Arsenal v Fulham; Premier League Match Preview

Let’s just get right to it shall we. This points total is nowhere near where Arsenal fans think we should be and Arsene Wenger simply has to start Theo Walcott on Saturday. These are the two primary themes that need to be looked at as Arsenal head into their Premier League match up versus Fulham this weekend.

15 points in 10 games – it is the worst 10 game start for an Arsene Wenger led Arsenal squad. Yes, even worse than last year by 1 point. The team since the international break has been, well there really is no other way to put it – craptastic.

That word won’t be in Webster’s and it isn’t the Queen’s English,  but it perfectly captures and encapsulates every performance we’ve had since the last two week hiatus.

Sure on the surface 3 losses doesn’t look bad. But even wins have been affairs that could have gone the other way. With 1 goal versus QPR and 1 goal versus West Ham it’s hardly anything to be proud of. The team just hasn’t performed.

And as the performances have gotten worse, the confidence of the players, the manager, and the supporters has continued to nose-dive to an all time low. Again, even more than last season.

It’s not going to get any easier for Arsenal either. They simply have to get all 3 points from Fulham to right the ship. But this Fulham side aren’t going to be pushed over. They’re equal on points with Arsenal, have the same exact record (4W 3D 3L) with only GD separating the two. There’s even cause for concern in that department too as Fulham are the third best team right now at putting the ball into the net.

If Arsenal are going to get something they have to move beyond their fragile state of mind and come out with a 90 minute display like the 15 minutes that saw them take a 2-0 lead over Schalke in the mid-week. It has to be an effort like that and sustained for all of 90 minutes.

Fulham will hurt Arsenal if they don’t. Fulham effectively use their attack by exploiting the width of the field and the strength of their forwards. Should Arsenal make many of the stupid errors we’ve seen in the last few weeks. If we make those mistakes and Ruiz has the time to get the ball to Dimitar Berbatov it could be a long day for the Arsenal defense.

But with an attack the relies heavily on their wings, it can be exploited by pace down the side, which is why Theo Walcott has to start. Forget for a moment the whole contract squabble. Theo is now doing what a lot of people were crying for when they were riding his case – he is using more than just his speed to get results. His finishing is getting more and more consistent and he is often times getting into the right spots with  his overall movement and style of play.

Speed, scoring, and footballing brains are turning Theo into a complete player. He isn’t the finished product yet. That will likely come with age and maturity but he is arriving and he can give Fulham fits.

Fulham as good as they’ve been scoring have also been conceding a lot. They don’t seem to handle being off the ball that well and in such they’ve allowed opponents to get at them. This is especially prevalent on the road. They have to have the ball for them to be effective. Something that seems to play into Arsenal’s style of play.

Martin Jol knows this and it what he is drilling into the heads of his players. He knows his team at the Emirates likely won’t see much of the ball. His version of the 4-4-2 will have two holding midfielders that will provide cover to the defense. Arsenal will have to be patient as they will likely be against a strong defensive setup when they have possession. But you have to exploit this lack of ability off the ball that Fulham display. Don’t do it and this could be 0-0 or worse.

And when Fulham do have the ball, Arsenal need to get back and use the counter attack with pace. No, slowing down play. We’ve done it too often this season we’re we’ve gotten the ball back with numbers going back, we slow down and are suddenly faced with 10 men behind the ball.

Get it to Theo or Podolski with Giroud attacking the CBs. Give Giroud good crosses to attack and he will get his chances and likely bury them. His goal against Schalke was a perfect example of his movement to get into space and the strength of his headers – when he gets good service. We simply haven’t played to his strengths and we need to.

Fulham have never beaten Arsenal away. Records like these versus Arsenal seem to be disappearing regularly this season. Now is not the time to let another record go by the waist-side. Arsenal need 3 points anything else is failure.

How the match should play out?
Arsenal haven’t displayed much in the way of exciting play lately, but the need to come out absolutely flying.  While you need to be patient with visitors who are likely to employ a more defensive set up you simply can’t waste time. The longer Arsenal go without directly attacking the Fulham goal, the more likely it is that the fans will get uneasy. Atmosphere is as important as anything here and the players need to create that by flair and attack. No more sitting around. Fulham will try and get the ball to Berbatov who has a propensity for scoring against Arsenal. The will look to attack whomever sets up in the middle. Per Mertesacker has to have command of the defensive line and be aware of where Berbatov is at all times. Whomever, is playing in the DM role needs to make sure the traffic from Ruiz to the striker is cut off. Deny Fulham the pass to Berbatov and you can effectively shut the visitors down.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Theo Walcott. Simply put he has been Arsenal’s biggest threat in these last few weeks. He has to play. He has to start.

Fulham. Dimitar Berbatov. The one thing Fergie would never do is sell to Arsenal (unlike Arsenal selling to United). This is one guy I wish would’ve made part of the Van Persie deal. If he is given service he will score. Sort of like the Dutchman but with a dodgy hair cut.

Projected Lineups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Wilshere (suspended -1) Gervinho (ankle), Gibbs (thigh), Diaby (thigh), Fabianski (back), Rosicky (hamstring).

Fulham: Davies (hip)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal:  Gervinho 3, Cazorla 3

Fulham:  4 players with 3

Assists Leader:
Arsenal: Cazorla 2, Podolski 2

Fulham: Ruiz 4

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

Fulham: 2

Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2

Fulham (away): 1.8

Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 0.8

Fulham: (away): 2.4

Last Five:
Arsenal: LWLWL

Fulham: DDWDL

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 9

Fulham: -5

Match Official:
Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches 6, R0 Y21.

Broadcast Information:
US: ESPN2/ESPN3 1000AM EST

UK: ??????? 15.00 BST

YAMA Prediction:

Arsenal: 2

Fulham: 1

The Last Word:

We quickly want to thank you for your response our “ambition” piece from yesterday. We got some tremendous feedback. We’d love not to have to be critical of Arsenal. But the fact remains serious questions have to be asked – one of the more pressing we felt was the club’s ambitions.

One of the critical comments we got, was why we focused on the 4th place is a trophy line. We were told that they did say the firt priorities are winning the League and the Champion’s League and then qualifying for the Champion’s league above the FA and League cups respectively.

Our piece was about the overall mentality of the club that accepts looking at fourth place as some sort of prize won. There is no prize won. Okay, you qualify for a lucrative tournament.  That’s all well and good but it isn’t winning and to accept it as such is part and parcel of low ambitions at the club.

We will continue to look at the issues at Arsenal. Our next piece will look at leadership at the club and the perception that it doesn’t seem to be all that important. And like our ambition piece, we will look at it from all perspective not just from one angle.

Until then, Stay Goonerish!!