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The last time Arsenal lost three Consecutive home matches was back in 1977 and they surely wouldn't want to equal that feat.While overall Fulham have beaten the gunners in 34 games to date since they first time they played the Men in Red shirt and white pants.Arsenal kept to the same team that defeated Aston Villa Last week with Rosicky once again skippering the club while Nasri was fit enough to play after a slight knee injury.For Fulham,Matthew Briggs made only his second start for the club while Pantsil took over Baird at the right wing.Fulham haven't won an away game since last season.
And it looked to continue as Arsenal started off agressively without giving the defence time to settle down which could have been blamed for the mistakes they made which on the other hand are Amateur mistakes.They gave the ball away easily,Marking and position all were not present and this was clearly known when In the ten minutes all the chances they had including that Arshavin bullet was all from the lack of marking by the defence,Song also had a shot of his own without the Fulham midfielders even tracking off to close him down.But the only problem that Arsenal still have to fix on is their finishing but just in the 13rd minute another mistake by Hughes aloud Arshavin to break through and realize a delightful ball to Nasri who skipped past two to finally hammer in a goal to take his tally to two goals.
Arsenal as usual frustrated me as they were unable to make things easy for them,They should have been 2-4 goals up already before the first half but they just lacked that finishing touch and were punished for it as miscommunication at the back led to Kamara totally unmarked to level the score in what was only their first real chance thus questioning the defence and keeper once again.The build up though had to lead Koschielky out for Djourou and again worrying the manager about their defending options.And Kamara almost scored the second moments later when again he got through but This time the keeper did well.Defence oh defence!
After that goal,De ja vu as usual when Fulham suddenly looked assured of themselves and Arsenal suddenly were the one's backtracking.The second half became more balance or perhaps more to Fulham's side but Arsenal's defence looked much more better with Djourou in there.And Arsenal continued to push forward With Rosicky and Arshavin coming close.With the boos and jeers by the crowd getting louder the involvement of Walcott and Van Persie certainly light things up.Arsenal made the decision to put in two strikers and it payed off eventually as the fragile looking Fulham defence caved in through Arsenal's New fresh attack and A deceiving shot by Van Persie enabled him to have time to tap in the ball to an on running Nasri who had the touch of a magic to go pass three players which included the keeper to score a magical second goal to stake his claims in the first team once again.Fulham though didn't give up and pushed forward With Hangeland also going forward and in the 87th minute they almost silenced the crowd with A Gera Volley which was superbly dived down low by Fabianski to make the safe...
So About Samir Nasri,I got nothing else to say but he just seems to be improving and improving in every game his playing and the player who was once a shadow of Cesc Looks to be more influential when Fabregas isn't in the team because he get's a more central role.And this couldn't come any better as Nasri and Fabregas i think if both in form will make a formidable partnership as Fabby has the vision of plays and Nasri's quick feet would for sure blend in well in the mid half.Nasri's goals were just fantastic,and i have to admit he single handedly won the game for Arsenal!
That was the positives,Now for the Negatives..The Defence! Arsenal are consistently living on the line because of the defence.Hands up that the attacking force is formidable but every time they get somewhere the Defence will screw up and this time around it caused the injury of a player.Although both of them were French,Which says that Language isn't an option Squallaci banged head first into Koschielky which forced Wenger to take him off although i admit that was a blessing in disguise as Djourou look superb with Squallaci.Something which i have known for a long time but just don't understand why Wenger is still putting in Koschielky who looks better off with Vermaelen.I still think though they need Vermaelen back and also a keeper to back up Fabianski because he rarely looks consistent at the two sticks at the back...So that is some of the little things they have to improve,overall they are a good team that have to learn to kill games off!
ARSENAL XI:Fabianski,Sagna,Clichy,Squallaci,Koschielky,Rosicky,Song,Wilshire,Nasri,Arshavin,Chamakh
SUBS USED:Djourou,Van Persie,Walcott
FULHAM XI:Schwarzer,Hughes,Paintsil,Hangeland,Briggs,Davies,Murphy,Gera,Etuhu,Dempsey,Kamara
SUBS USED:Baird,Johnson,Johnson
MAN OF THE MATCH:Samir Nasri
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