Premiership MD 5: Fulham v. Arsenal

[Will317]

Fulham v Arsenal
Craven Cottage
Saturday, 11 September
Kick-off: 1500 BST

Fulham's Denmark international midfielder Claus Jensen is out after suffering a strained calf in training. But Steed Malbranque is included in the squad for the first time this season after recovering from a groin injury during pre-season training.

Arsenal's Patrick Vieira is ready to return to the team after recovering from a thigh injury. Cesc Fabregas is set to be rested, while Sol Campbell (Achilles) is set to be a fortnight away from a return.

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Fulham (from): Van der Sar, Volz, Goma, Knight, Bocanegra, Diop, Legwinski, Boa Morte, Cole, Radzinski, John, McBride, Pembridge, Malbranque, McKinlay, Rosenior, Crossley.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Taylor, Lauren, Hoyte, Cole, Clichy, Toure, Cygan, Senderos, Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Edu, Fabregas, Flamini, Reyes, Pires, Ljungberg, Pennant, Henry, Bergkamp, van Persie.

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

FULHAM have made their worst ever start to a Premiership season, and now face the gargantuan task of ending the unblemished record of the table topping defending champions.

Chris Coleman's side are in danger of tumbling to a third successive defeat for the first time since 12 April 2003. They've shipped six goals in back-to-back defeats home to Middlesbrough, and away to Portsmouth.

The Cottagers were unable to end Arsenal's ambitions of going through the Premiership campaign unbeaten when losing 0-1 in their penultimate match last season and final home game at Loftus Road. A Jose Antonio Reyes goal just edged it for the Gunners.

ARSENAL travel across the capital for the second London derby of the Premiership season, looking to extend their all-time unbeaten League record to 45 matches, and 25 on the road. Like Chelsea, they hold a 100% record, but have never won the first five matches of a Premiership season. They currently have sights set on emulating the Championship winning season of 1947-48, which started with a six-match winning run and 17 game unbeaten sequence.

Arsene Wenger has seen his side win 180 of the 300 Premiership matches under his watch. The French coaching ace has witnessed his free scoring champions win all five of the Premiership and Community Shield games so far. They've scored 16 goals in four Premiership outings - seven more than the next highest scorers, Middlesbrough.

The Gunners, who have 'doubled' Fulham in two of the three seasons they have met in the Premiership, are chasing a fifth successive away League victory over the Thames-side club. They've not lost an away trip to their London rivals in nearly 39 years, since the 1-0 reverse on New Year's Day 1966 in the old League - Division One.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

FULHAM
Club stats
Fixtures
13th 4 points
Highest achievable by the end of Saturday: 5th
Lowest could fall: 16th
Previous lowest points tally after the first four matches of a Premiership season was five in 2001/02.
Victory would take Fulham past the 150 all-time Premiership points mark (148 at present).

ARSENAL
Club stats
Fixtures
1st 12 points
Highest achievable by the end of Saturday: STAY TOP
Lowest could realistically fall: 2nd

One of only two remaining clubs with 100% League records in England. The other is Chelsea.
Won last 5 in all competitions.
Bidding for a seventh successive Premiership win.
Aiming for a fourth consecutive away League victory.
Won 32 and drawn 12 Premiership games since losing 2-3 to Leeds on 4 May 2003.
Won 15 and drawn 10 top tier encounters away from Highbury, since losing 2-0 at Blackburn on 15 March 2003.
Previous longest winning League sequence was at the beginning of the year when nine victories were registered between 10 January and 20 March.
Hold the strongest attacking record in the top League: 16 goals in four games.
Bagged eight goals and conceded just two in winning both League matches on the road (both 1-4 at Everton and Norwich).
Netted a quarter of their 16 Premiership goals in the last 15 minutes of the four games.

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

FULHAM
Squad profiles

If they play, Luis BOA MORTE, Andy COLE and Moritz VOLZ will be facing a former club.
If selected in the 11, Lee CLARK will be making his 150th start for Fulham.

ARSENAL
Squad profiles

Jose Antonio REYES and Manchester United's Alan SMITH are the top scorers among Premiership players of club League and Cup goals this season - five each.
REYES and Thierry HENRY jointly top the Premiership scoring charts, with four a piece.
If involved from the outset, Kolo TOURE will be making his 50th Premiership start for Arsenal.
When fit and next appears from the outset of a League game, Sol CAMPBELL will be making his 100th Premiership start for the Gunners and 450th club career start.


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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
9 May 2004 - Ref: Mike Dean
Arsenal scorer: Reyes 9

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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Fulham 5 wins, Arsenal 23, Draws 6
Prem: Fulham 0 wins, Arsenal 5, Draws 1


HEAD TO HEAD at Fulham
League: Fulham 5 wins, Arsenal 8, Draws 4
Prem: Fulham 0 wins, Arsenal 3, Draws 0

[davor_suker]

Arsenal extend winning run http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/news/Kind=16/newsId=226985.html
Saturday, 11 September 2004
Champions Arsenal FC extended their unbeaten Premiership run to 45 games with victory at Fulham FC, while Chelsea FC dropped their first points of the new English league season.

Scoring burst
Three goals in nine minutes gave Arsenal victory at London rivals Fulham, although the home side had a number of chances to break the deadlock in the first-half. However, Fredrik Ljungberg put the visitors in front two minutes past the hour and a Zat Knight own goal three minutes later put Arsenal in complete control, José Antonio Reyes adding a third.

Chelsea frustrated
Chelsea remained second despite being held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa FC, dropping two points behind Arsenal, while Bolton Wanderers FC remained third but were denied a dramatic victory against Manchester United FC by David Bellion's last-gasp equaliser. Earlier, Gabriel Heinze had put the away team on front with a debut goal, but Kevin Nolan's equaliser restored parity and Les Ferdinand's late strike looked to have earned Bolton three points before Bellion's intervention.

Middlesbrough move up
Two goals from Mark Viduka either side of Emile Heskey's equaliser earned Middlesbrough FC a 2-1 win at home to Birmingham City FC that moved the Teesside side into fourth place, while Everton FC climbed into fifth thanks to Tim Cahill's winner at Manchester City FC.

Liverpool lift
Liverpool FC enjoyed a 3-0 victory against promoted West Bromwich Albion FC at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan on target in the first 45 minutes and LuÃ*s GarcÃ*a adding a third on the hour.

First win
Newcastle United FC recorded their first league victory of the season at home to Blackburn Rovers FC. Garry Flitcroft put the home side in front with a ninth-minute own goal, Alan Shearer added a second seven minutes later and Andy O'Brien completed a comfortable victory seven minutes from time.

Portsmouth victory
In Saturday evening's game, Ricardo Fuller, Patrik Berger and a Tony Popovic own goal gave Portsmouth FC a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace FC, whose only reply came from Danny Granville. On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur FC meet Norwich City FC, while Charlton Athletic FC take on Southampton FC on Monday night.

[davor_suker]

Can't wait for the beginning of the CL :D

[Will317]

Can't wait for the beginning of the CL :D

Yeah, me too, and less than a week left now. ;)