Arteta demands hunger as Arsenal host Fulham with Premier League title in sight

Key facts

• Arsenal face Fulham at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday.
• Mikel Arteta confirmed Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber will be out for the match.
• Arsenal can extend their lead at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City's trip to Everton.
• Fulham's expected goals (xG) after one hour was 0.23, with no shots on target.
• Declan Rice delivered a cross that Bernd Leno eventually caught.
• Lewis-Skelly started in midfield for the first time for Arsenal.
• Three Fulham substitutes were ready to come on as Marco Silva decided to make changes.
• Arsenal's next match after Fulham is against an unnamed opponent, with four league games left.

Lede: Arsenal's title push faces Fulham test

Arsenal host Fulham at Emirates Stadium on Sunday with a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, as the title race enters its final four games. Mikel Arteta's side are coming off a disappointing Champions League semi-final exit, but the manager insists his squad have 'enough fuel in the tank' to focus on the domestic campaign. The Gunners are level on points with Manchester City, who travel to Everton later in the day, making this fixture a potential pivot point in the title chase.

Arteta's squad updates and tactical changes

Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber will be unavailable for the Fulham clash, while Martin Odegaard is expected to be fit after a minor concern. 'I think so, so let’s see how everybody is tomorrow morning. Obviously, we haven’t been able to train much, so tomorrow we’ll have the final update,' Arteta said. The manager also revealed that Lewis-Skelly would start in midfield for the first time for the Gunners, a tactical adjustment aimed at controlling the centre of the pitch.

Fulham's struggles and Silva's response

Fulham have offered little attacking threat so far, with an expected goals (xG) of just 0.23 after an hour of play. 'They've given their fans nothing to cheer about so far,' noted former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green on BBC Radio 5 Live. Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, responded by preparing three substitutes to change the course of the game. Declan Rice delivered a cross that was eventually caught by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, summing up Fulham's defensive resilience but lack of creativity.

The title race context and Arteta's mindset

With four games remaining, Arsenal are in a direct battle with Manchester City for the Premier League title. Arteta dismissed any notion of a 'siege mentality' following the Champions League disappointment, instead emphasising hunger and determination. 'We certainly have that, and we need to face any context, any situation to achieve our goal. What happened the other night was extremely disappointing, and we need to make it happen at home now,' he said. The manager also called on supporters to 'bring that energy, that passion' for the run-in.

Other Premier League results and implications

Elsewhere in the league, West Ham were beaten at Brentford after an own goal by Mavropanos, a Thiago penalty, and a Damsgaard strike. Newcastle beat Brighton through goals from Osula and Burn, with Hinshelwood pulling one back before Barnes secured the win. Sunderland took the lead at already relegated Wolves through Mukiele, but Ballard was sent off for a hair pull, allowing Wolves to earn a point. These results affect the relegation and European qualification battles but do not directly impact Arsenal's title pursuit.

What comes next: the final stretch

Arsenal's focus now shifts to the remaining league fixtures, with Arteta stressing that 'everything is at stake' in the final four games. The manager is confident his side can handle the pressure, saying, 'I would put the emphasis more on showing that desire, that determination, that hunger, that will that we’ve shown all season and even more because we have only four games to play now.' The outcome against Fulham will set the tone for the decisive weeks ahead, with Manchester City's match against Everton providing additional context.

The bottom line

• Arsenal can go top of the Premier League with a win over Fulham, putting pressure on Manchester City.
• Arteta has confirmed Havertz and Timber are out, but Odegaard is expected to play.
• Fulham's attack has been ineffective, with an xG of 0.23 after one hour and no shots on target.
• Lewis-Skelly made his first midfield start for Arsenal, a tactical change by Arteta.
• Arteta emphasised hunger and determination over a siege mentality after the Champions League exit.
• The title race is down to four games, with Arsenal and Manchester City level on points.