As many as three players with Arsenal connections could line up for Fulham against Mikel Arteta’s side in the London derby on Sunday afternoon.
Former Gunners trio Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe have become mainstays under Marco Silva, helping the Cottagers make a solid start to the season as they go into the weekend sitting sixth in the Premier League table.
Reiss Nelson has also contributed with two goals and an assist across all competitions. He too has become a regular over the past month or so having started five games in succession.
However, that run was always going to come to an end this weekend. As per Premier League rules, the 24-year-old cannot face Arsenal as the league’s regulations restrict loaned players from taking part in matches against the parent club.
Unfortunately for Nelson he sustained a hamstring injury during Fulham’s 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night and Silva fears the winger will be sidelined for longer than expected.
“Right now, Reiss Nelson was going to be out anyway because he's on loan from Arsenal,” the Fulham boss told reporters. “The first feedback I got from the medical staff is that it's going to be a hamstring injury.
“He's going to be out for this game for sure and probably the next game. Let's see how many more."
With that said, Smith Rowe is expected to feature against his former club and he’s relishing the prospect of coming up against some familiar faces.
“It’s a massive game for me personally,” he said. “At the start of the season, in my head I’ve always been thinking about playing against my former team. It’s going to be an exciting game.
“I think it’s going to be a bit weird, knowing the players for so long, and having been there for a lot of my life, so it probably is going to be a bit of an emotional day.
“But I have to make sure I do the job for Fulham.”
