Fulham vs Arsenal live: Confirmed Team Lineup as Willian and Gabriel start, Ozil left out
Live updates of Fulham vs Arsenal including team news, goal updates and latest score
JoriPress
Hello and welcome to Craven Cottage as Arsenal kick off their 2020/21 Premier League season with a trip to newly-promoted Fulham.
The Gunners were disappointed with an eighth place finish last season but have been boosted by the momentum built at the end of last term and the beginning of this one.
Mikel Arteta led the side to wins over Manchester City and Chelsea to lift the FA Cup before returning to Wembley to beat Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Aside from the Community Shield, Arsenal have played friendlies against MK Dons and Aston Villa in preparation for the new campaign. This has helped new signings William Saliba and Willian to settle into the club although Gabriel Magalhaes is yet to make his debut.
The chances of that happening will be boosted by the frustrating news that both David Luiz [neck spasm] and Sokratis [calf strain] have been ruled out of trip to Fulham. In other team news, Emi Martinez is not expected to travel following the growing interest in him from Aston Villa and Brighton.
Warm-ups begin
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has led the team out for their pre-match warm ups:
Auba leads the boys out pic.twitter.com/TfAq4RuYzS — Art de Roché (@ArtdeRoche) September 12, 2020
No Saliba
There is no William Saliba in the squad today for Arsenal to face Fulham.
Click here to read what Mikel Arteta said about managing expectations for the defender.
Fulham team
Here is how Fulham line up today at Craven Cottage:
Fulham: Rodak, Hector, Odoi, Kebano, Cairney, Ream, Cavaleiro, Reed, Bryan, Onomah, Kamara.
Subs: Areola, Christie, Le Marchand, Anguissa, Knockaert, De Cordova-Reid, Mitrovic.
Arsenal team
Here's how Arsenal line up today at Craven Cottage:
Arsenal: Leno, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Bellerin, Eleny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Macey, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Pepe, Nketiah.
Arrival
A quick dash across London and we're in position at Craven Cottage:
“Remember that game against FUL HAM!?
“My dad saw me play... he saw me play maayyynn” pic.twitter.com/GKM9dbk9c4 — Art de Roché (@ArtdeRoche) September 12, 2020
Team news soon
We'll have the team news for you in around 15 minutes.
Who will Parker and Arteta pick for the opening game?
What have Fulham learned?
It wasn't a good Premier League season for Fulham in the 2018/19 campaign when they were relegated.
The London club spent around £100million players, but that wasn't enough to keep them in the top flight.
Arsenal injury updates
Arsenal will be missing a few important players this afternoon at Craven Cottage.
Parker vs Arteta
Today sees the battle of two of the youngest managers in the Premier League.
Scott Parker, 39, and Mikel Arteta, 38, go head-to-head on the sidelines.
It could be an energetic battle with both managers passionate about what they do.
Mikel Arteta transcript
The Arsenal boss is hoping to get off to a good start and get the campaign under way in a positive manner.
Here's what the Gunners boss had to say on injuries, Aubameyang's contract and Martinez.
Click here to read every word.
Fulham are back
Today is a big day for Fulham and Scott Parker as they make their return to the Premier League.
The former England international did a great job with his players last season and they will be looking to get off to a good start at Craven Cottage.
Predicted starting XI
Emi Martinez
Emi Martinez has been superb as stand-in to Bernd Leno, but his future at Arsenal is not secure.
The goalkeeper is out of the squad today ahead of a potential move.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League opener for the 2020/21 season as Fulham host Arsenal at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
It's a 12:30pm kick off [UK time] and we'll have Art de Roche at the ground to bring all the latest updates throughout the day!
