prem preview: arsenal – fulham
 
what: premier league
who: arsenal (4th epl 2006-07) v fulham (16th epl 2006-07)
when: sunday, august 12, 2007, kick-off 12:00pm (bst)
where: emirates stadium, london

london’s calling

there would have been a contrast in emotions as the fixture computer churned out the opening tie for these london teams. arsenal would have been relishing the chance for their new look squad to test their mettle against opponents that looked on the brink of relegation last season. 

on the other hand, lawrie sanchez would have been cursing his luck as he has to take his fulham squad to an arsenal outfit that have a point to prove. surely the cottagers have one of the toughest fixtures of the opening weekend of the 2007-08 season, but a summer of change makes the result not as cut-and-dried as some spectators might think.

who shall separate?

there have been few clubs that have been more active than fulham in the transfer market this summer. after a terrible season last time around changes were bound to be made, and lawrie sanchez has not disappointed. he has already endeared himself to supporters of the west london club, holding off relegation with a vital win against liverpool on the penultimate day of last season.

having achieved survival, the benefit of a new season is that all past form counts for nothing, so sanchez can look forward to imposing his mark on the team. however, his record so far is not impressive, four points from five outings since taking over from chris coleman. 

the former northern ireland manager has turned to the players that impressed at international level under his tutelage. david healy, top scorer for his country, has been brought in from leeds to grab those vital goals, along with compatriots aaron hughes, steven davis and chris baird. the motto commonly associated with northern ireland is ‘who shall separate’ and sanchez hopes his new signings will separate his side from the relegation battlers this season.

a mixed bag of results in pre-season saw sanchez’s men lose against portsmouth and qpr, with the latter result an indication of the task ahead in the premiership. the players that have stuck around from last season will be hoping to use their experience to help fulham out during this worrying time. brian mcbride, zat knight and papa bouba diop will have to be at their best to have any hope of beating a strong arsenal side and the new signings must gel quickly or else fulham will struggle to keep their head above the water this season.

the naivety of youth

the 2007-08 season is probably the most important in recent memory for arsenal. the tide of change has swept over north london and many critics are now tipping spurs to be the dominant club in the area.

the departure of thierry henry and freddie ljungberg is perhaps more symbolic than anything else as the final few members of the ‘invincible’ make way for a new generation of talent. the loss of two influential players is damaging for any team, but for a club as big as arsenal, it is not critical.

the gunners were without henry and ljungberg for much of last season, but they still scored two impressive victories over manchester united, one over liverpool and two draws with chelsea in the league. this season will prove the most difficult challenge for the team yet as other teams in the top four, and tottenham, have spent awesome sums of money in bringing some of the best talent in the world to their respective clubs. but the team is not on its knees because of henry’s departure.

new signings eduardo and bacary sagna will have to battle for their place in an extremely talented side. although without gilberto for the first few fixtures of the season, arsenal are in good health and a fully fit squad will push the top four all the way.

pre-season has reaped many rewards for arsenal, the defeat against salzburg the only blemish on an otherwise perfect copybook which included wins over inter milan, lazio and ajax. the youngsters aren’t messing around and have the capability to beat any team, but will have to toughen up against the clubs in the bottom half of the league, including fulham, if they are to realise their title dreams.

form guide (all matches are friendlies)

arsenal

14 july v barnet (a) won 2-0

19 july v genclerbirligi (a) won 3-0

25 july v salzburg (a) lost 1-0

28 july v paris saint germain (h) won 2-1

29 july v inter milan (h) won 2-1

2 aug v lazio (a) won 2-1

4 aug v ajax (a) won 1-0

fulham

17 july v dagenham & redbridge (a) won 1-0

20 july v brighton (a) won 2-1

24 july v portsmouth (a) lost 1-0

27 july v south china (a) won 4-1

3 aug v queens park rangers (a) lost 2-1

team news

arsenal

having played for brazil in the copa america earlier in the summer, midfielder gilberto was given an extended holiday and as a result is around three weeks away from full match fitness, as a result, he will definitely miss sunday’s match. new signing eduardo is a doubt, after sustaining a slight knock to the ankle in training. wenger believes that there is a chance that he could be ready for fulham, but the new striker is not certain to make his league debut on sunday. adebayor is also doubtful, in a race against time to recover from a groin injury. with van persie fit, expect hleb to take a position supporting the striker in the absence of other options up front.

fulham

aaron hughes won’t make his debut for fulham against arsenal as he is still recovering from an ankle injury. four other first-team choices are expected to be left out including collins john, lee cook, phillipe christanval and long-term absentee jimmy bullard. ian pearce is also doubtful with a slight knee problem. in the absence of john, a fulham debut could be handed to diomansy kamara, david healy or hameur bouazza in attack for the west london side.

squads

arsenal: (from) lehmann, almunia, fabiansky, diaby, sagna, toure, senderos, gallas, clichy, eboue, hoyte, eboue, song, flamini, denilson, hleb, rosicky, fabregas, bendtner, van persie, eduardo (possible), adebayor (possible)

fulham: (from) niemi, warner, batista, volz, bocanegra, konchesky, knight, rosenior, pearce (possible), baird, leijer, smertin, steven davis, bouba diop, dempsey, simon davis, elrich, elliott, healy, bouazza, mcbride, kamara

players to watch

arsenal: cesc fabregas – failed to feature against ajax in the final of the amsterdam trophy because of a throat infection, but will return to the arsenal set-up to remind premiership audiences why he is considered one of the best young talents in the world. can carve open defences with sublime vision and passing ability and can make fleet-footed runs into the heart of the oppositions back line. will have a massive part if arsenal are to do well this season.

fulham: david healy – the former manchester united trainee failed to prove his goalscoring ability at leeds united and has yet to make an impression at premiership level, however his international credentials are noteworthy, he is now the highest scorer in northern ireland history, netting the winner in a famous 1-0 victory against england in 2005. he is a diminutive striker that plugs away at defences relentlessly and looks to unleash long-range efforts at every opportunity.

prediction

no doubt this will be a tricky first fixture of the 2007-08 season for arsenal. they will be coming up against a side that have a point to prove as many people tip them for relegation. fulham will have a tough task trying to break down an excellent arsenal side that will be desperate to get off to a winning start. sanchez will probably be happy for the draw and will defend deep to neutralise the effectiveness of arsenal’s pacey attacking play. despite this, the gunners will emerge victorious having had to work hard for a 3-1 home win. 

jonathan lloyd