Archive for December 4th, 2010

What are the odds on a man of the match performance from Mark Schwarzer?

5 comments December 4th, 2010

When Arsenal face Fulham at the Emirates this afternoon, Mark Schwarzer will be full of mixed emotions.  Principally, you’d imagine, he’ll be feeling regret.  In the summer, his proposed move to Arsenal was seen by many as an inevitability.  Arsene wanted him, he wanted to come, but in the end the deal broke down over the fee: Fulham tried to squeeze us for a few hundred thousand pounds more, and we failed to oblige.  Transfer deadline day came and went, and Schwarzer was left stranded.

It’s been a difficult few months for him since.  Adjusting to the likelihood that the move would never be resurrected, and that his chance of a big payday and bit of glamour at the end of a journeyman career had all but disappeared.  Eventually, he was allowed to return to the Fulham team, and his form there has been good.

Over on the other side of London, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny have emerged as potential successor’s to Manuel Almunia.  Arsene never buys when he has a younger option in his own squad.

Schwarzer obviously made his peace with the vanished prospect of joining Arsenal: this week he signed a new deal at Fulham that will take him through to 2012.  Arsene seems comfortable with his decision:

“I can understand that decision. At his age a two-year contract is a great deal for him and it shows great confidence of the club for him. I don’t have a problem with that.

It is important that we focus on our players and the squad we have. I am pleased for him [Schwarzer] that he got an extension to his contract but all the rest is history that has to be a little bit discreet.”

Fair enough.  But without doubt all eyes will be on the two men between the sticks this afternoon.  Schwarzer will be in the Fulham goal, and Fabianski at the Arsenal end.  Whatever happens, there’ll be comparisons drawn between the two.  If Arsene is going to come out of today’s game looking like he’s made the right decision, and crucially with three points under his arm, he needs Fabianski to cope well with Fulham’s aerial threat.  And he needs Schwarzer not to have, as sod’s law would dictate he will, the game of his life.

Aside from Fabianski, the defence will contain Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, and Sebastien Squillaci.  Arsene will then have to choose between Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny.  The pecking order until now would suggest that Koscielny is the likely choice.

In midfield, Alex Song and Jack Wilshere are likely to continue in the deeper roles.  Ahead of that, it’s anyone’s guess.  Arsene hinted he could try and introduce Robin van Persie alongside Marouane Chamakh, but I’d be surprised if Van Persie was handed a start at this early stage in his recovery.  After being rested in midweek, both Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri should also be in the starting line-up.

You don’t need me to tell you our home form has been patchy at best.  It’s time to set that right.

Come On You Gunners.


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