Premier League preview: Arsenal v Fulham

Arsenal will be confident of extending their nine-match unbeaten streak when they host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The London derby pits the in-form Gunners – who sit seventh but are just three points from third – against a struggling Fulham outfit who have won just twice this season and sit 16th.

Arsenal have drawn just once in that impressive unbeaten run in all competitions, with the form of Dutch striker Robin van Persie largely to thank for their resurgence.

Van Persie, who has 12 goals in his last eight matches for Arsenal, bagged another brace in the 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, helping Arsene Wenger’s side seal a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“He is in a period where of course he doesn’t have to look for goals – they just come naturally for him,” Wenger said after Wednesday’s match.

“He is always in the right place at the right moment and he got two goals again tonight from positions that look easy but they are not. He just understands the game so well.”

Van Persie has bagged an incredible 31 goals in 29 Premier League games in 2011. He also has five goals in his seven starts against Fulham.

Fulham have a poor record on the road in general, not having won a London derby away from home in 34 matches, with their last success being a 3-0 win at Tottenham in August 2003.

The Cottagers have never won away at Arsenal in 25 attempts, losing 22 of them, and their recent form indicates that they will have an uphill struggle in north London.

Their last outing saw them claim a point in a 0-0 draw at Sunderland but that was only due to Mark Schwarzer’s late heroics, with the Australian making a magnificent save in injury time to deny Stephane Sessegnon.

Although Fulham have not been prolific in front of goal this season, they have kept it tight at the back with Schwarzer and central defender Brede Hangeland playing key roles in a side that has conceded just 15 goals.

But that defence will be given a much sterner test against a red-hot Arsenal, who could move back into the top four with another victory.