Fulham vs Arsenal: Match Thread.

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Arsenal travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon to take on Fulham, in another vital game for the Gunners. Arsenal’s four game winning run was ended after a goalless draw against Everton in midweek. The game was fiercely contested, but neither team could create many clear cut chances, as both defences came out on top. The few chances that Arsenal did create fell to Olivier Giroud and the Frenchmen failed to convert them, and Arsenal were left to agonise over what might have been, had they had a quality forward. But, a point against Everton is not the worst result in the world and if the Gunners can pick up a win against Fulham on Saturday, then it would not have been a bad week. Fulham also had a league game in midweek as they took on Chelsea at Craven Cottage. And it was not a night to remember for the Fulham fans, and their neighbours ran out 3-0 winners. David Luiz put Chelsea into the lead with a stunning strike, and two John Terry goals on either side of the half-time break gave Chelsea all three points. Only pride and bragging rights was on the line for Fulham against Chelsea, as they sit comfortably in mid-table having already secured their place in the Premier League for next season. Arsenal and Fulham played out a thrilling 3-3 draw when the two teams met at the Emirates in the reverse fixture. If the game on Saturday game can be as half as good as that one, then we are in for an excellent game.

Fulham currently sit in tenth place in the Premier League, and they continue to outperform teams who have far greater resources than the Cottagers. Teams like Stoke,QPR and Sunderland can only look on envy a team like Fulham. While staying well clear of the relegation dog fight, they have also played the game with a real delight and with players like Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz in their ranks, Fulham can be a very good team to watch. Berbatov has been without doubt their main man this season and thirteen league goals to his name he is their top scorer. But, with Berbatov you get much more than just goals as he can be the perfect all round player. On his day, he can be as dangerous as any player in the league and he has already shown what he do against Arsenal. Berbatov bagged two goals against the Gunners in that 3-3 draw and he ran the show for most of that game. But, the Arsenal defence are in a much better shape coming into this game against Fulham, as they have only conceded three goals in their last five league games.

Brede Hangeland is still the leader of the defence and his steady and clam influence is massive to the this Fulham side. However, that Fulham defence does lack pace and it’s something that Wenger has to look to exploit. Fulham as a team are not blessed with much pace, and with the likes of Theo Walcott,Gervinho and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in his ranks, Wenger does have the options to hurt Fulham, especially on the counter. Fulham have lost six times at Craven Cottage, so it’s hardly been a fortress for them this season, and Arsenal will hope to be the seventh away team to claim a win a Craven Cottage this season on Saturday afternoon.

After the goal-less draw against Everton, the main talking point was all centred around Olivier Giroud and his two missed chances. Giroud has continued to struggle in the last few games, and with Arsene Wenger refusing to use Lukas Podolski through the middle, Giroud has had his chance to get over this bad spell. On Saturday, he comes up against Fulham and when he faced them earlier in the season, he arguably put in his best performance in an Arsenal ****. He scored twice and looked like a top centre-forward in that game. But those type of performances have been rare from the Frenchmen this season. It’s going to be interesting to see if Wenger continues to keep faith in Giroud or give either Theo Walcott or Lukas Podolski a chance through the middle against Fulham.

Jack Wilshere got his second start since returning from injury, against Everton in midweek, and the Englishmen was still a long way from his best as he continued to struggle. With Tomas Rosicky being fit enough to make the bench against Everton, he is an option for Wenger to consider from the start against Fulham. After dropping points against Everton, it’s vital that Arsenal get back to winning ways because the race for those top four places shows no sign of slowing up. With their rivals having tough games on the same weekend, Arsenal could really put some real pressure on the likes of Spurs and Chelsea by winning their game. But it won’t be an easy ask against this Fulham side. They have already caused Arsenal all sorts of problems this season, and it’s going to be another nervous afternoon for Arsenal fans as their team go into another massive game.


Team News:

Arsene Wenger:

Form Guide:

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Three Key Match-ups:

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Overall Record vs Fulham:

Played: 52
Wins: 34
Draws: 10
Losses: 8
For: 112
Against: 61
GD: 51

Last 6 Meetings:

Arsenal 3 - 3 Fulham
Fulham 2 - 1 Arsenal
Arsenal 1 - 1 Fulham
Fulham 2 - 2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2 - 1 Fulham
Arsenal 4 - 0 Fulham

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Manager's Views:

Arsene Wenger on the race for the top four:

My Team:

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Fulham looked shaky against Chavski. We can take them

 

Come on Arsenal.

 

yes, but as our recent meetings show, we have tended to struggle against them in the last couple of years. They are becoming a bit of a bogey of team for us, also they have Berbatov and he made our defence look silly when we last played Fulham.

 

True, but our defense was **** back then. I think our defense now can take him and Rosicky's energy and Santi should be able to break down their defense. I think Giroud's done pretty good, but I'd start Poldi at CF for his clinical finishing.

 

And we have been beating our bogey sides lately: Stoke, S'Land.

 

We eat bogies for breakfast these days!

 

I would bench Wilshere. Rosicky, Arteta and Ramsey is our best midfield IMO. Put Gervinho on the right and Cazorla in the middle.

 

Cazorla as CF?

 

No I made an error, either Rozza or Cazorla in the central area, with Giroud playing as a lone striker.

 

Double post.

 

yeah but do they often lose 2 home games in a row

 

That's meaningless to us. We go there and go for the win.

 

I doubt Rosicky, Ox or Pod will start.

I would go

Fab if fit or Szcz
Sgna
Mert
Kos
Gibbs
Ramsey
Arteta
Cazorla
Ox
Pod
Walcott

 

Great team SJW. Knowing Wenger, he'll probably bench Pod and Ox though.

 

Rosicky is a doubt for the Fulham game. (sigh).

If he is not fit enough to play, then I would put Cazorla through the middle, and put Walcott on the left or right. A front three of Walcott,AOC and Podolski is pretty fast and I can see them causing that Fulham defence plenty of problems.

 

Fabianski is out.

Rosicky, Cazorla, Wilshere, and OXO all having tests.

 

I doubt he will start Podolski through the middle. I think he will play Rosicky, Cazorla or Wilshere (whichever is fittest) behind Giroud and put Podolski on the left. I think he will give Walcott another go on the right.

 

Sczez looked fine against Everton but he didn't have too much to do.

 

He'll go with the midfield 3 of Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta most likely.

Dont expect to see us create much if he does