Arsenal host Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on May 2, 2026, in a London derby carrying major importance in the Premier League title race. Mikel Arteta's side enter the weekend top of the table with 73 points from 34 matches, three ahead of Manchester City, although City have a game in hand. Arsenal therefore know that another victory would temporarily stretch their advantage to six points and increase the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side.
Fulham sit 10th with 48 points, but their season is far from over. Marco Silva's side are only two points behind sixth-placed Brighton, one behind Bournemouth and level with Chelsea and Brentford, leaving them firmly involved in the battle for European qualification. Arsenal have the stronger historical record in this fixture, particularly at home, but Fulham have frustrated the Gunners several times in recent seasons.
Arsenal vs Fulham: Last 10 Premier League Meetings
Across the 10 league meetings immediately before May 2, 2026, Arsenal hold a clear advantage:
Arsenal wins: 6
Fulham wins: 1
Draws: 3
Arsenal goals: 20
Fulham goals: 9
Total goals: 29
Average goals per match: 2.9
The previous 10 Premier League meetings were:
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal — October 18, 2025
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham — April 1, 2025
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal — December 8, 2024
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal — December 31, 2023
Arsenal 2-2 Fulham — August 26, 2023
Fulham 0-3 Arsenal — March 12, 2023
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham — August 27, 2022
Arsenal 1-1 Fulham — April 18, 2021
Fulham 0-3 Arsenal — September 12, 2020
Arsenal 4-1 Fulham — January 1, 2019
Arsenal have therefore won six of the previous 10 league meetings, with Fulham's only victory coming at Craven Cottage in December 2023.
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Arsenal Won the Reverse Fixture
The teams last met at Craven Cottage on October 18, 2025, when Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory. That result continued Arsenal's strong overall record against Fulham, although recent meetings have generally become more competitive.
Three of the five league encounters before this return fixture were decided by one goal or ended level. Fulham have shown that they can disrupt Arsenal's rhythm, particularly when they remain compact and prevent Arteta's side from finding easy spaces around the penalty area.
Fulham Have Never Won a League Game Away to Arsenal
The Emirates provides Arsenal with another major advantage. Fulham have never beaten Arsenal away from home in league competition. Before this fixture, Arsenal were unbeaten in all 32 home league meetings with Fulham, winning 25 and drawing seven.
Recent home results include:
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham — April 2025
Arsenal 2-2 Fulham — August 2023
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham — August 2022
Arsenal 1-1 Fulham — April 2021
Arsenal 4-1 Fulham — January 2019
Fulham have earned draws at Arsenal, but turning those competitive performances into a victory has historically proved much harder.
Arsenal Returned to the Top Against Newcastle
Arsenal's title challenge suffered setbacks during April, but they responded with an important 1-0 home victory over Newcastle United on April 25. Eberechi Eze scored the only goal in the ninth minute, moving Arsenal back above Manchester City and onto 73 points. City remained on 70 points with one game in hand.
The result was particularly important after consecutive Premier League defeats against Bournemouth and Manchester City had allowed Guardiola's team to close what had previously been a much larger gap. With four league games remaining, Arteta has made it clear that Arsenal's focus must remain entirely on winning each match rather than calculating what City might do.
Arsenal Return From Champions League Duty
The Fulham fixture also arrives between the two legs of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid. Arsenal drew 1-1 in Madrid on April 29, with Viktor Gyökeres converting a first-half penalty before Julián Álvarez equalised from the spot after the break. The second leg is scheduled at the Emirates on May 5.
That schedule creates a difficult balancing act for Arteta. Arsenal cannot afford to lose focus in the Premier League, but several important players have accumulated significant minutes across domestic and European competition. Squad rotation and physical recovery could therefore influence the starting lineup against Fulham.
Bukayo Saka Gives Arsenal Their Main Wide Threat
Bukayo Saka returned from his Achilles problem in time to feature during Arsenal's crucial late-April matches. His ability to attack defenders one-on-one gives Arsenal an important method of breaking down opponents who defend in a compact shape.
Fulham are likely to spend periods defending deeper than Arsenal, which makes Saka's combination play with the right-sided midfielder and full-back especially important. If Fulham provide additional defensive cover towards Saka, that could create central spaces for Gyökeres, Eze and Arsenal's midfield runners.
Viktor Gyökeres Can Occupy Fulham's Centre-Backs
Gyökeres gives Arsenal a strong central reference point. The Swedish striker scored from the penalty spot against Atlético Madrid and remains capable of threatening both inside the penalty area and when running behind the defensive line.
Against Fulham, his battle with Joachim Andersen and the rest of the visitors' defence could be crucial. Arsenal will want Gyökeres occupying the centre-backs while Saka and the other attacking players create movement around him.
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Arsenal Injury News
Arsenal will definitely be without Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber. Arteta confirmed on May 1 that both players would miss the Fulham match. Havertz suffered an injury against Newcastle, although Arsenal hoped he could recover for the Champions League second leg against Atlético. Timber has remained unavailable since March.
Mikel Merino is also sidelined with a foot injury, while Martin Ødegaard is a doubt after dealing with a knee problem. Those absences increase the importance of Arsenal's available depth, particularly with Atlético visiting only three days after the Fulham game.
Fulham Arrive After Beating Aston Villa
Fulham travel across London with confidence after an important 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on April 25. Ryan Sessegnon scored the decisive first-half goal as Marco Silva's team kept their European hopes alive. Villa managed only one shot on target despite having more possession, while Fulham produced a disciplined defensive performance.
That result lifted Fulham onto 48 points and moved them closer to the group competing for sixth place. It also demonstrated why Arsenal cannot treat the visitors as a comfortable mid-table opponent. Fulham are still playing for something meaningful.
Fulham's Tactical Approach
Marco Silva's side are likely to use their familiar 4-2-3-1 structure, prioritising organisation through midfield before attacking quickly when Arsenal lose possession. Fulham do not need to compete with Arsenal for possession across the entire match.
Instead, they can look to:
keep central areas compact;
force Arsenal into wider positions;
defend the penalty area aggressively;
use Joachim Andersen's passing to start transitions;
attack quickly through Harry Wilson and their wide players;
provide support around Raúl Jiménez;
make set pieces count.
The biggest challenge will be surviving Arsenal's pressure without becoming trapped permanently around their own penalty area.
Joachim Andersen Could Be Important
Andersen's passing range gives Fulham one possible route through Arsenal's press. Rather than trying to build slowly every time, the centre-back can play longer diagonal passes towards Fulham's wide attackers or directly towards Jiménez.
That could help Fulham bypass Arsenal's first wave of pressure. However, if those passes are inaccurate, Arsenal will quickly recover possession and restart their attack high up the pitch.
Alex Iwobi Will Miss the Arsenal Game
Fulham will be without former Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi, who remains sidelined. Silva confirmed before the match that Iwobi was still unavailable, along with Kevin. Iwobi's absence is significant because his ability to carry the ball through midfield could have been particularly useful against Arsenal's press. Fulham will need other players to provide that transition threat.
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Ryan Sessegnon Is Also Out
Fulham suffered another setback following their victory over Aston Villa. Sessegnon, who scored the winning goal, picked up a muscle injury and has been ruled out of the trip to Arsenal. That removes one of Fulham's most dangerous attacking options at exactly the wrong time. There is better news regarding Kenny Tete, who has returned to training. Silva said the defender could potentially be involved depending on how he responded to the final sessions before the match.
Tactical Matchup: Arsenal Possession vs Fulham's Compact Shape
The likely tactical pattern is straightforward. Arsenal should have significantly more possession. Arteta's side will try to establish themselves in Fulham's half, circulate the ball quickly, and find openings around the edge of the penalty area.
Fulham will attempt to remain compact and force Arsenal into low-percentage crosses or shots from distance. For Arsenal, patience will be essential. If they become frustrated and send too many players forward, Fulham have enough quality to counter into the spaces left behind.
Arsenal Need to Manage Fulham's Transitions
Fulham's most dangerous moments may arrive immediately after Arsenal lose possession. Marco Silva can use Jiménez as a central outlet while the wide players move quickly beyond him. Arsenal therefore need strong positioning behind the attack.
Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi could be particularly important in stopping counter-attacks before they develop. If Arsenal can dominate possession while also controlling Fulham's transitions, the visitors may struggle to create enough chances.
Set Pieces Could Matter
Both teams possess considerable aerial strength. Arsenal have regularly used set pieces as an attacking weapon under Arteta, with Declan Rice's delivery and the aerial presence of Gabriel among their most dangerous combinations.
Fulham also have physically strong players such as Andersen and Jiménez. In a match where Fulham may not create many open-play opportunities, corners and free kicks could offer one of their best routes to goal.
Arsenal vs Fulham: Who Has the Advantage?
Arsenal enter as clear favourites. They are top of the Premier League, have home advantage and have never lost a home league game against Fulham. They also won the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage. Fulham, however, have enough motivation and quality to make this difficult.
Their victory over Aston Villa moved them within two points of sixth place, meaning European qualification remains a realistic target. Arsenal's Champions League commitments and injuries also give Silva's side reasons for encouragement. The Gunners will have only a few days to recover from Atlético Madrid before facing Fulham, and another Champions League semi-final is waiting immediately afterwards.
Even so, Arsenal's excellent home record in this fixture and greater attacking quality make them the stronger side on paper. For Arsenal, victory would move them another step closer to a first Premier League title since 2004 and temporarily establish a six-point advantage over Manchester City.
For Fulham, a positive result at the Emirates would strengthen their push for European football while potentially having a major influence on the title race. With four league matches remaining and the pressure increasing at both ends of the European places, this London derby has considerably more at stake than the league positions alone suggest.