Goonersphere Match Review: Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Our counter attack looked very dangerous though and after a few close calls, we converted one. Walcott was put through down the right and had his shot pushed away to Podolski who smashed home from the edge of the box. It was a well worked goal and Podolski should have had another before half time, but chose to play the ball across the six yard box instead of shooting.

The second half started a little bit worryingly. Fulham came out with some purpose and Szczesny had to make a good save from a Taarabt shot. There was a period of about 10-15mins where a goal for Fulham would have made things very difficult. The classic Wenger quote ‘dropped off little bit physically’ in the second half came to mind and I was certainly glad for the two goal cushion. We did well to see off the bit of pressure Fulham mustered and once things settled down we managed to seal the game.

Cazorla was sent away on the left and bamboozled the defenders before setting up Podolski to smash into the bottom corner. Podolski finished the chance well and certainly proved his worth to the team yesterday. He reminds me of Freddie Ljungberg in his character and his effect on the other players in the team. Aside from his obvious quality, he has huge value for the morale he brings to the squad.

With the game won, Wenger withdrew Rosicky and puzzlingly threw Monreal on for Giroud on 70 minutes. Podolski moved to centre forward and Monreal seemed to be given the role of left midfielder. But neither Gibbs nor Monreal seemed to know who was playing where down the left and it led to us conceding. The ball was chipped forward to Berbatov, neither Monreal or Gibbs got tight and Mertesacker couldn’t close him down before he got a shot away.

Szczesny saved well but Bent tapped in to ruin his clean sheet. It was a shame, because we didn’t look like conceding up until that moment and Szczesny deserved a clean sheet for his performance. Fulham got forward a little bit after the goal, but it was a consolation, we saw the game out with ease and Walcott could even have made it 4-1, but Stockdale saved well again. We saw Sanogo for 10 minutes, but he didn’t see the ball a lot though I expect we’ll see more of him against Fenerbahçe.

So really, it was a comfortable win, Fulham didn’t test us hugely and we did a very professional, clinical job. We will have to play better to beat Sp*rs and we can’t afford these little periods where we drop off. The NLD is a great opportunity for us to put down a marker, Sp*rs will probably have lost their best player and despite buying well, I don’t believe they’ve got any better if they’re without Bale. If we raise our level and hopefully boost our squad with some quality signings, we have the chance to win well against our rivals. I expect us to rotate a bit on Tuesday and, hopefully, this next week will be a very positive one for the club.

Teams

Fulham (4-4-2)Stockdale, Riise, Hangeland, Hughes, Riether; Sidwell (Karagounis 75′), Duff (Bent 59′), Taarabt (Kacaniklic 62′), Parker, Kasami, BerbatovSubsEtheridge, Briggs, Kacaniklic, Karagounis, Boateng, Ruiz, Bent

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Rosicky (Wilshere 70′); Podolski (Sanogo 80′), Cazorla, Walcott; Giroud (Monreal 72′)SubsFabianski, Zelalem, Sanogo, Wilshere, Frimpong, Gnabry, Monreal