Follow live coverage of Arsenal v Fulham here

Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil Reuters

Arsenal take on Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as the Gunners look to keep the pressure on Manchester City and Chelsea at the top of the table.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day on BBC One from 10:20 pm GMT.

Overview

This is a must-win game for the Gunners who will stumble upon a series of difficult fixtures in February and March and need to make the most of their schedule now to keep their hopes alive of a title challenge.

The Gunners are currently top of the table, one point above Manchester City and two above Chelsea in the league table. The north London club have hit good form after taking only two points from a possible nine from a string of difficult fixtures in December.

After losing 6-3 to a rampant City side and drawing 0-0 at home against Chelsea, the Gunners have won five games on the bounce including a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the FA Cup. Their last game ended in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park, where goals from Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud within a minute of each other saw the Gunners take full points.

Meanwhile, Fulham have failed to push on after the sacking of Martin Jol but new manager Rene Meulensteen will be boosted by their 3-0 win over Norwich City at home in the third round replay of the FA Cup.

The visitors will be buoyed by the fact that they managed to take a point off the Gunners in the corresponding fixture last season where the two teams played out a 3-3 draw. A similar result here will give them a much needed boost ahead of what is expected to be a closely fought battle to stay out of the drop zone.

Olivier Giorud
Olivier Giorud Reuters

What the Managers Say

Arsene Wenger: "When you are fifth or sixth and you have to convince everybody you will make it to be in the top four, that you have to push and not make any mistake because you know that from now until the end of the season with 10 games to go you cannot drop one point ... It is like bringing a boat into a port with no room for going an inch right or left or the whole boat explodes. When you are in our position today it is natural motivation, natural incitement to go. It is easier psychologically."

Rene Meulensteen: "They have got a very good chance of winning the Premier League compared to previous seasons but Arsenal have got no secrets, they have not had any secrets for the past eight years. They play as they play and they will not change. That is what they are. You know what you are going to be up against, which is a very good team with very good individuals. I have always had a lot of respect for Arsenal as a club and the way they play football. Arsene has been there for many years, that is why there is not too many secrets we are going to be coming up against."

Form Guide

Arsenal

  • Last Five(all competitions, most recent first): W W W W W
  • Last Result: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal

Fulham

  • Last Five(all competitions, most recent first): W L D W L
  • Last Result: Fulham 3-0 Norwich City

Team News

Arsenal

  • Injured: Mikel Arteta (calf), Nicklas Bendtner (ankle), Abou Diaby (knee), Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Yaya Sanogo (back), Thomas Vermaelen(knee), Theo Walcott (knee), Nacho Monreal(ankle)
  • Doubtful: Tomas Rosicky(nose)
  • Suspended: N/A

Probable Line-Up: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Kosclieny, Gibbs; Flamini, Wilshere; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Özil, Cazorla; Giroud.

Fulham

  • Injured: Matthew Briggs (hernia), Neil Etheridge (thigh).
  • Doubtful: Maarten Steklenburg(ankle)
  • Suspended: N/A

Probable Line-Up: Stockdale; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Parker, Sidwell, Dempsey; Taarabt; Berbatov.

Arsenal FC