Robin van Persie (51.00 mins)
Barclays Premier League
, Sep 26, 2009
Ground: Craven Cottage
, Kickoff: 17:30 , Att 25,700
Team news
Arsenal team news
Robin van Persie has billed the clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage as a true test of Arsenal's Barclays Premier League title credentials.
Playmaker Andrey Arshavin returns from a groin injury while England winger Theo Walcott has recovered from a side strain and is available again - but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still troubled by the chest infection so Vito Mannone could continue in his place.
Denilson (back), Samir Nasri (leg), Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain out.
Van Persie, 26, has played in defeats to Manchester United and City this season - but he believes the matches against teams without top-four aspirations are just as important.
"Maybe even more important in the end," the Holland international said. "If you look last year, the way Manchester United became champions was against the smaller teams.
"They won against all the teams from 19 to 10. That is why they became champions. So it is very important to win these games.
"I had a look at the fixtures coming up and on paper they look all right but we lost to Fulham last year so it is very, very tough.
"I saw their game against Everton and they were very decent and it was a very good goal from Damien Duff.
"It's going to be hard but as long as we can put the pressure on the opponent, play together and share the goals then I'm quite confident." Van Persie is also determined to fit into role at the top of Arsene Wenger's 4-3-3 system and add to his one strike this season - but he is happy if the goals are shared around.
"That is something I have to work on," he said. "I know that but I'm confident it will be okay very soon. "I don't feel that I'm at the top of my game as a main striker yet.
"I have to improve on many things but it is quite new and the main thing is that the boss really backs me on this one.
"He really thinks I can succeed as he has a lot of trust in me. I will do my best to play as many games for the team. Personally, when you get a chance you want to score.
"When you don't score you are not happy with yourself but the first thing for me is that we win games and I can give assists and help the team. If I have a chance I should score and I need to score.
"The way we are doing it now is that everyone is sharing the goals. I'm quite happy with that but I should score more personally. But as long as we share the goals and everyone is passing it at the right moment, I am happy.
"If this one person scores 40 or 50 goals I would rely on him. But that happens once every 10 years. I'm quite happy to share the goals."
Fulham team news
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is likely to make several changes for the encounter.
Hodgson made 11 changes for the Carling Cup defeat at Manchester City in midweek but Zoltan Gera may retain his place in the starting line up after scoring the 25-yard screamer which put the Cottagers ahead.
Simon Davies suffered a setback from his foot injury during the game at Eastlands and will be unavailable while Erik Nevland, Andrew Johnson (shoulder) and Toni Kallio (Achilles) also miss out.
The former Inter Milan boss was buoyed by that performance, but concedes his team will have to play well to reproduce the 1-0 win that Fulham earned over the Gunners in last season's corresponding fixture.
"We are playing one of the very top teams, not only in the country but also in Europe," he added.
"They are not weaker this season. Not a bit.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Last modified 17:34 28/09/09
Sunday Mirror match report by Steve Stammers
Arsenal showed that for all their ability to produce flowing, vibrant football they are a team prepared and equipped to win ugly in their pursuit of the title.
Their outstanding player at Craven Cottage was a rookie goalkeeper involved in only his second Premier League game – and Vito Mannone’s teammates were only too aware of the debt they owed the 21-year-old Italian.
It was a truly superb goal from Robin van Persie that secured the win, but it was the heroics and acrobatics of Mannone that provided the foundation for the victory that keeps Arsenal among the cluster of title contenders.
Arsenal made the breakthrough that left Fulham deflated after 52 minutes. It was brilliant in its creation and magnificent in its execution.
Cesc Fabregas was the architect with an expertly weighted through ball that left Van Persie through on the Fulham goal. With a swing of what he calls his “chocolate leg” – his right – the Dutch striker put it wide of Schwarzer.
But Mannone continued his one-man battle against the wave of Fulham thrusts and Johnson was his next to be denied as he tipped away a Johnson header.
When he was beaten after Bacary Sagna deflected a shot from Dempsey, the outside of the post came to his rescue.
Mannone saved his best effort for the 80th minute when Zamora’s header from six yards appeared a certain equaliser until it was tipped away yet again.
This has become a season unique in the history of Fulham. After the success of their last campaign, which produced a seventh place finish in the Premier League, the expectancy around Craven Cottage has increased.
Boosted by the news of the demise of their more illustrious neighbours Chelsea at Wigan, the buoyancy of the fans was guaranteed – and Fulham did their best to capitalise of the feel-good mood. Arsenal looked sluggish at the back and Clint Dempsey was the first to take advantage.
Alex Song dithered in midfield and the American international Dempsey robbed him and accelerated to the edge of the area, but his shot lacked venom and became a welcome early touch of the ball for rookie Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
However, there was a setback for Roy Hodgson’s team after just 10 minutes. Damien Duff was clearly struggling and limped off to be replaced by Zoltan Gera.
The Hungarian was quick to make his mark, as there was further evidence of Arsenal’s defensive slumbers. Gera crossed and there was a clear breakdown in communication between Mannone and William Gallas as both went for the ball. Gallas came off worse and needed treatment for a head injury.
After 15 minutes, Mannone showed evidence of his development from hopeful youngster to a goalkeeper of genuine pedigree with a remarkable double-save. Gera crossed from the right, Johnson headed goalwards, but Mannone clawed the ball away.
The rebound seemed destined for the net as Dempsey connected, but the 21-year-old Italian keeper had been alert enough to be in the right place to block the effort that seemed certain to give Fulham the lead.
Arsenal responded with a surge forward by Nicklas Bendtner and then Andrey Arshavin failed to make the best use of work by Van Persie and Fabregas as he shot over the bar.
Referee Martin Atkinson then angered the Fulham crowd by booking Danny Murphy for taking a free-kick too quickly.
Arsenal then gradually regrouped and Bendtner produced a volley that was too straight to bother Mark Schwarzer and Van Persie fired a free-kick way over the bar.
But Fulham looked more threatening and Mannone had to be at his sharpest again in the 36th minute to keep out a shot from Gera.
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Schwarzer | ||||
| 4 | John Pantsil |
|
|||
| 18 | Aaron Hughes | ||||
| 5 | Brede Hangeland | ||||
| 3 | Paul Konchesky |
|
|||
| 16 | Damien Duff(sub 8) |
|
|||
| 20 | Dickson Etuhu(sub 82) |
|
|||
| 13 | Danny Murphy |
|
|||
| 23 | Clinton Dempsey | ||||
| 25 | Bobby Zamora |
|
|||
| 8 | Andrew Johnson | ||||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 19 | Pascal Zuberbuhler | ||||
| 6 | Chris Baird | ||||
| 11 | Zoltan Gera(sub 8) |
|
|||
| 15 | Diomansy Kamara | ||||
| 17 | Bjorn Helge Riise | ||||
| 26 | Chris Smalling | ||||
| 27 | Jonathan Greening(sub 82) |
|
|||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Vito Mannone | ||||
| 3 | Bacary Sagna | ||||
| 10 | William Gallas | ||||
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | ||||
| 22 | Gael Clichy | ||||
| 17 | Alexandre Song Billong | ||||
| 2 | Vassiriki Diaby | ||||
| 52 | Nicklas Bendtner | ||||
| 4 | Francesc Fabregas | ||||
| 23 | Andrey Arshavin(sub 67) |
|
|||
| 11 | Robin van Persie(sub 82) |
|
|||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 53 | Wojciech Szczesny | ||||
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky(sub 67) |
|
|||
| 12 | Carlos Alberto Vela | ||||
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | ||||
| 18 | Mikael Silvestre | ||||
| 27 | Emmanuel Eboue(sub 82) |
|
|||
| 28 | Kieran Gibbs | ||||
| Team | Fulham | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | ||
| Shots on target | 11 | 4 |
| Shots off target | 6 | 10 |
| Corner | 4 | 6 |
| Fouls | 14 | 11 |
| Crosses | 12 | 10 |
