Second from bottom host second from top in this all-London encounter.Fulham – A Team In A Mess
Results at the bottom didn’t go Fulham’s way last weekend: their loss at West Ham combined with Sunderland's second league win in three leave the Cottagers five points adrift in the relegation zone, marooned in 19th between doomed Derby County and the scrappers above.
Fulham have notched just two Premier League victories all season (and none since November 3rd) and even the appointment of Roy Hodgson has failed to yield anything more spectacular than a 2-2 draw at home to League One strugglers Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
But the new boss can hardly be blamed: this has been a miserable twelve months for fans of the west London club.
Aside from the questionable transfer decisions of Hodgson’s predecessor Lawrie Sanchez, who tried to recreate his old Northern Ireland team for the Premiership and fell woefully short, the Cottagers main problem has been their defence.
As the old adage goes, if you don’t concede you can’t lose. Only Fulham haven’t managed a clean sheet since October’s drab 0-0 at home to Derby. What is more, the tendency under Sanchez to turn leads into losses has continued under Hodgson – against both West Ham and Chelsea the Cottagers went one up only to round out 2-1 losers. In the previous match against Birmingham they again squandered the advantage but salvaged a draw.
Hodgson is attempting to bring fresh talent into his squad, but January is a notoriously difficult time in which to do so. Fulham will hardly be relishing the arrival of Arsenal, then, even if they did defeat the Gunners in the corresponding fixture last season.
Will Arsenal Bounce Back Or Fade Away?
Arsenal were almost given an almighty shock by Fulham at the Emirates on the opening day of the season, conceding a first-minute goal and waiting until the final seconds to snatch victory through Alexander Hleb's strike.
But however unconvincing they were then, Arsène Wenger’s side have since rallied in the Premiership, rivalling Manchester United in a manner which few neutrals had expected. The Gunners have only lost once so far this season (2-1 at Middlesbrough), they finally broke their winless streak against Chelsea and picked up amongst others an impressive 4-1 victory at Everton.
Indeed, the north Londoners would still have topped the table were it not for the disappointing draw at home to Birmingham City last weekend. Dominant at first, Wenger’s side failed to capitalise on their chances beyond Emmanuel Adebayor’s 21st-minute penalty. Birmingham snatched their equalising opportunity and – as they had already done at Anfield earlier in the season – packed the midfield well and clung on for a hard-earned draw.
Most certainly two points dropped for Arsenal, but off the back of that setback they will either stutter or roar again. Wenger firmly believes in the latter: “There is a real hunger and we are all on the same wavelength. We have the same love for the game, and that drives you on. You feel there is a potential in the side and that you want to win, but they want to win as well. We have taken a step forward this season.”
FORM GUIDE
Fulham
Match Result Date Championship
West Ham - Fulham 2 - 1 12/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Bristol Rovers 2 - 2 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Fulham - Chelsea 1 - 2 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Fulham 1 - 1 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham - Fulham 5 - 1 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal
Match Result Date Championship
Arsenal - Birmingham 1 - 1 12/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Tottenham 1 - 1 09/01/2008 CARLING CUP
Burnley - Arsenal 0 - 2 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Arsenal - West Ham 2 - 0 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Everton - Arsenal 1 - 4 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Portsmouth - Arsenal 0 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
TEAM NEWS
Fulham
New signing Brede Hangeland has not received clearance in time for this match, while full-back Paul Konchesky is suspended. Jimmy Bullard is fit following a lengthy injury absence and may be handed a midfield start in place of Volz
Likely XI (4-4-2): Niemi – Baird, Stefanovic, Hughes, Bocanegra – Bullard, Murphy, Davis, Davies – Dempsey, Healy
Arsenal
Tomas Rosicky appears to have recovered from a virus and should start in place of Walcott, but Johan Djourou (knee) and Robin Van Persie (thigh) are definitely out. Three players are on African Nations duty: Ivorian pair Touré and Eboué and Cameroon’s Song. Lassana Diarra has left the club.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Almunia – Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy – Rosicky, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb – Eduardo, Adebayor
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fulham – Jimmy Bullard
Bullard worked his way up from non-league football to become one of Wigan Athletic’s key players in their first Premiership season. But after signing for Fulham for £2.75m at the end of the 2005/06 season the midfielder has hardly played –cruciate knee ligament damage has restricted him to just five games for the Cottagers, but if he can rediscover his form he could be vital in helping ensure Fulham avoid the drop
Arsenal – Emmanuel Adebayor (pictured)
Given Adebayor’s recent form Arsène Wenger will be thrilled that Togo failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations and that the striker could remain with the club. Adebayor netted four times for the Gunners in December and has two goals already in January, and his pace, skill and powerful shot will all cause problems for Fulham’s shaky defence.
PREDICTION
Fulham haven’t done badly against Arsenal in recent times but I fear they will pay the price for Birmingham’s stubborn display against the Gunners last week. If the Cottagers take the lead, don’t expect it to last and if Arsenal click into gear this could become quite a hammering.
Fulham 1-4 Arsenal
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