Match Preview: Fulham vs Arsenal

Kick-off: 1500 BST, 1930 IST

Location: Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Referee: Andre Marriner; Assistants: M Scholes, S Massey; Fourth official: J Moss

Arsenal travel to Fulham today in an attempt to cement their position in the top four of the Barclays Premier League. While the Gunners did draw 0-0 with Everton in their previous game, they will be out to prove that that game was only a minor blip in what has otherwise been an excellent run of form.

But they will have their work cut out. Fulham have always been tough opponents for Arsenal in the past and today evening’s game is no better. Arsenal last beat Fulham in 2010 and in the last nine encounters between the two London clubs, Arsenal have won just three.

Theo Walcott of Arsenal is tracked by John Arne Riise of Fulham during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on November 10, 2012 in London, England. (Getty Images,)

Form

Fulham: LDLWW*

All fixtures Barclays Premier League

17/04/2013: Chelsea, 0-3 (H)

13/04/2013: Aston Villa, 1-1 (A)

07/04/2013: Newcastle United, 0-1 (A)

01/04/2013: Queens Park Rangers, 3-2 (H)

17/03/2013: Tottenham Hotspur, 1-0 (H)

The Cottagers’ recent form does not do them any good coming into such a high profile game but this will only spur them on do raise their game and play good football as they try to resume normal service by chalking up a win against the Gunners.

Although they have lost Rafael Benitez’s Chelsea (3-0) and Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United (1-0), they do have a steely quality in them that helps them get out of potentially dangerous situations time and time again. The best example to demonstrate that would be their excellent 1-0 win away at Tottenham Hotspur where Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal of the game, and at home against Queens Park Rangers, where Harry Redknapp’s expensively assembled but talented side threatened to run away with all three points. Fulham won that game 3-2.

In the recent past, Fulham have always presented Arsenal with a stern test. The last time the Gunners visited Craven Cottage, they were beaten 2-1 with two goals in the last five minutes from the hosts. Laurent Koscielny put the visitors ahead but the hosts scored through Steven Sidwell and Bobby Zamora after Johan Djourou had received a second yellow card in the second half.

Arsenal: DWWWW*

All fixtures Barclays Premier League

16/04/2013: Everton, 0-0 (H)

13/04/2013: Norwich City, 3-1 (H)

06/04/2013: West Bromwich Albion, 2-1 (A)

30/03/2013: Reading, 4-1 (H)

16/03/2013: Swansea City, 2-0 (A)

The Gunners are unbeaten in all competitions since that Derby defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in March. Having won eight of their nine previous games, Arsenal are in excellent form of late.

But the North Londoners have attached themselves to the tag of being chokers when it matters most, and with the Premier League run-in now underway, the Gunners will have to guard against complacency. That Fulham come at a time which is traditionally tricky for them will not make matters any easier, but with Manchester United next on the list, the Gunners have to rediscover their touch in front of goal quickly as every game at this stage of the season is important.

It is for that reason that Arsene Wenger will not want to see a repeat of what transpired at the Emirates earlier this year. Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski gave the Gunners a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes before Dimitar Berbatov’s brace and an Alex Kacaniklic goal gave Fulham a 3-2 lead. Giroud equalised and Mikel Arteta missed a last-minute penalty as the game ended 3-3.

Team News

Fulham

Former Arsenal man Steven Sidwell returns to the squad after serving out his three-match suspension having last played against Queens Park Rangers when he was sent off. Damien Duff (adductor), Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee) are all sidelined.

Sascha Riether suffered a knock during the Chelsea game and will be assessed before the team-sheet is announced for today’s match.

Emmanuel Frimpong is ineligible to play against his parent club and Alex Kacaniklic is available after returning from a short loan spell at Burnley.

Probable Starting XI: Schwarzer; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise; Sidwell, Enoh, Ruiz, Richardson; Petric, Berbatov

Arsenal

Abou Diaby and Ryo Miyaichi continue to be the only long-term absentees for Arsenal. But Lukas Fabianski is out for this game as he is nursing a cracked rib. Tomas Rosicky is expected to face a late fitness test on his hamstring.

Both Nacho Monreal and Lukas Podolski are in the queue for starts after being named on the bench for the last two games.

Probable Starting XI: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla; Gervinho, Walcott, Giroud

Key Men

Dimitar Berbatov of Fulham celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Queens Park Rangers at Craven Cottage on April 1, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Fulham: Dimitar Berbatov

Curiously overlooked for the nominations for Player of the Year, Berbatov has been the spearhead of Fulham’s attack this season. With 13 goals in all competitions, he is repaying the faith Fulham showed in him when they snapped him up on deadline day last summer.

Managers all over Europe are probably wondering why they didn’t swoop for him when he was available. His laid-back attitude happens to be the perfect foil for his anticipation, predatory instinct and excellent positioning.

Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey

In his second full season post that horrendous injury at Stoke, Aaron Ramsey is progressing leaps and bounds. Developing into a deep-lying playmaker, the Welshman is seen as the successor to Mikel Arteta. He will be hoping to build on his man of the match performance against Everton with a good showing against Fulham, further enabling his to silence that section of detractors who are always keen for a scapegoat.

But his solid, workman like displays in midfield have shown just how much he has grown as a player.

Prediction

This will not be an easy game for either side but the Gunners have the better quality on paper. The game however, is not played on white but on a big green thing. If Fulham do start strongly and pressurise the Gunners, they could come away with a win. Previous results don’t help either side.

Fulham 1-1 Arsenal