flight season, with the Gunners coming from behind to win 2-1 in 2007.
Fulham
- The Championship play-off winners have avoided relegation in only 12 of the previous 28 Premier League seasons.
- Fulham finished 19th and were relegated in each of their last two Premier League seasons, in 2013-14 and 2018-19. They conceded the most goals in both of those campaigns.
- They have lost their opening game in successive seasons: 2-0 to Crystal Palace in 2018-19 and 1-0 against Barnsley last year.
- The Cottagers are currently on a top-flight record run of 10 successive London derby defeats.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 49 goals since making his Fulham debut in February 2018. Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (54), Mo Salah (54) and Jamie Vardy (50) have scored more often in England’s top four divisions during that period.
- Mitrovic scored five goals in Fulham’s opening six Premier League matches of 2018-19, but managed just six in the following 31 games.
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Arsenal
- Arsenal are aiming to win their opening match in consecutive seasons for the first time in 11 years.
- The Gunners are undefeated in all four of their previous opening Premier League matches versus newly-promoted opposition (W3, D1). Their last opening day league defeat against a promoted side was a 1-0 loss at Highbury to Bristol City in 1976.
- They have not lost any of their last 24 matches in the month of September in all competitions (W19, D5) since a 3-2 home defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions League in 2015.
- Arsenal have already won two trophies in their 29 matches under Mikel Arteta: the FA Cup and Community Shield.
- They scored 56 Premier League goals last season, their lowest total since 1995-96.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 54 goals in 85 Premier League appearances since his debut in February 2018, a joint-league high during that period with Mo Salah.
PREDICTION: 1-2
