Fulham vs Arsenal preview and line-up

An Arsenal fan protests ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage

Right, a short and quick preview ahead of our Premier League clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have had a pretty successful summer in terms of transfers, having signed Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenberg from AS Roma, Spanish defender Fernando Amorobieta from Athletic Bilbao, Adel Taraabt from QPR, and Scott Parker and Darren Bent on loan from Tottenham and Aston Villa respectively.

Fulham have been a particularly hard team to beat in recent years. Arsenal escaped with a narrow 1-0 win at the fag end of the last season, having been given a massive scare by 10 man Fulham.

Fulham have Kieran Richardson, and Maarten Stekelenberg out with injury, while Amorobieta faces a late fitness test. On the other hand, Arsenal will be without the suspended Koscielny, and the injuries to players such as Arteta, Vermaelen, Chamberlain, Diaby and Ryo has hampered the side at the start of the season.

This is how I expect the teams to line up.

Arsenal will look to beat the fatigue after a tiring trip to Turkey and back, having beaten Fenerbahce comprehensively by 3 goals. With Koscielny injured, Bacary Sagna will be drafted to play as a makeshift centre-back.

Fulham will be no easy opposition. The combination of Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov has caused problems to the Gunners defence in the past. Add to that the tricky Adel Taraabt. Arsenal are expected to start with the same side as on Wednesday night.

I, for one, however, would like to see Lukas Podolski handed a start along the left hands side to face former Cologne teammate Sasha Riether.

He has had little to do this season, and with rumours floating around a proposed move to Schalke/Galatasaray, a run about would do more than good for the German. Aaron Ramsey needs to be at his disciplined best in the centre of the park yet again, to prevent the Cottagers from breaking into quick counters.