The Match Noone Cares About. Arsenal v Fulham; Match Preview
A Reserve Battle?
What happened if they had a match and noone came? Worse yet, what would happen if they held a match and noone cared? Well folks that is pretty much how this dandy is shaping up. On one hand you have Arsenal – they don’t care because, well, they don’t – they stopped caring after their loss to Barcelona. Fulham don’t care because they have bigger fish to fry in the midweek and will field a weakened team today. Spurs the beneficiary of a potential Arsenal loss hve already come out and said they would not protest if Fulham do field a weakened side. They’re too busy making commemorative DVDs.
Sure, if Arsenal were to lose Spurs would move beyond the qualifier stage of the Champion’s League and Arsenal would be forced to play into the tournament again.But honestly, from all accounts Spurs are too hungover to care about that. They are too busy praising fat ‘Arry (did I ever mention I hate him). They could care less that they will likely get bounced by another European side.
As for Arsenal, they need a win just to show us they can win again. Since getting dumped out of the Champion’s League by Barcelona they’ve not mustered much of a challenge to anything. They had a 2 point lead against Wigan only to lose the match in the final 3 minutes. They had a point lead against Blackburn and lost. The only match they even looked good in was the Man City match. But again the 0-0 draw was indicative of their problems this season.
We will have plenty of time to disect this season after this week. But topline I think the injuries finally caught up with the team and while Arsene thought he had talented backups he really didn’t. Eduardo, Vela, Walcott, Denilson, Fabianksi and others have been a huge disapointment. They’ve all been a model of inconsistency, showing flashes of why they were signed and then not delivering on a game to game basis. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if 2 of that lot are gone. But again, I would be surprised if none of them are gone.
Arsenal need a win today simply put. It’s at home. They’ve not been terribly good and frankly their is a lot of doubt about the movement of the club. A season that even with all the injuries and losses to Chelsea and United held so much promise now looks like any old season. Had Arsenal finished out the season strongly and still finished third, there would be grumbling but not at the level there is now. A strong finish to this injury laden season and people would’ve bought the we are improving story. Now it looks like we’re just where we are and have been for the past 5 seasons.
I don’t know what to make of this season. Nor of this match. It holds very little interest for me. I am more interested in what happens after the lights go down on the season. I believe a lot of movement will happen pre-world cup and then some just afterwards. Besides Chamakh I believe there will be additional signings announced and some goings. But you know what I will get into that afte rhey close the curtain on this season.
How the Match Will Play Out:
Do we really care? Arsenal will have limited first teamers on the field and Fulham will fied a largely reserve squad ahead of their Europa Cup Final in the mid week. All in all, Arsenal’s reserves should be better than Fulham’s and they should close the season on a a winning note.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Any Goal Keeper not named Almunia or Fabianski. Do I really need to go into it?
Fulham: Roy Hodgson. Only because he got totoally screwed out of being named manager of the year. He got more out of his squad with less money than Fat ‘Arry got out of his Spurs squad.
Projected Starting XI:
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Clichy, Eboue, Diaby, Nasri, Arshavin, Van Persie, Walcott
Fulham: Schwarzer, Koncesky, Hughes, Smalling, Pantsil, Davies, Baird, Dikgacoi, Risse, Okaka, Nevland
Injuries:
Arsenal: Almunia (wrist), Clichy (ankle), Gibbs (ankle), Bendtner (groin), Denilson (groin), Djourou (knee), Song (knee), Fabregas (leg), Ramsey (leg), Gallas (calf), Vermaelen (calf), Rosicky (ankle)
Fulham: Duff (leg), A Johnson (knee), Zamora (achilles)
Recent Match Form:
Arsenal: LDLLW
Fulham: LWLDD
Last Meeting: (EPL)
Arsenal: 1
Fulham: 0
Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Jones
Assistant referees: Andy Newbold & Phil Sharp
Fourth official: Mick Russell
TV Scheduling:
US: None (will be shown live on Foxsoccer.tv)
UK: None
Online Feeds
www.atdhe.net
GAMDAY CHAT: Will be open.
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Fulham: 0
