Emery praises Arbeloa’s impact at ‘fantastic’ Fulham

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has praised the way Alvaro Arbeloa has got Fulham playing ahead of Saturday night’s meeting at Villa Park.

Fulham have won their past two Premier League games, against Hull and Coventry, although they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace in midweek.

Villa, meanwhile, are chasing a third successive league win.

“They are playing really well,” Emery said. “They are competing fantastic in the last matches, even losing against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. In the league, they are really fantastic.

“Of course, Arbeloa, he has experience in England. He played here, he has experience in football for a long time. He had very good coaches.

“Now, how they are playing, is really like a coach with experience and a coach managing tactically a lot of things.”

Fulham will be without Ryan Sessegnon, who is suspended, with Antonee Robinson set to start at left-back.