Fulham coach Marco Silva opened up his pre-Arsenal press conference with the latest team news in a highly congested period of fixtures.
“Tim Ream and Adama (Traore) for sure not (available).
“We’ve been assessing Willian, we expected him to be ready last match - the reality is that he wasn’t and right now he’s a doubt for the next game.”
Someone who is back in the fold is the previously inform Raúl Jiménez, who had scored three goals in the two games prior to getting sent off against Newcastle and subsequently suspended.
“He’s really important for us no doubt,” said our Head Coach.
“He was in a great moment before the red card that in my opinion was harsh – it is what it is.
“But he was in a very good moment like the team, we were scoring goals, we’ve missed Willian too.
“With both we are stronger and it’s good to have Raúl back but with Willian we just don’t know."
Arsenal have had a decent season so far and would’ve been top of the league if not for West Ham’s victory at the Emirates on Thursday night. Silva’s side have also taken points already from the Gunners this season with a 2-2 draw in August, so is wise to their threats.
“They are a really strong side, some weaknesses they have we’ll try to explore.
“We have shown this season already that we can match them.
“Before the West Ham result it was just us and Tottenham to take points from Arsenal at home, which shows that we know how to match them and play against them and we know what to do.
“For sure we have to play at our best level because we can then compete with Arsenal.”
January always spells speculation with the transfer window opening up again but, despite stories written, our Manager explained there’s nothing to report on at the moment.
"I’m not even speaking with the board about it.
“Until now I can say to you 100% sure we haven’t received anything, any approach about any player from our squad.
“We have full focus in the games and in these tough December fixtures.
"We are looking to strengthen the squad and not to lose important players.”
With this London Derby concluding a positive year to be Fulham, Marco Silva summed up the last 12 months whilst exclaiming his excitement for the next chapter.
“It’s going to be a great, great feeling for us to finish the year under the Cottage lights, to be with our fans.
“All year, we’ve shared so many great moments with them (fans), they should be proud of what we have been doing in 2023 and I know that they are, of course with some up and downs.
“Great season last one where we finished in a great position and reached a FA Cup Quarter-Final, and we are in a position this season where we can fight for good things like that again.
“Of course I want more, it’s what I demand from everybody and from myself and we are going to fight for it.”