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Aston Villa are back in action in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, as Unai Emery’s side welcome Fulham to Villa Park on match day 12 of the 2023/24 season.

The Villans will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the league, and after securing three valuable points in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, the Midlands club will bid to get their form rolling once more.

Emery made four changes to the squad that lost to Nottingham Forest in the league to face AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League, with a similar rotation expected ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Here is Villa's predicted lineup vs Fulham and those three alterations from the midweek triumph…

1 GK – Emiliano Martinez

Holder of the 2023 Yashin Trophy, World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez will remain between the sticks for Villa against Fulham. The 31-year-old had a shaky performance during the defeat to Forest, however his quality outside of the mishap is irreplaceable.

2 LB – Lucas Digne

Despite the return of Alex Moreno from injury, Lucas Digne started against AZ and was a continual threat down the left side thanks to his dynamic progressive ability.

Although the Frenchman displays his defensive frailties due to his direct nature when getting forward at full-back, highlighted by him losing possession 20 times vs Forest, his presence down the flank is hard to replace.

No player in the Villa squad averages a higher rate of key passes per game than Digne this season, with the former Everton ace recording an average of two per game in the 2023/24 Premier League, via WhoScored.

3 CB – Pau Torres

Summer capture Pau Torres will almost certainly reclaim his spot in central defence following the rotation mid-week. The Spaniard was forced into action in the dying embers against AZ to replace Diego Carlos.

The Brazilian was forced to withdraw due to a minor injury, making Torres' claim to start against Fulham undeniable.

4 CB – Ezri Konsa

Against AZ, Ezri Konsa assumed the right-back position in place of Matty Cash, and is likely to rejoin forces with Torres in central defence as he has done in the Premier League this term.

With an average pass completion rate of 93.3% per game, only Tyrone Mings – who has played just 31 minutes of the season – tops the charts at Villa in that area, reinforcing Konsa’s reliability at the back.

Clement Lenglet will be the player to make way for Konsa’s return to central defence, after starting against AZ alongside Carlos on Thursday.

5 RB – Matty Cash

During his pre-match press conference ahead of the AZ clash, Emery revealed that Cash had recovered from a small injury he sustained against Forest last weekend.

The 26-year-old is expected to be restored to the starting XI after starting on the bench in midweek, adding a host of attacking threat to the final third at right-back.

6 CM – Douglas Luiz

Douglas Luiz also started on the bench in midweek, yet the reported Arsenal target will seemingly make his return to the XI to face Fulham.

The £75k-per-week Brazilian was lauded for his “magic” moment to assist Ollie Watkins’ winning goal vs AZ on Thursday by journalist John Townley, with his place in the squad irreplaceable as his magnificent form continues.

7 CM – Youri Tielemans

Pairing Luiz is typically Boubacar Kamara, yet the latter man did not enjoy his best outing in Europe this week, notably missing a gilt-edged chance to score and losing possession on ten occasions.

As such, Youri Tielemans could well keep his place in the centre of the park following an 'encouraging display' last time out, as per BirminghamLive's Townley, with the aim now for the summer signing to cement his place in the side moving forward.

8 RW – John McGinn

One of the most reliable players in Emery’s side is club captain, John McGinn, who will continue to occupy the left side in the Spaniard’s free-flowing midfield four.

To portray his consistency of high performances, the Scotsman hasn’t received a Sofascore match rating lower than 7.1 in the Premier League since September, cementing himself as a well-rounded player in the squad.

With two goals and two assists to his name already this season, the 29-year-old could be one to watch against the Cottagers due to his ability to cover significant ground and pop up in unexpected areas to help his team.

9 LW – Leon Bailey

Leon Bailey’s assist against AZ this week took his contribution to goals to five in his last five games for Villa, surely warranting him a starting spot in the Premier League over Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Jamaican has only started two league games so far this campaign, scoring three goals and claiming two assists, with the Italian still waiting to contribute in the final third to strengthen Bailey’s claim to start against Marco Silva's side.

10 ST – Moussa Diaby

Making up one-half of the strike partnership is Moussa Diaby, who started his first Conference League game of the season against AZ.

The forward has impressed since arriving in the Midlands from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window, forming an electrifying partnership with Watkins to see his playmaking and clinical streak in front of goal exploited.

With three goals and three assists so far in the league, the Frenchman will be one for Fulham to revise thoroughly, with only Digne averaging more key passes than the 24-year-old with 1.9 per game, via WhoScored.

Tottenham Hotspur have given a "green light" to allow Harry Kane to travel to Germany, with an expectation that the "final final" details of the transfer can be completed soon, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich?

Kane to Bayern Munich has undoubtedly been the transfer saga of the summer and has, at points, felt like it was never going to be resolved, but over the last 24 hours, everything has suddenly and very dramatically changed.

On Thursday morning, the news broke that Daniel Levy and Co had finally accepted an offer from their German counterparts worth a whopping £86m plus £17m in add-ons to sell their most prized asset before his contract expires, allowing him to potentially leave for free next summer.

While it perhaps makes sense to sell such a valuable player to avoid him leaving for free, the news that the North Londoners had accepted an offer was still something of a shock after they had so publicly rejected the Bavarian's three previous proposals – outright ignoring their deadline of last Friday.

Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…

That said, with the fourth offer being accepted, the Lilywhites have given their £200,000-a-week star the "green light" to travel to Munich to undergo a medical and for the Bundesliga champions to complete the "final" aspects of the deal, with it being wrapped up by the end of today (Friday) per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Let me start with Harry Kane because the latest – after midnight – is that after positive round of talks late-night talks between Harry Kane's camp and Bayern, the agreement is finally closed. So, the issue was something related to details of the deal, not just on personal terms but something also between the people who took care of the negotiation, so they had to discuss some of these points with Bayern being a very big deal, you can imagine how complicated are all these details and so [the] agreement between clubs done in the morning €100m (£86m) guaranteed €20m (£17m) in add-ons to Tottenham.

"Daniel Levy accepted around 11am European time [Thursday], but the agreement with the player was still needed. [It was] still 50/50 during the afternoon, then during the night Harry Kane gave positive indications to Bayern. Not a done deal yet, but Bayern expect the deal to be done on Friday if all goes to plan. Tottenham have already given the authorisation to Harry Kane and to his camp to travel to Munich to undergo medical tests and to complete his move to Bayern.

"So, there is the green light from Tottenham to travel, now it's on Bayern to complete the agreement on the final final details they are discussing the final points and then it will be done on Friday that's the expectation but really important night for Bayern and for Tottenham."

It is believed the England captain is now just waiting on the go-ahead from the German giants.

How many Premier League goals does Harry Kane have?

With his move edging ever closer to being completed, the England captain has – for now – paused his quest to become the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer, but how far was he from claiming the top spot?

The man currently holding down fifth place on 184 goals is Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero who scored one of the league's most iconic goals with that winner against QPR to seal the Sky Blues their first title since 1968.

Fourth spot belongs to a legend from the Red half of Manchester, Andy Cole. The iconic forward was half of one of the league's deadliest duos alongside Dwight Yorke, but scored a seriously impressive 187 goals on his own.

The Bronze medal goes to another Manchester United legend and England's former top-scorer, Wayne Rooney. He was one of the faces of the Premier League for most of the 2000s and the early 2010s, and for good reason.

In his 491 appearances, he scored a whopping 208 goals, provided 103 assists for good measure, and ended United's all-time top-scorer.

Then we get onto Kane, who, in just 320 appearances for Spurs, has scored a frankly outrageous 213 goals, becoming the club's all-time top scorer along the way, and could still potentially claim top spot should he return in a few years.

And then, in first place as the undisputed top goalscorer in Premier League history, we have Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer who, in 441 appearances, scored an absurd 260 goals whilst providing 64 assists as well.

Shearer can once again rest easy that his record is safe from the inhuman Kane, for now anyway.

Newcastle United are still interested in Southampton right-back Tino Livramento after seeing an initial advance rebuffed, and could re-enter formal negotiations in the coming days.

What's the latest on Tino Livramento to Newcastle?

That's according to i news, who claim that the Magpies remain in transfer talks for the 20-year-old Englishman after a £30m transfer offer was rejected by Saints earlier this month, with his team demanding £50m.

It is said that there is still a gulf in respective valuations of the player, with Eddie Howe's club likely needing to raise their offer to £40m to see the south coast side part with their precocious talent following relegation from the Premier League this year.

The report underscores Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth's emphasis on squad improvement this summer by landing two further incomings to consolidate the return to Champions League football, with the Toon finishing fourth in the English top-flight last term.

Is Tino Livramento a good player?

Kieran Trippier has proved a remarkable signing for Howe's Newcastle project since arriving from Atletico Madrid in a £12m deal in January 2022, earning praise as a "revelation" by talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan and recording a remarkable average Sofascore rating of 7.61 in the league last season.

However, the England international will be 33-years-old in two months' time and Howe is working aptly in identifying an heir.

Livramento, who was restricted to just two Premier League appearances across the 2022/23 campaign following his recovery from a long-term injury, is now hoping to return to full fitness and could find his comeback well-suited to the role as Trippier's understudy, making the increments to both fitness and form as he ascends to the upper echelon of full-backs in English football, already praised as "excellent" by England manager Gareth Southgate.

Once hailed for his semblance to Premier League legend Gareth Bale by former teammate Theo Walcott, Livramento looks to hold the qualities requisite for success at the zenith of the game, and why not continue his burgeoning rise at a team enjoying their own rise to the fore in Newcastle?

Walcott said:

"Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth Bale when he came through as a full-back. That's a big statement of course to compare him to someone like that but just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power and it's no surprise that you know what he's going to do."

By utilising his pace, power and surging nature down the right flank, he could effectively contribute to both offensive and defensive sequences, which would aid winger Jacob Murphy in his efforts to succeed next season.

Murphy was a figure shrouded in shadow for much of his time on Tyneside after signing from Norwich City in a £12m move 2017 but played 36 times in the Premier League last season as Howe found good use of his industrious nature and "relentless" work rate – as was dubbed by Chris Waugh – and he now looks an indispensable member of a thriving outfit.

The £35k-per-week gem also ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 16% for touches in the attacking box and the top 17% for progressive passes received, as per FBref.

Effectively, this means that he would be well-placed to thrive with someone such as Livramento behind him, constantly pressing the player further up the pitch and allowing him to drift into promising openings in the danger areas, and Newcastle must now swoop.

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan entertaining the notion of selling one of their prize assets this summer is 'hard to understand' for Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

What's the latest transfer news involving West Bromwich Albion?

The Baggies have been quiet in the transfer window so far and have only confirmed two additions in the form of Josh Maja on a free transfer and Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, as per Transfermarkt.

Last week, West Brom manager Corberan hinted that he could be set to enact some late activity in the market, cited by Birmingham Live, as he stated: "We are still having the conversations with the club to see what things can happen with things we can approach, how we can approach the market, so still for me it's work to do with our communication and co-ordination with the club, but it all depends about our financial possibilities."

Departures have taken precedence at the Hawthorns this summer as West Brom look to alleviate financial problems that have influenced their ability to secure new arrivals and the likes of Dara O'Shea, Tom Rogic, Jake Livermore, David Button and Kean Bryan have all left the club permanently.

West Brom winger Grady Diangana could be next to depart at the Hawthorns this window and is attracting interest from Leeds United, Leicester City, Burnley and clubs in Saudi Arabia, according to The Express & Star.

Diangana is valued at around £7 million by West Brom and is yet to feature this campaign. Last term, the Lubumbashi-born winger made 35 appearances in all competitions, registering four goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Daily Express journalist Taylor has heard that there are murmurings that West Brom don't want Diangana, which he finds 'hard to understand' due to his talents.

Asked about Leeds United being keen on Diangana, Taylor stated: “I see that as being a good signing.

“I've seen suggestions he's not wanted at West Brom, which I find hard to understand, but obviously, I'm not at the club, so I'm guessing there's more to it than that.

“But a couple of years ago, he was deemed a top talent at West Ham, and they were disappointed to see him sold.”

What now for West Bromwich Albion?

Last weekend, West Brom claimed their first victory of the Sky Bet Championship campaign after holding off a late fightback from Swansea City to run out 3-2 winners at the Hawthorns, as per BBC Sport.

Before their win at the weekend, the Baggies suffered 2-1 losses to Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City in the English top-flight and Carabao Cup, respectively; however, Corberan now has some positivity to build on following a tumultuous few months off the field, as per Sky Sports.

According to The Express & Star, West Brom were in the hunt to bring in FC Midtjylland striker Sory Kaba to strengthen their forward line this window.

Nevertheless, Mike McGrath, who is a journalist for The Telegraph, has taken to Twitter X to reveal that Birmingham City are now in pole position to land the 28-year-old, stating: "Birmingham City have agreed a fee for Sory Kaba at Midtjylland according to sources in Denmark. Watford FC were leading race for Guinea forward whose goals helped keep Cardiff up last season. BCFC entered race which included several Championship clubs."

Heart of Midlothian suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to Greek side PAOK in their Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday evening.

With the match finely poised at 1-1, Lawrence Shankland scored a stunning goal which looked to have given Hearts the lead. It was chalked off, however, and Andrija Zivkovic netted the winner 15 minutes from time with a wonderful strike.

It wasn’t the result Steven Naismith would have hoped for, yet it showed that there wasn’t much between the two teams, and given how many young talents he has at his disposal such as Alex Lowry, Hearts could respond well next week.

How has Alex Lowry performed at Hearts?

The young midfielder joined on loan from Rangers, and it could turn into a stroke of genius from Naismith.

He has played five times so far and grabbed two assists while demonstrating glimpses of his vast talent during his two appearances in the Premiership.

Averaging just 45 minutes per game, the 20-year-old has taken 33 touches per match while making one key pass and one tackle per match, suggesting that he is comfortable getting on the ball and trying to make things happen, while also looking to win the ball back.

Having burst onto the scene in January 2022 by scoring on his Gers debut in the Scottish Cup, he couldn’t quite become a regular starter last term due to injury issues, and a loan spell looked like the best option.

There is no doubt a move to Hearts will aid his development. Naismith will only benefit from his presence for a year – however, could he perhaps unearth his own Lowry with a teenage starlet from the B side in Callum Sandilands?

Who is Callum Sandilands?

The 17-year-old joined the Gorgie side back in 2021 following his release from Rangers, and was previously lauded by John Rankin, who was the Hearts U18 manager at the time.

He said: "Callum first came in on trial back in June and really impressed us.

"He’s a goalscoring midfielder who brings so much energy to the team and he can also play in a number of positions across midfield.

"He’s got good vision and technical ability and, equally as important, has a fantastic attitude.

"I believe Hearts is the perfect place for him to continue his development and I look forward to seeing him progress over the coming months and years."

High praise indeed for someone so young, and his time in Edinburgh has enabled him to gain some crucial game time for the B team.

He has played across a few positions over the previous two seasons, most notably in an attacking-midfield role, yet the teen can also operate wide on the right or slightly deeper if required.

Like Lowry, Sandilands is a goalscoring midfielder who tends to push forward as often as possible, and across 41 matches for the B side, he has racked up an impressive 18 goals and four assists.

Yet to make his senior bow, Naismith could change that this term, especially if they do make the group stages of the Europa Conference League, with squad rotation vital to keeping the starting XI fresh.

The manager should enjoy Lowry for the single campaign he will spend at Tynecastle, but in Sandilands, he could unearth his very own wonderful talent who could go on to emulate what Lowry has already achieved.

Micah Richards was left blown away by the performance of one Sunderland star in the Tyne-Wear derby victory against Newcastle United this afternoon.

Sunderland win first Premier League game vs Newcastle since 2016

The Black Cats managed to get one over on their biggest rivals in the first Premier League meeting with Newcastle since 2016, courtesy of a bizarre own goal from Nick Woltemade in the second half.

Regis Le Bris’ side have made a dream start to life back in the top flight, but today’s victory is undoubtedly the sweetest yet, moving four points clear of the Magpies after managing to hold out for a well-earned 1-0 win.

A lot of credit has to go to the defence, with the visitors being limited to an xG of just 0.26, never really managing to create any big opportunities throughout the match.

However, Richards was also quick to praise Granit Xhaka after the match, with the former Manchester City man saying: “This man, we talked about him before the game, was brilliant again, absolute warrior in that midfield. What a player he’s been, what a signing. I’m gonna say he’s been the signing of the season so far, that’s how big I’m going.”

“He’s been absolutely immaculate in everything he does, even the way he speaks is just brilliant. Wow.”

Xhaka deserves all the plaudits after another impressive display

The Basel-born midfielder has been absolutely indispensable for Le Bris this season, starting all 15 Premier League games, during which time he’s chipped in with five goal involvements.

Sunderland could now make £12m approach to sign "unreal" defender in January

The Black Cats are assessing their options ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

ByDominic Lund 7 days ago

However, the Swiss maestro is perhaps best known for his defensive qualities, which were on show again today, making a number of important contributions.

Granit Xhaka’s key stats vs Newcastle

Number completed

Ground duels (won)

3 (2)

Aerial duels (won)

3 (3)

Clearances

4

Tackles

2

The Black Cats managing to sign the former Bayer Leverkusen man is starting to look like a real coup, with Jamie Carragher describing him as “fantastic” and the “most influential” player for a Premier League team this season.

The sky is the limit for this Sunderland side, who are firmly in contention to qualify for Europe, but Xhaka is likely to be paramount to their success, and Le Bris will be hoping for a similar display when his side travel to Brighton for their penultimate game in 2025 next weekend.

To say that Ange Postecoglou has hit the ground running at Tottenham Hotspur would be an understatement. The former Celtic boss has breathed new life into the Lilywhites, who are now finally blossoming once again in the early stages of the campaign.

When Spurs lost Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, without really replacing him, some may have been quick to worry about Spurs' ability to keep up with the rest of the Premier League's top six. With four games gone, however, only Manchester City have earned more points than Postecoglou's side, who have already defeated Manchester United this season.

Spurs deserve credit for replacing Kane's goals through other sources, sharing the goals round. And, now, a forgotten man could finally play his part, with Alasdair Gold suggesting that he'd slot in well in the current system.

What did Alasdair Gold say?

In his latest Q&A, Gold spoke about the options at Postecoglou's disposal, including those who are yet to play. Of course, with no European football this season, opportunities may be hard to come by for fringe players, but Gold believes that certain players can put themselves in contention.

Among those that Gold spoke about was Bryan Gil, who enjoyed an impressive loan spell with Sevilla last season, starting in the La Liga side's Europa League final victory over AS Roma but is yet to feature this season.

Speaking about Gil, Gold said, via Football London:

“Gil can play on either flank. I’m fascinated to see whether he can force his way into Postecoglou’s thinking.

“There’s a lot of competition now for those wide spots but the little Spaniard will fit nicely into the way the Australian wants his players to play. It’s all about whether he gets the minutes to show it though.”

The winger, himself, suggested on social media that he is ready to kickstart his Spurs career, posting a picture in the Spurs gym, with the caption saying, soon. With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see whether he can force his way into Postecoglou's plans after the international break.

Should Spurs play Bryan Gil?

Given Dejan Kulusevski's slow start to the season, scoring just once in five games in all competitions, it could be a more than warranted decision by Postecoglou to hand Gil a chance over the coming months.

Statistically speaking, if the Spaniard took his Sevilla form to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, then the Lilywhites would have themselves an excellent attacking option. Gil's biggest asset could come through his ability to win the ball back, given Postecoglou's need for players who are able to press high up the pitch.

As per FBref, Gil is in the top 94 percentile for interceptions per 90, with 0.94, whilst also sitting in the top 85 percentile for tackles, making 1.93 per 90. So, it's clear that the winger can, in fact, slot straight into the system that is currently having so much success at Spurs, giving Postecoglou plenty to think about.

Looking to kickstart his Lilywhites career, Gil may well be desperately hoping to receive plenty of opportunities in the Premier League under Postecoglou this season, so he could be a player to keep an eye on.

Arsenal and Fulham have been facing off against one another for over a century since their first meeting in an FA Cup tie all the way back in February 1904, a game the north Londoners – then Woolwich Arsenal – won 3-2.

Football FanCast has everything you need to know as the two teams prepare to meet again in the Premier League.

Despite playing just two games of the new campaign, it's the Gunners that come into the tie in slightly better form, having won against both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. However, the nervy way those games concluded could give the Cottagers some encouragement.

For their part, the west Londoners kick-started their season with a brilliant 1-0 win away to Everton before succumbing to Brentford 3-0 on Saturday, losing Tim Ream to a red card in the process.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their head-to-head record?

Arsenal and Fulham have met 61 times since that initial clash in 1904, perhaps less often than people would've assumed. There have been some fairly large periods in which the two teams haven't met, like between 1915 and 1949, and 1968 and 2001.

The fixture has been heavily dominated by the Gunners throughout its history, with the men in red winning over two-thirds of games and drawing more than they've lost.

Arsenal wins: 42 Draws: 11 Fulham wins: 8 Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their record at Highbury/Emirates Stadium?

Arsenal have hosted their west London opponents 31 times over the years and have been utterly dominant when doing so. They've won 25 games at home – including one south of the river.

For their efforts, Fulham have managed to come away with a point on eight separate occasions, most recently in April 2021 – but have yet to record a victory when travelling to Arsenal.

It's been an incredibly one-sided affair at the home of the Gunners and helps to explain the lopsided nature of this fixture's results.

Arsenal wins: 25 Draws: 6 Fulham wins: 0 Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their record at Craven Cottage?

Fulham have had a better time of things when at home, winning eight of the 30 games played at Craven Cottage and drawing a further five.

However, the Gunners again dominate, even when away from their place. Their 17 wins are over double what their hosts have managed over the years, and so even though there is a better chance of a Fulham win, the odds remain in Arsenal's favour in west London.

Fulham wins: 8 Draws: 5 Arsenal wins: 17 Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their Premier League record?

The two teams have faced off 32 times since the inception of the Premier League, and unsurprisingly, it's three-time champions Arsenal that have been utterly dominant in that period. The north Londoners have won 23 of those meetings and drawn six.

However, Fulham have had at least some success since their first Premier League meeting in September 2001, achieving three victories, the last of which came in January 2012 courtesy of goals from Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora.

That said, since 2012, it has been one-way traffic, with Arsenal winning eight out of ten games and drawing only twice to take 26 of the 30 points on offer.

Arsenal vs Fulham: Which team has the most goals?

Given the sheer level of dominance when it comes to results, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear that it's a similar story with the number of goals scored as well.

In their 61 meetings, the Gunners have managed to put away 136 goals, with the Cottagers only being able to reply with 66 of their own.

Unfortunately for Fulham, it doesn't get any better at home either, with the side scoring just 38 goals to Arsenal's 59.

When Arsenal host, it's been a barrage of goals from the home side. In 31 games, they've scored a massive 77 goals, whilst Fulham have only responded with 28 of their own – a ratio of 2.85 Arsenal goals for every Cottagers goal.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What happened in last season's fixtures?

Mikel Arteta's men won both fixtures against Marco Silva's outfit last season, and whilst the second game was a walk in the park, the encounter at the Emirates was a much tighter affair than many expected.

It was Fulham that opened the scoring in the second half, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic finding the back of the net on 56 minutes – stunning the Islington crowd.

However, it took just eight minutes for the hosts to respond thanks to a deflected shot from captain Martin Odegaard which trickled past former Gunner Bernd Leno in goal.

The following 20 minutes saw sustained pressure from the home side until Gabriel Magalhaes lashed home the winner from a corner on 86 minutes.

The return fixture was a far more relaxing affair for the Arsenal faithful as the team found themselves 3-0 to the good by half-time thanks to a hat-trick of assists from January signing Leandro Trossard.

It was a goalless affair in the second 45, as with the match all but sewn up, there was no need to push their luck. Silva will be hoping his side can enact some revenge this weekend and come away with at least a point this time around.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Gabriel Martinelli's record?

Not many players in the current Arsenal squad have played many games against the Cottagers, as Arteta has completely overhauled the squad following his arrival in late 2019.

That said, Martinelli has a good record against Fulham, having played three games against the side, winning two of them, drawing one and scoring in the team's 3-0 demolition of the side earlier this year.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Raul Jimenez's record?

Jimenez has faced the Gunners eight times in his career, all in the Premier League for his former side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In those eight games, he has emerged on the victorious side twice, with one point another two times and leaving empty-handed on four occasions. The 32-year-old has scored one goal and provided one assist for his teammates in those eight games.

However, with no goal or assist against Arsenal in his last five games against them, Fulham probably shouldn't expect too much from the Mexico international.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Arsenal's biggest win?

Arsenal's record win over Fulham is 5-1 – a result they have managed twice in their 61 meetings with their London rivals.

The first instance was a home game in the old First Division that saw inside forward Doug Lishman score a hat-trick alongside goals from Alex Forbes and Peter Goring back in the 1950/51 campaign.

Of course, most Arsenal fans will have a far better memory of the game at Craven Cottage in October 2018, when Unai Emery was still in the dugout.

Despite taking the lead on 29 minutes thanks to a strike from Alexandre Lacazette, the two sides went in on level terms at half-time following a 44th-minute equaliser from Andre Schurrle.

The second half was a total rout, however, with the Gunners playing some incredibly silky football and putting another four past Marcus Bettinelli to no reply.

Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette scored a brace that day, but Aaron Ramsey's goal is perhaps remembered most fondly for the outstanding build-up play and passing that led to it.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Fulham's biggest win?

Despite often being on the losing end of encounters with their cross-city rivals, Fulham has actually got the biggest win out of the two sides, and it came all the way back in November 1913 when both teams were in the old Second Division.

It was the first league encounter between the two sides after Arsenal had beaten the Cottagers 3-2 in the FA Cup nine years earlier, and it ended 6-1 to the home side in front of a crowd of around 35,000 fans.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What are the recent results?

Across the last six meetings between these two sides, it has been all Arsenal. The most recent game – taking place in mid-March – finished 3-0 to the visiting Gunners and was a completely one-sided affair from start to finish.

The game prior to that was a more tightly contested encounter, with Arsenal relying on an 86th-minute winner to claim all three points.

However, the match before that – in April 2021 – ended in a draw thanks to a 59th-minute penalty from Josh Maja and an incredibly late 90th-minute equaliser from Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal vs Fulham: When is it?

Arsenal host Fulham on Saturday 26th August at 3pm UK time. Whilst it might not be one of the most prominent fixtures in the league, it is still a London derby and one that both sides will be desperate to win for very different reasons.

The Gunners go into it with two wins under their belt, however, with tactical changes being made by Arteta, they haven't looked anywhere near their flowing best and will look to make a statement with a big home win in front of their supporters.

It'll also be the perfect opportunity for Kai Havertz to justify his hefty price tag to the Arsenal faithful after failing to register a goal or assist in his first two league games.

On the other hand, Fulham will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Brentford and maintain their push to stay in the top flight for another year.

The Cottagers, too, have a new signing that will be looking to prove his worth to the wider league in Raul Jimenez. The Mexican has come in to fill the void of Mitrovic, who has joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.

The ex-Wolves ace will have to perform brilliantly to get anything out of this Arsenal team at home.

With both clubs looking nervously at either end of the table, this clash should be an exciting one to watch and could be precisely what the sides need to springboard their respective campaigns.

Manchester United have previous for leaving things late in the transfer window and it looks like it could be yet another hectic period for the club ahead of Friday's looming deadline, with a number of issues still to resolve.

As Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst revealed earlier this week, there could still be multiple new signings made over the coming days, with the addition of a new left-back a particular priority following the loss of Luke Shaw to injury.

There is also a belief that United could target another midfield signing despite already bringing in the club's new number seven, Mason Mount, earlier in the summer, with various reports indicating that a late move for Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be the on the cards.

What's the latest on Hojbjerg to Man United?

As 90min's Graeme Bailey revealed on Tuesday, the Red Devils are said to have been offered the chance to sign the Denmark international from their Premier League rivals, with the 28-year-old set to be allowed to leave if a suitable offer were to arrive from a potential suitor.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

The former Southampton man has been of interest to La Liga side Atletico Madrid throughout the summer window, although a possible £30m switch to the Spanish capital failed to pan out, thus opening the door for United to pounce.

The suggestion is that Erik ten Hag and co are considering midfield alternatives to Fiorentina ace, Sofyan Amrabat, hence the interest in prising Hojbjerg from north London in what would be a surprise, last-gasp approach.

How good is Hojbjerg?

There may be those of a United persuasion who would be concerned at the prospect of signing a player who is seemingly surplus to requirements at one of their rivals, although such a move could well prove particularly astute if Hojbjerg – who has been described as a "warrior" by Sky Sports reporter Nubaid Haroon – is to hit the ground running at Old Trafford.

One particularly intriguing factor regarding the £100k-per-week Dane is the comparison that can be made between himself and Arsenal's recent £105m addition, Declan Rice, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

That likeness between the Spurs destroyer and Rice – who had been a reported target for the Red Devils prior to joining the Gunners – can notably be seen by their forward-thinking approach from midfield, with the Gunners ace averaging 6.84 progressive passes per 90, while Hojbjerg is only just behind as he averages 6.51 in that regard, across the last 365 days.

The pair are also both seemingly adept at dictating the tempo in the centre of the park as the latter man ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for pass completion, while the England international ranks in the top 16% for that same metric.

It is the duo's ball-winning prowess that particularly catches the eye, however, with Hojbjerg having averaged a solid three tackles and interceptions per game last term, while Rice was only just ahead after averaging 3.8 tackles per game in the 2022/23 campaign.

Equally, much like the former West Ham United man – who chipped in with six goals and assists in the league last season – the Tottenham titan can also impact proceedings in the final third, having registered ten goals and assists for the Lilywhites last term in the top flight.

With Rice evidently a highly-rated talent – as his lofty transfer fee would attest to – for Ten Hag to find his own version of the 24-year-old for potentially a fraction of the cost could well be an exciting prospect.

Aston Villa have bolstered their playing squad with three new signings during the summer transfer window but one of their players is now being touted with an exit…

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, Burnley have submitted an offer of £12m to sign Villans attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

The report claims that the Clarets are in talks with the club over a deal to snap up the England youth international after they won promotion from the Championship last term.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Unai Emery has brought in Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby, and Pau Torres to strengthen his team and it remains to be seen whether or not he is willing to sanction an exit for Jacob Ramsey's brother.

How good is Aaron Ramsey?

The Villa head coach must avoid the first big transfer blunder of his time at the club by keeping hold of the English dynamo instead of selling him to Burnley this summer.

Ramsey is an exciting young talent who is coming off the back of an impressive second-tier campaign with Norwich and Middlesbrough on loan.

The Villans should not be quick to move on such a promising prospect as the potential is there for him to be a big player for the club in the future if he is able to develop and translate his Championship and academy form over to the Premier League.

Last season, Ramsey averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across 29 league matches for Boro and the Canaries combined, which is a score that only three Villa players – John McGinn, Emi Martinez, and Douglas Luiz – bettered in the Premier League.

The magical technician produced an impressive eight goals and four assists from an attacking midfield position, which shows that the young gem is capable of making things happen at the top end of the pitch with regularity despite his age and inexperience.

Meanwhile, no Villa midfielder managed more than six top-flight goals during the 2022/23 campaign and only two players in that position provided more than four assists.

Ramsey, who was dubbed "selfless" by ex-boss Michael Carrick, caught the eye in the Championship after enjoying a terrific time at U21 level for the Villans. He racked up 15 goals and eight assists in 30 U21 matches for the club prior to his first-team breakthrough.

This shows that the 20-year-old magician has been able to make a big impact for Villa's youth team and at two different second-division clubs, which means that he has been able to adapt and remain consistent despite having to play in varying leagues and with various managers and teammates.

Therefore, Ramsey could be able to handle the step up to the Premier League with Villa and could be a player with the potential to burst onto the scene this season as a goal scoring and creating midfielder.

This is why Emery must not sanction a move toTurf Moor for the academy graduate as he could be a terrific option for the Spanish head coach and improve his midfield's goal output if given an opportunity over the months to come.