Arsenal v Fulham; Premier League Match Preview

We said it last week, the run of three games that began with Norwich and ends on Saturday with Fulham are vital to Arsenal’s top four aspirations. With 4 points secured a win is a must have in order to keep pace. And against Fulham at home – it’s no certain thing.
The enduring memory of the last time these two met was Mikel Arteta’s PK miss in stoppage time that would’ve won the match that was anything but easy. It was a cagey affair of back and forth, with Arsenal in the midst of one of their worst runs of consistency in the season. The bright spot all game however, was the tandem of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud who were having a good run against Martin Jol’s defense.
Theo Walcott especially was a threat almost every time he ventured down the right channel. Walcott was simply brilliant in this match up last time and it is why I expect him to feature again. He had 2 okay maybe 1 and a half assists in this game. He set Giroud up beautifully with a cross that was headed home by the Frenchman. Than later in the match when needing to draw even with Fulham, following in an Olivier Giroud shot that rebounded off the post, the England international put the ball into the six yard box that again was slotted home by Giroud.
Arsenal defensively were a mess this game. First, third string ‘keeper Mannone was in net. And the defensive errors that were a trademark of Arsenal this season were in full bloom. We’re pretty much saying it week in and week out – but it bares repeating – they have to cut that out and remain focused or they will pay for it. Fulham were at their abject worst against Chelsea in the midweek, falling apart after the scoring was opened up. But they are not a bad team and have provided fits to the likes of United and Tottenham this season.
Arsenal’s renewed focus on defense is encouraging and is certainly one of the main reasons why we are back in the chase for Champion’s League qualification. However, the last two matches have seen Arsenal frustrated once again in creating chances against teams determined to defend against them. Fulham like to play with two banks of four. They will look to frustrate Arsenal and it’s why I hope that Rosicky is fit to play. Rosicky is much better at directly attacking a team regardless of how many defenders they have back. His pentration of a defense forces them back into the 18 and when you pin them back like that anything can happen.
Not a knock on Wilshere, who my gut tells me will still start, but I’ve noticed with him in the lineup we tend to go more side to side and backwards then forward. It’s not about his skill, more to do with Jack’s experience right now. Like Chamberlain there are things he is still learning. Rosicky for all his injury woes knows when to give up the ball rather than force a situation that results in a broken down attempt for holding on to the ball too long.
Arsenal need to get direct. Fulham are a thin squad and Wednesday they really didn’t seem to have any answers once they got behind City. Much like they did against United, once they got behind, they lacked any real creativity to make a go of it. Where they become tough is when they get ahead. They defend well. Granted you like to have a go at Phillipe Senderos who is absolutely woeful on the ground though a force in the air. But overall Arsenal’s best chance is to go into the half with a lead.
Alot of us are down on Arsenal. We want to win silverware not qualify for the Champion’s league only. The majority of even the most ardent positive Gooners get that. But for now that is sadly not our way. We can only hope for continued participation in Europe’s centerpiece competition. For Arsenal to do that, they need to win. Winning against Fulham will put a nice cap on an important week. With Chelsea playing Liverpool and Tottenham playing City, it is definitely an important 3 points for Arsenal to take.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Theo Walcott. He had his way with Fulham at the Emirates. He offered too much speed and guile (yes guile) for them to thandle. Now hopefully with Arsenal defensively fixed, they can use that skill and keep a lead.
Fulham. Dimitar Berbatov. He’s not the force he seemed to be before he was shipped off by United. But he is still a potent threat. Arsenal’s defense will have to maintain their heads and composure in order to keep him quiet.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (knee), Fabianski (rib)
Fulham: Duff (hip), Diarra (knee), Dejagah (ankle)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Cazorla 12
Fulham: Berbatov 13
Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Walcott 10
Fulham: Duff 7
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 3
Fulham: 3
Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 1.4
Fulham (home): 1.6
Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 0.9
Fulham (home): 1.4
Last Five:
Arsenal: DWWWW
Fulham: LDLWW
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 29
Fulham: -7
Match Official:
Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches: 21. R1 Y65. 4Pk
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer.TV 10:00 AM EST
UK: BBC MOTD 1 – Highlights
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Fulham: 1
10 comments
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Bayern and Dortmund are debt free. They charge 10 bucks a ticket, spend ONLY money they earn, are in a (previously) unfashionable league and are located in cities less glamorous than London.
YET, see the teams they build for themselves. Bayern has no problems spending the cash that they earn on Javi Martinez, Ribery and co.
And note the lack of excuses. The motto is simple, no excuses, no failures OR the coach is FIRED.
I can’t wait for Man U to smash Wonga’s team’s Top 4 hopes to smitherens. With RvP scoring the winner ofcourse.
Won’t watch. Don’t care. F&%@ Wenger.
Still love the club and do watch the games, but merely tired of AW reminding me of Ground Hog day. Nothing to comment about as it has all been said over and over the past five years.
BAYERN MUNICH just played Barcelona off the pitch!
Who’s the best team in the world?
and they allegedly signed Gotze for next season from Dortmund, and have Pep Guardiola
coming in as manager!!!
do you realize that, on sunday, arsenal have to offer a guard of honor for the new bpl champions? talk about making a grand return to your former club. not only that, but if arsenal fail to defeat manchester united, it could be curtains on their chances for a top four finish. rvp could really make a sensational statement on his return.
I doubt ManU will rest their better players for this match… though they should probably LET Arsenal win, after we gave them the League Title by selling our best player to them.
They don’t win the league without RVP this season. It’s simple as that.
How much of a kick in the ass would it be if RVP scored the winner against us, and knocked us out of next years CL … then ran by Wenger and blew him a kiss!
I probably will avoid watching this one. I can’t stand watching Arsenal v ManU any longer, because we really don’t have a chance in recent years… when is the last time we actually beat them?
stag, we seem to be the last of a dying breed. no one else cares to post anymore. many of our yama brethren seem to have become disenchanted with the club. i can’t say that i blame them. it’s tough, knowing you once had a team flying high that put on the greatest show on turf reduced to the current abyss. arsenal should have mopped the floor with ten man fulham the other day, but made for painful watching. no celebrating. no disappointment. nothing.
just watched van persie win his first championship after nine years in england. in fairness, he’s deserved it. he’s a winner. he should have won a few for arsenal but didn’t even compete for it. he joined the invincibles thinking he was going to win multiple championships by now. i remember screaming like a girl when his signing was announced. all the true class is bailing for silverware. gotta wonder what’s the way forward for arsenal.
fans all over the world are falling out of love with the club. like you, i was a fan before wenger came along. but many fell in love with the sexy football that arsene wenger brought to arsenal. our earlier exposure to the club doesn’t make us any more significant as arsenal fans but i understand how others might feel. it’s like trying to find the same attraction to a super-hot woman after she gains 60 pounds. you may still love her but the primal attraction is clearly diminished. it hurts more because you know all she need to do is take her fat ass to the gym, but arsenal seem content trying to be a fourth-placed fat chick.
Josh, I am disenchanted with the club! I watch matches only when its convenient, and never with the enthusiasm I have had just a few years back. I simply can’t be bothered to be upset about the current team, because they don’t matter. People aren’t posting after a win – loss or draw, because we are NOT RELEVANT.
I started supporting pre-Wenger, but I the teams he built early on, albeit with the defensive schemes left by Graham, were utterly amazing. I have never been so enthralled by a sports team as then, and I wouldn’t miss a SECOND of a match. It was always MUST WATCH.
Flash forward. The Invincibles have been dismantled… every stay players is sold off to the highest bidder, the Home of Football is gone and replaced by a money spinning metal monstrosity… and the Genius that built this amazing football power that was a joy to watch… (everybody watched Arsenal)… is somehow trying to tell us every year, that 4th place is a trophy.
There are good number of folks out there that eat up anything Wenger and the board cook up… but the island they are on gets smaller every single day.
We’re in a battle for a Top 4 spot, that could go down to the last day of the season again… and frankly, I don’t really care at all… 4th? 5th? what does it matter to me? (or your average Arsenal fan?)
Not a hell of a lot.
But there is good football out there… and I follow enjoy it regularly.
Robin Van Persie was SOLD by Arsenal to the highest bidder, and the club didn’t even care that they were once our biggest rival, and in our league…
They LITERALLY handed the LEAGUE TITLE to Manchester United, with that one transaction…. and they are probably very happy with the CA$H they received… I hope they enjoy it.
it’s insanity… he’s bitten an opponent TWICE, and I just read he headbutted a referee in Uruguay at aged 15, broke his nose… admitted to diving to get penalties… and is racist.
Yet amazingly, there are Liverpool fans who support him, and his behavior, or just think its “overblown”? Really? He apologized, so its OK now…
It will happen again… something will… it has happened over and over… why would he change
now?
I was absolutely shocked when I saw it… I am surprised Ivanovic didn’t punch him out right there.. that would have been justice.
I wouldn’t take Luis Suarez for FREE. I wouldn’t support a team that allows him in their line-up… He bit a players while at Ajax, he admitted to diving, he is a racist, and he bites an opponent again today…
It is just cruel and unusual punishment for Chelsea, that he not only stayed on the pitch after the incident, but that he scores a massive tying goal, 7 minutes into injury time! (how there was that much injury time, is anybody’s guess)
For those folks who love to say the refs are against Arsenal and there is bias against the club by officials… what exactly does the league say to Chelsea?
Though I will say, they played not to lose in the last 30 minutes… much like Arsenal regularly do with a 1 goal lead.
bad result for Arsenal with Tottenham coming up big, but Chelsea dropping 2 points with the last kick of the match, has huge Top 4 implications.
while this is an issue that needs to be addressed, i found myself laughing when i saw it on tv. pardon my twisted sense of humor. maybe it was the utter disbelief meant i didn’t know how to react. regardless, it makes you wonder what that kid would be doing if he couldn’t play football.
really, a serial biter? imagine the cold, dark place you have to be in your mind when you make the conscious decision to bite another man? that boy need jesus.