Fulham haven't beaten Arsenal since New Years Day in 1966.
Equally, Fulham have only taken one point from a possible 30 in their ten Premiership meetings with Arsenal.
In these ten games Arsenal have scored 24 goals to Fulham's four.
Last season Arsenal won twice, with scorelines of 4-0 and 4-1.
A forty year win streak against a team is certainly impressive but I don't see these statistics having any impact on this fixture.
Arsenal are struggling in away games winning three and losing three, scoring eight goals and conceding six.
Fulham have won three, drew one and lost three at the Cottage, scoring five goals but conceding only six.
So the records look reasonably well matched. I think there'll only be one goal in it.
What Arsenal Need: Arsenal need a win away from home, the three points are essential.
The way to secure the three points is as follows:
Do not let Fulham score first.
Defend set pieces well.
Ensure the Arsenal wingers maintain their width and get the full backs overlapping.
Attack with pace on the counter-attack.
Get a bit of luck.
Things To Watch Out For: Keep an eye on the two players wide in the midfield. Arsenal struggle when players like Hleb and Rosicky come inside with the ball too often, taking away the natural width of the pitch. It's also important to see if the two full backs overlap the wide players effectively. When Arsenal struggle it is because they try to play the whole football match in the central third of the pitch.
Hopes For The Match: I hope Wenger fires up the team before kick off. I want to see players desperate for a win, fighting for the common cause, but I will also be looking out for the senior players to display leadership to the youngsters.
Team selection issues: For the first time this season I'm really having difficulty picking my starting eleven and the five players I'd sit on the bench. This is a problem that any manager with depth in his squad would face on a weekly basis, but it's not something that Arsenal have had to deal with yet this season.
If Wenger was going to play a 4-4-2, I'd have an easier job because I'd play Henry and van Persie up front, with Ljungberg, Gilberto, Fabregas and Hleb across the midfield.
But knowing that Wenger favours the 4-5-1 the situation changes. The difficulty here is that van Persie should be on the pitch as he is a goal scorer and Arsenal need as many goal scorers on the pitch as possible. In contrast Ljungberg is not on goal scoring form this season but he is the better winger and the 4-5-1 needs players to stick to the sideline to provide width to the formation.
The only solution would be to play both, with Baptista or Flamini making way.
| My team selection for this game: Henry van Persie, Ljungberg, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb Clichy, Senderos, Toure, Eboue Lehmann Subs: Almunia, Djourou, Walcott, Adebayor, Rosicky |
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Unavailable:
Gallas - Injured his quadriceps taking free kicks in training and will be out until the FC Porto game.
Diaby - On course to return in January after suffering a fracture-dislocated ankle last season.
Lauren - Still rehabilitating from a knee injury that has kept him out since January 21st.
Long-term issues: I'm looking forward to January when Lauren will be back. I think it would be good for Arsenal to have both Lauren and Eboue fighting it out for the starting right back spot. I appreciate that Hoyte has been filling in this far this season but I don't see him as a long term prospect, merely a good young squad player.
Lauren has been the only choice at right back for some years now and as a result of his knee injury he's been out for almost a year now. Fortunately for Arsenal the injury coincided with the emergence of Eboue, who has done a good job ever since. Lauren is the smarter player, the better defender and the stronger leader, but Eboue is the superior athlete and offers better options in attack. It's a tough choice but I welcome competition for places, as I detest a player who takes his place in the starting eleven for granted.
Prediction: Fulham 0 Arsenal 1
