Arsenal host Fulham this Saturday looking to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season. The Gunners have won both of their opening matches against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. Fulham have one win and one loss so far as they adjust to life back in the top flight. This London derby at the Emirates should be an intriguing battle.

Arsenal vs Fulham Match Preview

The eagerly anticipated clash is scheduled for August 26th, 2023, at the iconic Emirates Stadium in London. Kick-off is set for 12:30 BST, promising fans a thrilling midday encounter.

Arsenal's Victory Over Palace Had Controversy But Showed Mettle

Arsenal's recent Premier League win away to Crystal Palace had no shortage of drama and talking points. The topsy-turvy London derby saw key decisions go both for and against the Gunners. In the end, Arsenal showed determination against a tricky opponent to grind out a vital three points.

The major flashpoint was a second yellow card to Arsenal right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu which reduced the visitors to 10 men. His first booking seemed harsh, as it was mostly for Palace's perceived time-wasting. The second was also debatable, as replays showed minimal contact on Jordan Ayew's exaggerated reaction.

Unfortunately, the letter of the law meant VAR could not review the second yellow even if the foul appeared dubious. 

Earlier, Arsenal benefitted from a penalty award that could easily have gone the other way. Thomas Partey's attempted clearance clearly redirected Eddie Nketiah's shot on goal. Nketiah pounced on the loose ball and won a spot-kick after contact from Palace defender Marc Guehi.

By the letter of the law, Partey interfering directly with the shot probably should have nullified the penalty. Palace supporters will argue VAR should have stepped in. But again, the original no-call on the field stood after review. The margins didn't go Palace's way.

You expect tense moments filled with debate in a feisty derby clash. Credit Arsenal for keeping focus and seeing out victory despite being aggrieved over the sending off. Lesser teams lose their heads and crumble in those situations.

Quality sides take the good with the bad and find a way to win. Against a spirited Palace side on opening day, grinding out three points at Selhurst Park is no simple task. But Arsenal passed this early character test.

Of course, it wasn't perfect by any means. The 10 men had to defend doggedly to protect the lead. Palace's Eberechi Eze missed a golden headed chance to equalize in the final minutes. Ultimately though, Arsenal's determination saw them over the line.

In a title chase, you must maximize points from the trickier matchups like this one. Securing wins when not at your best is crucial. The Gunners showed mental toughness and resilience here that bodes well going forward.

Could Arsenal have played better? Absolutely. The team looked disjointed and sloppy for stretches of the first half. But finding multiple ways to win is critical over a long season. From thrashings to nail-biters, champions handle every scenario.

There will be plenty for manager Mikel Arteta to analyze from this performance. The sending off meant a change in approach earlier than hoped. But Arteta deserves credit for making the right tactical adjustments to see out the result.

Bettering Manchester City over 38 games requires steady accumulation of points. Arsenal won't hit top form each fixture. Minimizing damage in the inevitable off-days is key. That was the big positive in this victory.

Now it's on to the next test. Momentum in this league comes and goes quickly. Consistently getting results is everything. If Arsenal keep displaying this grit and game management, something special could be brewing this season.

Fulham Come Up Short Against Brentford

Fulham put in a disappointing performance last Saturday in their 3-0 home loss to Brentford. The Cottagers struggled to create many clear-cut chances and lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

A defensive mistake from Issa Diop led to Brentford's opening goal right before halftime. Fulham then went down to 10 men after captain Tim Ream was sent off conceding a penalty early in the second half.

Manager Marco Silva felt the referee made the wrong call on the penalty and red card, which took the wind out of Fulham's sails. Ultimately though, they looked second-best for most of the match.

Silva will hope for a much-improved performance when Fulham next take on Arsenal at the Emirates. The Gunners have started the season strongly and will prove another tough test. They must also tighten up at the back and cut out individual errors.

Fulham have shown promise in patches during their first two matches. But they need more consistency and ruthlessness to get results against the Premier League's elite teams like Arsenal. The match in North London will prove a stern examination of the squad's quality.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal Predicted Lineup: Aaron Ramsdale, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Ben White, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka

Fulham Predicted Lineup: Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Issa Diop, Kenny Tete, João Palhinha, Tom Cairney, Willian, Andreas Pereira, Harry Wilson, Raúl Jiménez

Key Battles to Watch

• Odegaard vs Harrison Reed

This midfield matchup will be vital in controlling the flow of the game. Odegaard's distribution must be matched by Reed's tenacious defending.

• Gabriel Martinelli vs Kenny Tete

Martinelli's pace and dribbling ability could cause problems for veteran right-back Kenny Tete. Arsenal will look to isolate and exploit this potential mismatch.

• Edward Nketiah vs Tosin Adarabioyo

Nketiah's intelligent movement and link-up play faces a tough test against the physical Adarabioyo. Winning this duel could yield goal scoring chances.

Match Prediction

Arsenal are heavy favorites playing at home against a newly promoted side. Their attacking talents like Jesus, Saka, and Martinelli should prove too much for Fulham to handle over 90 minutes.

However, Fulham have enough quality to punish Arsenal on the counter if they get chances. Striker Willian provides an aerial threat that could trouble Arsenal's defense.

In the end, Arsenal's depth and supremacy in midfield should see them control proceedings en route to a 3-1 victory. But Fulham will likely make them work for the three points.