Saturday, November 26, 2011

Fulham Preview: Nervous is an Understatement

In half an hour Arsenal's match against Fulham kicks-off.

As the title of this post suggests, I'm not confident about this match. Fulham are a really solid side with players that can hurt most defences going forward. And these games are traditionally very tight. Last season Arsenal drew away to Fulham in the last match of the season (the game had very little meaning though). In the match at home, the team relied on two sublime goals from Samir Nasri to edge the game 2-1.

This evening we will be relying on Van Persie to fire us to three points. The man has been unstoppable in front of goal recently and we really need that to continue. While the team has been winning with relative comfort in recent games, the reliance on Van Persie's goals has been considerable.

We need other players to start picking up the slack. While its great to have one of the best strikers in the world scoring more than Brad Pitt in a brothel, the importance of the whole team contributing to our tally can't be underestimated.

Van Persie has 17 goals this season. Our next top scorer is Theo Walcott with four. And while the young winger is on course for a respectable haul in that department (on top of impressive assist numbers) the rest of the team need to get their act together. Gervinho has been very impressive on the left but 2 goals this season is not good enough, especially when you look at the chances he has missed already this season. Ramsey only has one league goal to his name and when you take into consideration his position on the field , that return is appalling. Playing in front of the solid and ever-impressive axis of Song and Arteta in midfield and subsequently behind one of the world's most lethal strikers must yield a better return than a solitary goal. Ramsey has the ability to do better and he must start soon.

Arshavin is a surprise starter tonight and the teams are now out on the pitch. The Russian needs a big performance if he is going to force his way back into the starting-11 on a more consistent basis.

I'm going to go for a 2-0 win because I feel that Van Persie will deliver the end-product again tonight. However, it would be excellent to see someone else on the scoresheet too.

Hopefully my nervousness will have all been for nothing.