Hi all, well the dust has settled and I am still in a state of numbness. What Arsenal was I actually watching yesterday? Anyone? Well first half and all seemed well with us at The Cottage. We had pace, passing well and generally giving Fulham a bit of a go as results were for others at odds with the bookies, even Wolves were unlucky at Chelski. This was a big chance for us to make a statement. Possession looked good too and Ramsey and Gervinho having chances.
Senderos was lucky with his trip of Gervinho but I have seen them given and not given in other games so that is footballing life I suppose. Then with 20 minutes clocked Ramsey sends a cross which is met by Koscielny to head home. 1-0 to The Arsenal and I really thought this was going to be our night. Then some fine goalkeeping from Stockdale kept us at bay, stopping both Ramsey and Song and Gervinho not really doing anything with the follow up. Fulham were not without their chances and Ruiz was a handful but we looked in a good position come half time. I would love to know what was said during the break......."Keep that going, keep calm and the goals will come?" Seems not.
Second half it seemed a shadow of Arsenal we had had in the first. Fulham full on at us, Song seeming to be worried about getting booked again, Szczesny being called on to do more and more we looked weak and disorganised and it got worse as the game wore on.
I have seen many 1-0's at one time or another but this had a feel that we would throw away our good work and then it came. Djourou booked for the second time and it was the long walk off. Now there has been some debate over this but when your on your possible second you need to be sure of what your doing, do not give a player a chance to see you sent off. his sort of sealed our fate, with Walcott , a big disappointment, and Gervinho, wasteful, it was Benayoun and Rosicky in to replace but neither offered anything more than those who had gone. With Szczesny making a meal of a corner Sidwell gets Fulhams goal, always hurts when it's an ex-Arsenal man. Finally to add to the pain on comes Squillaci and guess what, he does what he does best, blindly heads across goal to gift Zamora with the second and it's game over!
Now alot has been said about the ref, Mr Probert, probably to much from Arsene, another FA rap due? He did miss some things, the two handed push on Walcott for example but I really feel it was Arsenal who let themselves down. RVP was not in the game and looked leggy and when you look at bench there was not a game turner amongst them. What has happened to Park who Arsene said was now ready? Or for the matter Oxlade Chamberlain? The only bright spot being Coquelin who had a good game but at fault for the Zamora goal. I have said in previous blogs we need to buy and wisely but to be honest I cannot see Arsene spending anything in this transfer window so guess we will be looking at loans as our best option. I am often told that we have to be positive and think positive and good things will come. All I can say is it's going to be along wait!
Laters,
The Dog, now on ipad 2 lol
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