Fulham 1 – 0 Arsenal: Urrrrrrgggghhhhhh
14 comments August 25th, 2008
Fulham 1 – 0 Arsenal (Hangeland 21)
Before the game, I wrote:
“Today it’s Fulham away today, and I’m worryingly worried. Fulham are traditionally fairly easy opponents for visiting Arsenal sides, but for whatever reason I’m slightly concerned that we might witness a slip-up today.”
How horrible it is to have been right.
The performance in this match was really really (really) bad. There’s almost no point analysing it because it was so uniformly terrible. The goal itself came from a corner, which was defended with criminal neglect, principally by William Gallas, who allowed Hangeland to run in on goal and prod the ball home. We, on the other hand, did not muster an attempt on target until the 86th minute, and only came realistically close to scoring with an Adebayor header that struck the post.
Whilst we were terrible back-to-front, you all know full well that the middle is where we are really struggling at the moment. Our team is like a sandwich, except the bread is stale and the filling is a steaming great turd. Whilst Nasri and Walcott we’re up to much on the flanks, the central pairing of Denilson and Eboue was outplayed by Danny Murphy and Jimmy Bullard. Worryingly, we will face better line-ups than that most weeks of the season. Granted, Cesc is out injured, but by my reckoning we probably require two central midfield signings: one to partner Cesc, and the other to provide better cover than is currently available.
I don’t really expect two to arrive, though. I think it’ll be one, and my instincts still say it’ll be Gokhan Inler. However, if Cesc wants Xabi Alonso, I’m tempted to say ‘give him Xabi Alonso’. And so what if he’s cup-tied in Europe? That’ll just give idealist Arsene an excuse to give games to the likes of Denilson on European nights.
Look at the other major title challengers. Liverpool have Alonso, as well as Mascherano, and of course Steven Gerrard. United have three £17m players: Carrick, Hargreaves, and Anderson, plus Paul Scholes. And Chelsea’s is probably the best of the lot: Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Deco, and Ballack. We have Cesc. No other to compare with the legions of stars available to our rivals. It’s not good enough and it has to end now.
Last season we only lost three times, and failed to win the league. Just two games into the season, we’ve already suffered a defeat. If we line-up with that midfield enough times, more will follow. Still, maybe Armand Traore can cheer us all up tonight.
Arsene did say at one stage that a new midfielder would arrive by Wednesday. Tick-tock, Mr. Wenger…
