Fulham
vs
Arsenal
Match Schedule:
Date: September 26th
Time: 16:30 (GMT)
After last season's heroics, Roy Hodgson seems to have become a victim of his own success. The Europa League is being treated as an unwelcome distraction rather than a badge of honour and fans are openly questioning his policy on selection. An indifferent start to the league campaign hasn't helped in this respect. Despite resting ten players for the Cottagers' European clash at CSKA Sofia, Fulham surrendered meekly at Wolves last Saturday. Hodgson can only draw comfort from a scrappy win at Portsmouth on the opening day and a spirited second half display against Everton, but both victories owed much to their opponents' failings.
A narrow home win over a shaky Arsenal side last August sparked an excellent run of home form which ultimately propelled the club into Europe. The Gunners arrive at the Cottage this time around possessing a similar shred of vulnerability, but gaining three points will prove a much taller order for Fulham.
Wenger can lay claim to a topsy-turvy start too. Thrashings of Everton and Portsmouth were followed by two defeats in Manchester, at United and City, while a 4-0 scoreline over Wigan flattered a fragile Gunners side who were reliant on a brace from new centre-half Thomas Vermaelen to up the margin of victory. Prior to that Arsenal somehow managed to emerge from their Champions League tie at Standard Liege with a win, but their next four top-flight games offer a chance to regain early season momentum.
Last season's reverse at Craven Cottage pre-empted their drift away from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the table. The ghosts of that performance need to be dispelled on Saturday. A defeat would be their third in a row on the road; they only lost three away from home all last season.
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