Fulham Football Club faces a challenging encounter against Arsenal in the Premier League, as they strive to secure their first major title in English football history. Their FA Cup replay will be played at Craven Cottage. With a passionate support base, Fulham will be looking to find some solidity at Craven Cottage after having never won the English top-flight crown. There’s no question that this derby is a chance for Fulham to put their stamp down on their London competitors.
The team from Fulham, located in the City of London, is a model of stability. Yet, remarkably, they remain one of the few clubs in England’s top two divisions that have never lifted a major trophy. The club’s greatest honour is its second-tier title, one they have emphatically claimed on three occasions. Their newly vaulted victory came just last year, 2022. Fulham’s history is just as deep, with two legendary runner-up finishes. They were runners-up of the FA Cup finals in 1975 and UEFA Europa League in 2010, demonstrating their excellent efforts.
So, as Fulham gets ready for this key clash, they’re dealing with a laundry list of injury issues. Sergei Sasa Lukic is one of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League, having been regularly impressive for Fulham this season. Unfortunately, he was injured in their last game before the international break with an adductor injury. He adds to a growing list of sidelined teammates. The Serbian international is now expected to miss at least another fortnight, joining compatriot and teammate Kenny Tete and Concordia loanee Rodrigo Muniz in the treatment room, with all three struggling with knee and hamstring complaints respectively.
They are perhaps the most affected by injuries. They may be just two games into the season, but they are hellbent on building their advantage at the Premier League summit. Martin Odegaard is still out with a knee injury. At the same time, Gabriel Jesus seems likely to return before the end of the year as he, too, recovers from a similar malady. The availability of Ben White for the match is in question after he missed training on Thursday.
Even with these injuries, Arsenal’s depth is astounding and will have world class players on the pitch contenders. Piero Hincapie should quickly return from injury as well. Meanwhile, both Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke will be back with the team, both returning from their knee injuries.
With the match only a few days away, Fulham’s players will be hungry to test their mettle against a quality team. Supporters of each are pushing hard on their behalf. They’re looking to end their long title drought and pull off their best upset victory over Arsenal ever.
