Match Preview: Arsenal v Fulham; Premier League Match Day 2

It’s hard to classify game 2 of the season as a “must win” but given the current mindset of their supporters, Arsenal’s trip to Craven Cottage has to be seen as that.

A win is necessary because you wouldn’t want to be a team 6 points or 4 adrift off the top coming into the early season North London Derby. You wouldn’t want to be a 6 to 4 points behind this early in any title race. Sure, there are slips and falls all over the place and they’re to be expected but the title was gifted to United last season because all the other “chasers” gifted them points early on.

Before anyone goes all ape thinking I am declaring us title contenders. No, I am not. What I am saying is, let’s not put ourselves out of it this damn early in the season. Therefore nothing short of a win should be the goal.

And it won’t be easy.

Last season in the close out to the season, Arsenal edged out a nervy 1-0 win on the head of Per Mertesacker. It shouldn’t have been nervy, not with Steve Sidewell getting sent off in the 12th minute. However, Fulham were resolute and Arsenal were under tremendoud pressure knowing that one slip up would likely doom them to life outside the Champion’s League this season. It showed. You’d never had thought Fulham were down to 10 men. They were compact defensively and when they had the chance the combination of Ruiz and Berbatov were giving Arsenal fits.

For Arsenal’s part with the pressure of trying to maintain an unbeaten run to close out the season they just never looked in it. Even when they had superior numbers the lack of quality emanating from the side that day was glaring. It got worse when Olivier Giroud also got sent off. While I am sure I saw it through my rose-tainted glasses he did seem to get the ball. But I digress.

This time heading in there is still pressure and Arsenal are going to need to call in on whatever “heart” they can muster. They showed it last season to close out the year and they showed it on Wednesday against a Fenerbahce side that didn’t look up for the challenge. The midfield combination of Wilshere and Ramsey looked more composed and seemed to work better than against Aston Villa.

To me more than anything that combination has to be focused and solid this weekend as well. The key as pointed out last week to Aston Villa’s two PKs was allowing Agbonlahor to go unscathed through the middle of the pitch. This happened because both Ramsey and Wilshere got more forward and there was no one sitting deep as say Arteta has been doing.

Fulham are a vanilla side and Michael Cox rightly points out on the dot com that they have no particular playing style. They are neither a creative juggernaut nor are the big time “bus parkers.” They just always seem resolute. There were times when they had Dempsey and others that they offered more attacking threat but Berbatov is hardly a slouch and should be respected as a legitimate threate. They have injury concerns in goal as Martin Steklenberg went off last week with a shoulder injury and Kieran Richardson who is on the left side defensively is also out.

Arsenal’s own injury worries are nothing to scoff at either as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Vermaelen, and Arteta experience long-term spells on the sideline. Laurent Koscielny will miss this match serving his one match ban for being sent off last week. It’s probably good for him given the eye injury he suffered in the mid-week clash versus Fenerbahce. The problem for Arsenal however, means that the only CB option is Bacary Sagna who has done quite well there but is still not an every day CB. With Sagna pushing to the middle Jenkinson will slot in on the right side of the defense.

The starting XI is still very solid and while we can point to all the aberations that were seen in last week’s match they will need to turn it up this week to get it done.  Simply settling for a draw isn’t good enough and well a loss would be disasterous.

How the Match Should Play Out:
Fulham managed a win with only 46% possession and allowed 26 shots against a revamped Italian version of Sunderland. They are going to let Arsenal play their possession game and likely look to press Arsenal off the ball. With a back up keeper who hasn’t really played a lot in this division and a young LB, Arsenal are going to get their chances. However, they need to convert them. If they can do that and limit the chances created through the middle they will walk out of Craven Cottage with all three points.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey. If one players is really growing in stature it’s Aaron Ramsey. Not everyone’s favorite he is steadly puttting to bed any of the concerns that exist about him. Still able to  throw us the occasional errant back heel that causes us to scream but he is definitely showing more positives then negatives.

Fulham. Berbatov. When he’s on he’s on and he could make any back 4 cry. He just has to be interested in the match.

Projected Lineups:

Video Lineup

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee), Arteta ( thigh) Vermaelen (back) Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Koscielnny (suspended – 1)

Fulham:  Steklenberg (shoulder), Richardson  (hamstring), Amorebieta (thigh) Kacaniklic (thigh)

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

Fulham: 0

Leading Scorer:
Arsenal: Giroud 1

Fulham: Kasami 1

Assists:
Arsenal: Oxlade-Chmaberlain 1

Fulham: Duff 1

Goals For:
Arsenal (away):

Fulham (home):

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away):

Fulham (home) : 1.7

Goal Differential:
Arsenal: -2

Fulham: 1

Match Official:

Referee: Howard Webb.
Assistants:  Mullarkey, Cann
Fourth Official: Oliver

Broadcast Information:
US: NBC Sports Network: 7:45AM

UK: BT Sport 12.45 GMT

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Fulham: 1