Arsenal have 'enough fuel in the tank' for Premier League title run-in, says Arteta

Mikel Arteta believes there is still plenty of fuel in Arsenal's tank as attention turns back to the Premier League title race ahead of facing Fulham on Saturday. 

Arsenal return to north London fresh from their 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in midweek. 

But the game, which saw Julian Alvarez's penalty cancel out Viktor Gyokeres's first-half spot-kick, was overshadowed by a late decision that went against the Gunners. 

Eberechi Eze thought he had won a late penalty after going down under David Hancko's challenge, but following a trip to the monitor, referee Danny Makkelie overturned his decision, much to the dismay of Arteta and his players. 

Arteta was asked if his team would use feelings of "injustice" as motivation for their clash with Fulham, saying: "Maybe.

"But I think we have enough fuel in the tank, we are planning to win the Premier League. We are exactly where we wanted to be, four games to go, now let's go.

"We certainly have that [siege mentality], and we need to face each situation in any context to achieve our goal.

"What happened the other night [in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico] was extremely disappointing, but we need to make it at home now."

Fulham, meanwhile, have ambitions of their own, with Marco Silva's side 10th in the Premier League and just two points adrift of Brighton in the Europa League position. 

When converting three points for a win, with 48 points from their 34 games so far this season, Fulham have amassed their third-highest points tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign after 1959-60 and 2024-25.

The Cottagers are assigned a 5.9% chance of finishing sixth by the Opta supercomputer, with Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle United to come after their clash at Arsenal.

Arteta's men are fighting for their first Premier League title in 22 years but are looking nervously over their shoulders with Manchester City in hot pursuit, and Silva was asked whether his team could take advantage of any tension in the Emirates Stadium. 

"Let's hope we can use that," Silva told reporters. "That depends on us, it depends on them, and it depends on many things.

"Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.

"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league.

"We also enjoy this type of situation; we just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for – and we will fight."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arsenal – Eberechi Eze

All seven of Eze's Premier League goals for Arsenal have come in London, and he will be aiming to fire once again at the Emirates.  

Only Olivier Giroud (first 14) and Tony Adams (first 12) had more consecutive goals in the capital from the start of their Premier League career for the Gunners.

Fulham – Harry Wilson

Wilson leads all Fulham players for goals (10) and assists (six) in the Premier League this season, while only Alex Iwobi (41) has created more chances than his 34.

He is also one of just 13 players across the whole division to have played both 100+ passes into the opposition box (137) and had 100+ touches in the opposition box (100).

MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal have never lost in 32 home league games against Fulham (W25 D7), the most any side has faced another without defeat in English Football League history.

The Gunners have also conceded just 11 goals in their 17 league home games this season, and have only failed to find the net themselves at the Emirates once.

They have conceded more than once just twice at home this term, with those coming in both of their defeats (2-3 v Manchester United, 1-2 v Bournemouth).

And their set-piece prowess has been key. They have scored 17 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, including their winner against Newcastle last time out. It's the outright most corner goals any side has netted in a single campaign in the competition.

Fulham, meanwhile, have never won a Premier League away game against the league leaders in 13 attempts (D3 L10), with this their first visit since a 2-2 draw at Liverpool in December 2024.

The Cottagers have also won just one of their last 15 Premier League games against Arsenal (D4 L10), a 2-1 home win in December 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Arsenal – 71.7%

Draw – 16.2%

Fulham – 12.1%