Fulham Preview: Your last chance to catch Silvestre in an Arsenal shirt
2 comments May 9th, 2010
So here we are: the final game of our season. It’s been an exciting journey, but one that’s ultimately ended in disappointment. Like a tour of London that ends in Tottenham. Speaking of our neighbours, it’s essential we win today: losing to Fulham could mean slipping behind Spurs to 4th.
It’s a measure of how much our season has petered out that Spurs can even contemplate finishing above us. Whilst they have admittedly been in terrific form, beating us, Chelsea and City, the tightening of the gap is as much due to our dreadful run – we’ve now had just one win in eight games. Ever since Kevin Phillips scored that late equaliser at St. Andrews, we haven’t looked right, and we’re now in a position where we’re vulnerable to the humiliating prospect of lagging behind our oldest enemy.
Fortunately we’re facing a Fulham side who’ll hopefully have their minds on Wednesday’s Europa Cup Final with Atletico Madrid. They may even rest the majority of their first team. The final is a momentous occasion for them, and shedding blood and sweat to win at the Emirates and claim a tenth place league finish is probably not top of their agenda right now.
I fully expect us to have enough in the tank to raise our game and beat the west Londoners. After the lifeless displays against Wigan and Blackburn, the players owe it to the fans to give them a performance and a decent summer send-off. The manager knows it too:
“I believe for long periods in the season the fans were behind the team like never before and they deserve a big thank you.
We gave everything this year and we will try that again on the last game of the season. Despite some disappointments they have always supported the team very well.â€
One hopes the squad will respect that and show their appreciation in the ‘lap of honour’ – a term for essentially walking around in a big circle that the more disgruntled among you will certainly debate.
Whatever your feelings about the team, the manager, and the season, we can’t afford any antipathy to run the risk of precipitating the indignity of defeat and losing third position. If you’re at the Emirates today, get behind the team as you have done all season long. If you’re watching at home, put on your lucky pants and cross every available digit. The season has ended with a decidedly soggy squib, but our own poor form has handed us an unlikely cup final of our own: beat Fulham, and the prize is retained respectability. It’s not the trophy we all crave, but nor is it something we can afford to lose. Come On, one last time, You Reds.
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Arsenal probable (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Clichy; Diaby, Eboué; Walcott, Nasri, Arshavin; Van Persie.
Fulham possible (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Baird, Smalling, Konchesky; Riise, Greening, Dikgacoi, Davies; Dempsey, Nevland.
Referee: Mike Jones.
