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Arsenal (4-3-3-): Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard. Subs: Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli, Nwaneri.
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Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester)
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We must’ve all sat there watching our teams, doing our nuts, as yet another corner hits the first man, then another sails beyond the back post. How hard can it be, we wonder, for professionals, especially those at the elite level, to practise hard enough to get good enough?
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Well, Arsenal are the answer, and though we’ve no idea how much work has gone into honing their prowess, we’ve every idea that it was possible and has been for as long as this game has existed. Of course, it’s nothing new: George Graham’s champions in 1988-89 and 1990-91 were masters of the near-post delivery, almost impossible to defend when executed well. But Mikel Arteta’s side are a more versatile concoction such that corners for his side are now an occasion: everyone knows that something is coming, but no one save his players know exactly what– and even then…
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Or, put another way, set-piece proficiency is not cheating, nor is it ugly, workmanlike or shameful. Every side should be great at them, those who aren’t are negligent, and to see things done properly and creatively, with physicality and intimidation, is a kind of beauty. It really is that simple.
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Given that is not all Arsenal do and given the form they’re in, Fulham have a problem this afternoon. But save an accident at home to Wolves they’re in pretty decent nick too, eighth in the table with scope to go higher with their last five games featuring victories over Brentford, Palace and Brighton along with a draw at Spurs. They won’t be scared of Arsenal and, in Emile Smith Rowe, boast an enterprising young player desperate to show his former club what they’re missing. This is going to be good.
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Kick-off: 2pm GMT
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main events
6 minutes Arsenal crush it. Fulham have hardly taken any kicks so far.
4 minutes On that note, I wonder if Rice, who doesn't have enough half-turns to be in the top-level six and not enough balls to be in the top-level eight, realizes he needs to add value? . It's his job to add set-piece delivery to his arsenal. If so, that's good for him.
3 minutes And here we go, Iwobi concedes a corner and Rice stands on top of it. A group of big men gathered behind the back post and said, “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo size tempt rate, big men crowding over there gathered behind the back post.'' It starts in the away end. Of course, the delivery was exemplary and Saliba stood up…but the ball skimmed over his head and disappeared beyond the first stick.
1 minute Oh, and off we go!
Here comes our team…
Undoubtedly, the brace and the hook have each been struck and stretched for a long time. So, let's end this suspense. My annual playlist of the year's best Afrobeats and Amapiano.
“I'm glad Fulham are finally getting some proper coverage,” says Hunter Richard Hurst. “All the credit for the 'unexpected success' goes to Forest, but Marco Silva has done and continues to do a great job of reviving the careers of some players. It will be great to see Iwobi and Smith Rowe succeed this afternoon.”
There's no arguing with that, he's doing a great job. It's as if Watford and Everton are teams of poor ability and their failures say little about the manager's ability.
Other things Fulham might try: Get Smith Rowe and around it Jorginho is a good passer but weak and slow. He stopped the pass to Odegaard, but without Odegaard Arsenal lack creativity in midfield.
Of course, this match is not the only one we have for you.
Returning to the preamble, How will Fulham protect Arsenal's corners? Calvin Bassey looked like a Rangers player, but he's grown since then and is truly a dominant presence who will be responsible for doing whatever it takes to get the ball. The height of Berge and Lukic will also help, but the latter is perhaps an additional reason for their inclusion in the squad today.
By the way, Craven Cottage: What a soccer field, and a great place to quench your thirst before entering.
“Arsenal fans will be at least slightly touched by the sight of Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi's names on the opposition team sheet.” Charles Antaki writes. “Nice footballers, and attractive youngsters who just couldn't seem to make it. But yes, the club were right to allow them to leave. Spotty form, injuries and important Indeed, the arrival of better players has had a positive effect on them. May they prosper and prosper at Fulham, except between 2 and 3:30 today. Please say time.”
Yes, I agreed. Both a good player and a fun player, things probably could have gone differently for Smith Rowe if he had stayed healthy, and both could make things worse this afternoon. There is sex.
Please email me! “Of all the former Fulham and Arsenal players, I am especially rooting for Lukic the loudest,” laughs Mammillaria Khanyana. “respect.”
he just keeps going.
Arsenal, on the other hand, I'll do a version of what I usually do. Martin Odegaard will be in charge of the play and they will aim to get Bukayo Saka on the ball as often as possible. His fight against the excellent Anthony Robinson should be a lot of fun to watch.
So where does the game lie for Fulham? My feeling is that they will block in the middle with Berge and Lukic, rely on the centre-backs to protect the box well, and when in possession they will try to spread the ball quickly.
Of course, at Arsenal it's not on that scale. They are already without Gabriel and Benjamin White, and the news will not escape Marco Silva. It was strange in the extreme that Manchester United could not target Zinchenko, who is not the best defender in the world, in midweek, but whether Iwobi or Traore plays on the left, not on the right. It seems inconceivable that he wouldn't be ordered to target the party. -return. There is also a high possibility that coach Jimenez will target Kivior, and the reason for introducing Lukic to strengthen the midfield is partly for Alsnir's attacking power, but partly to allow the game changer to play freely. There is also.
As for Arsenal, In the absence of the injured Zinchenko, Thomas Partey will move to full-back and Jorginho will move into midfield, while Leandro Trossard will be used instead of Gabriel Martinelli in attack.
Marco Silva made four changes to the team that beat Brighton. Castagne, Wilson and Muniz are placed on the bench, while Kenny Tete, Sasa Lukic and Raul Jimenez are introduced. Reiss Nelson is also out with an injury, but will not be able to play against his parent club anyway, so his spot will go to Adam Traore.
Oh, not yet – Altez speaks. He said that although Zinchenko is injured, players have to adapt as needed during the season and he is confident he will be okay. He knows Fulham have good attackers, but he also knows that if he plays in England he will be dependent on the weather and he has to make the most of what he is given.
He is confident that his team will move closer to the top of the table, but now they have to earn the right to win against a team that is talented, stable and has a good manager.
Write these down. Then think about what they mean.
Let's make some teams…
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno. Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson. Berge, Lukic. Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi. Jimenez. Sub: Benda, Castagne, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Andreas, King, Godot, Wilson, Muniz.
Arsenal (4-3-3-): Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwiall, Timber; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard. Saka, Havertz, Trossard. Sub: Neto, Tierney, Haven, Lewis Skelly, Merino, Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli, Nwanelli.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester)
preamble
I'm sure we all sat there watching our team, mesmerized, as yet another corner hit the first man and yet another went over the back post. How difficult is it for professionals, especially those at the elite level, to practice hard enough to acquire sufficient technique?
Well, Arsenal is the answer. We don't know how much effort went into honing their skills, but we all know it can be done and has been done for as long as the game has existed. Of course, this is nothing new. George Graham's champions of 1988-1989 and 1990-91 were masters of the near-post shot, and if executed well, they were nearly impossible to defend. However, Mikel Arteta's side are a more versatile team and his team's corner kicks are opportunities. Everyone knows something is going to happen, but no one knows exactly what will happen except the players – and still…
In other words, set-piece mastery is not cheating, nor is it ugly, workmanlike, or shameful. Every side has to be good and those who aren't are lazy, and there's a certain beauty in seeing things done properly and creatively, with physicality and intimidation. It's really that simple.
That's not all Arsenal have to do and given their form, Fulham have problems this afternoon. However, apart from the home incident against Wolves, they are also in a pretty good place, with wins over Brentford, Palace, Brighton and a draw against Spurs in their last five games, leaving them in eighth place with room to move up. They will have no fear of Arsenal and boast an enterprising young player in Emile Smith Rowe who is determined to show his old club what they are missing. . This works fine.
Kickoff: 2pm GMT
