Arsenal will be aiming to maintain their perfect start to the new Premier League season when they host Fulham this afternoon.

The Gunners have won both games so far this campaign, working hard to seal a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last time out while playing the final stages of the game with 10 men. 

This victory followed an opening weekend success against Nottingham Forest and leaves Mikel Arteta’s side with a 100% record. 

However, Arteta will not be entirely convinced by his team’s performances and will be hoping to see some improvement this time around. 

Meanwhile, the Cottagers are out to put an end to Arsenal’s winning start as they look to bounce back from an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to Brentford. 

Arsenal vs Fulham: How to follow 

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, August 26. 

Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 3pm. 

Due to the 3pm blackout rule in the UK, the game will not be available to watch live on TV. 

talkSPORT will have regular updates from all top-flight games with Adrian Durham. 

talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog of all the action from north London. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Arsenal vs Fulham: Team news 

Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu after he was sent off against Crystal Palace last time out. 

He could be replaced by Saudi Arabia-linked Gabriel or Oleksandr Zinchenko who is set to return from injury this afternoon. 

Jurrien Timber is out for several months after suffering an ACL injury while Folarin Balogun and Albert Sambi Lokonga are also set to remain out. 

Gabriel Jesus has returned to training this week but may not be fit enough to feature.

As for Fulham, Tim Ream was shown a red card against Brentford meaning new signing Calvin Bassey will likely take his place.

Joao Palhinha is back from his shoulder injury while Willian and Bernd Leno are expected to feature against their former club. 

Arsenal vs Fulham: What has been said?

Arsenal boss Arteta has admitted that his side are not playing at the level he wants this season despite winning two from two. 

Speaking after the Crystal Palace win, he said: “No [we are not at the level], because we have to put the ball in the net more often, especially with the dominance we are having in games. 

“But that’s the most difficult thing in football, so if you don’t do that, you have to do the other part, which is be extremely solid. 

“We were last week and we were again today with the chances we conceded. Let’s keep playing better and evolving.”

Arsenal vs Fulham: Match facts

• Takehiro Tomiyasu’s red card against Crystal Palace was Arsenal’s 14th in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta, the most of any side in that time. They did, however, win the game 1-0, with the Gunners the only side in Premier League to win more games (36) than they’ve lost (34) when receiving a red card.
• Leandro Trossard has more assists than any other player in the Premier League since his Arsenal debut in January 2023 (10), with three of those coming against Fulham in March. He’s averaging an assist every 95 minutes in 2023, the best ratio by a player in a calendar year in Premier League history (min. 500 minutes played).
• Fulham forward Willian played 25 Premier League games for Arsenal, with his only goal for the club coming in his final appearance against West Brom at the Emirates. The Brazilian is in line for his first appearance against the Gunners since leaving in the summer of 2021, and could become the oldest player to score a Premier League goal against Arsenal having previously played for them in the competition (35y & 17d on the day of this game).
• Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has scored in three of his four Premier League appearances against Fulham, netting an 86th-minute winner in this exact fixture last term.
• Fulham are winless in their last seven Premier League London derbies (D2 L5), including a 0-3 loss to Brentford last time out. On the road, the Cottagers have won just one of their last 19 top-flight matches against clubs also from the capital (D4 L14), a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day last year.
• Since the start of last season, there have been 81 Premier League goals scored at the Emirates Stadium (4.05 per game on average), more than at any other venue during this period (55 for Arsenal & 26 against).
• Following their 1-0 victory at Everton on MD1, Fulham will be looking to win their opening two away games in a top-flight campaign for the first time ever (this is their 29th top-flight season).
• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 34 Premier League games at the Emirates kicking off at 15:00 on a Saturday (W27 D6), with that defeat coming against Brighton in April 2022 (1-2). Indeed, the Gunners won three of their four such fixtures last term, drawing the other against Brentford (1-1).
• Fulham are winless in their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal (D2 L8) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 16 against the Gunners.
• Arsenal have never lost a home league game against Fulham, winning 24 and drawing six of their 30 such meetings. It’s the most one team has faced another at home without ever losing in English league history.