Arsenal v Fulham, Saturday 10th November, 3pm, Premier League, Emirates Stadium


Premier League Table

1. Man Utd 24pts
2. Chelsea 23pts
3. Man City 22pts
4. Everton 17pts
- - - - - - - -
5. WBA 17pts
6. Spurs 17pts
7. Arsenal 15pts
8. Fulham 15pts


Gunners have to bounce back as trio of home games arrive

After the unprecedented 7-5 victory at Reading last week, Arsenal entered two games which could ultimately decide how far their season goes. The visits to Old Trafford and the Veltins-Arena to take on Manchester United and Schalke were billed by the media as the fixtures that would determine whether the gunners were really in the title race and whether they could finish top of their Champions League group. With the morale of both the team and the fans low, it was hardly surprising that the outcome was depressing. The defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's side was all too predictable - particularly Robin van Persie's opener - as was the collapse in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday night. The reaction of the travelling gooners was understandable: frustration. With three home games on the bounce against Fulham, Spurs and Montpellier, Arsene Wenger has called on his team to help the fans create a positive atmosphere with good displays on the pitch.

"The atmosphere comes from the team, not the fans and we have to think like that," Wenger said at Thursday's press conference, "We had one or two flat game at home, I agree, especially the game against Schalke and even the game against QPR. I believe that it’s down to the quality of our game - that’s our responsibility."


Jol putting his blueprint on Cottagers

After finishing 9th, 8th, 12th and 7th in the last four seasons, it's fair to say Fulham are now a competitive, well-managed Premier League football club who no longer aim to 'just survive'. But when When Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey joined Tottenham in the summer, fans and media predicted Fulham would slide down the table. It wasn't just their two best performers departing the Cottage either, Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu, Andy Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak also left for pastures new. In total, 14 first-team players left the club during the transfer window, but Martin Jol, enjoying his second season with the Cottagers, managed the situation calmly.

Dimitar Berbatov, so nearly of Fiorentina and then Juventus, signed with Fulham as did steady performers Kieran Richardson, Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric. An early exit from the league cup and an absence from the Europa League means Jol can focus entirely on the Premier League, though, the club's form isn't perfect. The side do sit 8th, level on points with Arsenal, but just 1 win in their last 5 league fixtures is a concern. But it's possible that Fulham could end the weekend in fourth if they win at the Emirates and other results go there way, and the club look set to reward the manager with a new contract, reports said on Thursday. "I'm happy to stay," Jol told journalists.


Last season - Fulham outdo Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Fulham (26/11/11) - Vermaelen scored at both ends as the gunners avoided a surprise home defeat against Jol's side.
XI: Szczesny; Djourou Mertesacker (Diaby) Vermaelen Santos; Song Arteta; Walcott Ramsey (Gervinho) Arshavin (Chamakh); Van Persie

Fulham 2-1 Arsenal (2/1/12) - Sidwell and Zamora scored with 5 minutes remaining to beat 10-man gunners. Koscienly's header had put Wenger's men ahead.
XI: Szczesny; Djourou Mertesacker Koscielny Coquelin; Song Arteta; Walcott (Rosicky) Ramsey (Squillaci) Gervinho (Benayoun); Van Persie


Match Facts

* Fulham have never won away at Arsenal in any competition, losing 22 and drawing four of 26 visits.

* Last season’s 2-1 comeback win at Craven Cottage was the first time Martin Jol had enjoyed a win over Arsene Wenger in the Premier League (W1 D4 L4).

* Fulham have lost 12 points from winning positions this season, more than any other side.

* Fulham have hit the target with a higher percentage of their shots than any other side this term (57%).


Team News



Oxlade-Chamberlain (hip) & Ramsey (groin) will have fitness tests, whilst Szczesny (ankle) could also return. Wilshere (suspension), Rosicky (tendon), Diaby (thigh), Gervinho (ankle), Fabianski (ankle) & Gibbs (thigh) are all unavailable.



Davies (thigh) is a long-term absentee, whilst Diarra (knee) is "50-50" according to Jol.




Managers

Arsene Wenger ( http://bit.ly/TyaWzY )

"My desire is to keep Theo. We do what’s needed to keep him and hopefully as I told you many times, we can sort this situation out very soon. Very soon is before the end of December - one way or another, that is for sure. I don’t want to go into any details but you can believe me [that] we do the maximum we can to keep our best players."

"I believe it’s important to have potential central strikers. We have Walcott, Podolski, of course Gervinho can play through the middle. We still have Giroud and Chamakh so it’s good to have plenty of players who want to play there and can be capable to play there."

Martin Jol

“Arsenal have always been a good footballing team and they will have been disappointed to lose their last league game against Manchester United; but those are two top teams who want to win. Against Schalke they were okay and drew 2-2, even though they were 2-0 up. And they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 recently so I think they are doing fine. If we play a good game then we can cause them problems. We did that last season at the Emirates but they scored a late goal to make it 1-1. Then at home Bobby Zamora won the game in the last couple of minutes, so hopefully we can do the same this time.”

Great preview as always Sam.

I had a good feeling about the game until i got to this.
* Fulham have never won away at Arsenal in any competition, losing 22 and drawing four of 26 visits.


This game is up to Wenger if he wants to win or another embarrassing performance. Fulham will be tough as always even though their recent games have been ties and losses.

Fulham have always given us hard times and I hope we can give them a good beating this time. Will be a mistake starting Giroud, he will be useless.

Don't worry we've got Mannone back there, anybody remember his last performance against them

But a must win here without doubt, we can't afford to drop more points, the gap from the top is already big enough

How do we have so many injuries already! This is pathetic

Guess who is back?
http://instagram.com/p/Rz4V72E3RC/

Fullham games have never been easy for Arsenal and we will have to be at our best to beat them. With Wilshere suspended i would like to see Coquelin start over Ramsey as he did good against Reading.

Btw great preview Sam!

2 players should never start for Arsenal Ramsey and Santos.

I had enouph of Ramsey, look at Jack 18months out and he is back but Ramsey is still shit.

Ramsey is good coming off the bench.

I wonder what was said here.
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Gays?

Great work Sam

with inverted winger such as Duff,a Right footed full back like Jenko/or sagna can do the job and offer more
verm should play centrally

there was stat that fulham score a goal with every 43.5 final 3rd passes which was most efficient in the league
i think full back will be key for us both in how much impact they can have going forward and the positioning not get drawn too centrally

Fellaini played left of center while Jelavic occupied Hangeland
so with crosses from right to far post for Giroud we can feed him

i hope we play our game
sometimes with this team i wish we dont score early( as late as possible ) because we absorb too much pressure by retreating
Fulham havent been counter attacking threat so far i hope it will be one of those home game we can control IF! we take a lead rather than sitting back

i donot get the hate for ramsey. There are worse midfielders out there. Atleast he is not injured for 80% of the season like a certain frenchman. Plus he is being played out of position as a winger. I dont think wilshere will be effective if he is asked to play at RW.
Anyways two massive games coming up. We no longer have a world-class player to dig us out of a mess unless someone like arshavin is bought in january who changes the season.
Hoping for a win tomorrow.
I dont get why we didnot try to get berbatov. He is doing well, and even though he is lazy he is a far better striker then what we have right now.

Raptorgunner wrote:

I wonder what was said here.

Wenger: Arterta! Can u be captain after Christmas ? thinking about selling that snob Thomas.

Arterta: Would be my honor Mr Wenger. I'm gonna be like a boss as usual. ButTomas Rosicky ? why?

Wenger: No No, Thomas Vermalen

Carzola: Why?

Wenger: Well you're new here but we have a tradition of selling our captains, plus he's playing like Tony Adams high on weeds anyways.

Carzola: Why? Aren't we rich enough?

Wenger: I don't know, ask Ivan. I only do what I told

Carzola: But..but does that mean you gonna sell Arte..?

Wenger: psh

If Wenger wants to win, he will go with this line up.

-------------Mannone
Sagna, M'sacker, Koscielny, Vermalean
-----------Arteta----Coquelin
Walcott, Cazorla, Arshavin
-----------Podolski----------
Arsenal 3 Shitham 1
I hope to god, I dont see Santos or Ramsey anywhere near our starting 11 or the bench.

But knowing Wenger he got a point in Germany and is ready to go with the usual.
-------Mannone
Sagna, M'sacker,Vermalean-- Santos
-----------Arteta----Coquelin
Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski-
---------Giroud--------------

Fulham 4 Arsenal 0-
No shots on target.

looool twoism

If Wenger plays Ramsey over Theo, I might shift my allegiance to the "Wenger out" camp. There is absolutely NO reason NOT to start Theo bar injury

Lex wrote:If Wenger plays Ramsey over Theo, I might shift my allegiance to the "Wenger out" camp. There is absolutely NO reason NOT to start Theo bar injury

lol

What happens if you see both Santos and Ramsey start?

Thanks for compliments guys

Great work as always mate

I am not all that confident about tomorrow, but i should be since we are at home. Fulham have gone stronger this season and have some quality players in their side with Ruiz and Berbatov. Their defence is very solid as well which will mean if they score early, it will be a long day. But if ( hopefully ) score early, it will be an open game and will suit us as long as Santos doesn't come on with Gear 6.

I'd go with the same back 4 as against Schalke but i have a feeling Santos might play. With Wilshere injured, Coquelin would be a good option indeed since Arteta would then be able to move forward. Perhaps we can play Arshavin instead of Santi ? But that won't go well with the fans.

Theo is a must, Giroud is a must too. Giroud is getting better with each game, finally showing his montpellier form.

Hopefully a good scoreline. Will take anything though apart from a defeat or a draw

RG, why do you want to bench Cazorla?

Cazorla just doesn't 100% fit right now. He's played just about every single game since arriving, on top of internationals. He could do with a break.

It's the same with Podolski, too.

Cazorla must be on the bench for me, he's going to Panama mid week and will already be dead tired for the early NLD kickoff.

exactly!

I get that he is tired and maybe abit off form too but he is needed for tomorrow game. With Jack not playing tomorrow and Arteta playing deep there will be no one to create chances. Arshavin and Ramsey are other options but they are not as good as him.

Give Arshavin a chance. He' bossed in the Coventry and Reading games, as well as basically setting up the winner vs QPR. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

Fulham at home tomorrow is going to be one of those games where we have a tonne of possession but no end product. I think the game will mirror that of QPR to be entirely honest.

I feel we're too slow when attacking; Giroud gets poor services; and a few tired legs will be obvious around the 70min mark.

I'd start with a 4-5-1 come 4-3-3 as Wenger won't be using my preferred 4-4-2

Vito

Sagna Mert Kos Verm

Arteta Cazorla Coquelin

Walcott Podolski Arshavin


2-1

I would definitely start Theo, and Giroud too. I'd like to see Cazorla get some rest and come off of the bench in the 2nd half if things go sour, but he will probably start. It will be interesting to see what Wenger does at LB - if he does not play Santos, can we believe that he, too, does not rate him anymore?