Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 4.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (FUL)
Any doubts over whether Mitrovic has the attributes to thrive as a Premier League striker should have been quickly dispelled following his outstanding start to the campaign for Fulham.
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The 27-year-old scored a record 43 times in the Championship last term and has begun 2022/23 in style, with three goals in as many matches.
Having put away a pair of far-post headers against Liverpool and Brentford, upcoming opponents Arsenal will be extremely wary of the Serb’s threat at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Mitrovic scored a brilliant late header to hand Fulham a 3-2 win at home to west London rivals Brentford last week.
Throughout that match, he was a constant menace, registering eight shots over the course of 90 minutes.
Mitrovic's goal v Brentford
That winning moment. 🔥#FFC pic.twitter.com/m1aDlSwtR3
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 20, 2022
In general play, Mitrovic likes to move into space between the opposition right-back and central defender.
He often makes runs into that area and from crosses he tries to isolate full-backs at the far post, where he is often unstoppable in the air.
Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko could be a target in this regard, so the Gunners must always make sure Mitrovic is picked up by one of their bigger defenders.
PL forwards compared 22/23
| Aerial duels won | Touches in opp. box | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitrovic | 22 | Jesus | 29 |
| Toney | 15 | Mitrovic | 23 |
| Havertz | 13 | Salah, Zaha | 22 |
| Total shots | Headed shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitrovic | 15 | Mitrovic | 7 |
| Rodrigo | 13 | Kane | 5 |
| Haaland | 11 | Rodrigo, Soucek | 4 |
Mitrovic's early season statistics tell the story of a centre-forward who belongs in the top flight.
Averaging five shots per match, he has had more efforts than anybody else in the Premier League until this point.
That total includes two more headed shots than the next closest player, Harry Kane.
Mitrovic does not win every headed duel by any means, but he has still come out on top in 22 of them so far, which is seven more than Ivan Toney in second.
Fulham’s tactical approach this season revolves around fast breaks from turnovers and crosses, where they look to find the 6ft 2in Mitrovic as quickly as possible.
Getting on the end of wide deliveries or receiving passes inside the area, he is second only to Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus for touches in the opposition box.
Style change
Fulham made the second-highest number of successful passes in last season’s Championship, but head coach Marco Silva has changed the tactical direction of his side.
Aware that keeping the ball for longer periods will be more testing at Premier League level, Silva has worked hard on transforming the Cottagers into a counter-attacking team.
Attack speeds & passing sequences
| Direct speed of attacks | Fewest passes per sequence | Fewest successful passes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUL | 2.0m/sec | FUL | 2.2 | FUL | 635 |
| LEE | 1.9m/sec | NFO | 2.5 | NFO | 723 |
| TOT | 1.8m/sec | SOU | 2.6 | NEW | 794 |
After three rounds of matches, no side have made fewer successful passes than Fulham, who also average only 2.2 passes per sequence.
Their focus has switched to feverish industry out of possession and transitional attacks.
Turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye, Fulham's “direct speed” of 2.0m/seconds makes them the fastest, most direct team in the division at breaking towards the opponent's goal.
Add this to Mitrovic's aerial threat and Arsenal could have their hands very full.
Also in this series
Part 2: How Hasenhuttl’s tweaks can stop Man Utd
Part 3: Williams and Perisic set for key duel of the wing-backs