[4-2-1-3]: Kai Havertz partners Gyokeres upfront, Eberechi Eze position changed and Max Dowman give first start but in a strange position- Arsenal predicted lineup against Fulham as Mikel Arteta confirms first start for Max Dowman against Fulham
Arsenal return to Premier League action in the 2025-26 campaign with an away fixture at Fulham in Saturday’s tea-time clash.
Mikel Arteta’s troops are top of the Premier League table, having leapfrogged defending champions Liverpool before the October international break.
Unbeaten since losing to the Reds in late August, the North London side have risen to the top of the standings after a four-match unbeaten run, including three consecutive victories, albeit with a one-point advantage before gameweek eight.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up the Gunners’ latest injury and suspension news ahead of this weekend’s trip to Craven Cottage, where they are winless since March 2023, losing two seasons ago and drawing in the previous campaign.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Groin
Possible return date: October 18 (vs. Fulham)
Arteta previously mentioned there was hope for Piero Hincapie after this international break, and while there are no absolute guarantees for the on-loan Bayer Leverkusen defender, a return to the squad on Saturday cannot be definitively ruled out now.
Martin Odegaard
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)
Martin Odegaard has had a stop-start season, and another setback surfaced against West Ham United as the club captain was forced off with a knee injury.
The injury disappointment meant he missed Norway’s fixtures against Israel and New Zealand, and the advanced midfielder is sidelined until next month.
Kai Havertz
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)
While Kai Havertz’s recovery from knee surgery has suffered no setback, the forward is not expected to return until November at the earliest.
Noni Madueke
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)
Madueke remains out of action after injuring his knee in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last month, and a return in November is expected for the wide forward, whose absence is a shame following his strong start to life in North London.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Overall, Arteta will not have a ton of selection issues to contend with when he fills out his team sheet for this one. In fact, he might have a couple different difficult decisions to make, when he picks his starting final third.
Arsenal Predicted Starting XI at Fulham FC
David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze; Ethan
