Unai Emery has made three changes to his Arsenal side as they entertain Fulham at the Emirates this afternoon. The Gunners were destroyed 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday but injuries have hindered the Spaniard’s selection, particularly in defensive areas.
Hector Bellerin and Mesut Ozil resumed first team training this week after being kept out by calf and knee injures respectively but the pair have been left out of the matchday squad in order to be given more time to recover.
Alexandre Lacazette has been reinstated into the starting XI and starts up front with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Lucas Torreira makes way for Matteo Guendouzi.
Laurent Koscielny returns after missing the defeat to Anfield, meaning Aaron Ramsey makes way. The Gunners played a fluid 4-2-3-1 on Merseyside but look to have reverted to a 3-5-2 for the visit of the Cottagers.
Arsenal team vs Fulham: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Xhaka, Iwobi; Lacazette, Aubameyang
One hour before kick-off ✅
Time to name our first team of 2019 📋 #ARSFUL pic.twitter.com/HUkUvLLtPI
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 1, 2019
Here is your New Year’s Day team to take on @Arsenal ⬇️ #COYW #ARSFUL pic.twitter.com/1VsTA6dk3d
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 1, 2019