Before I even start, I have to say I love seeing games played at Craven Cottage. I have never been there but I would imagine it a great place to take in the game. Small intimate setting, a bit of history; what I feel like one could typify as a classic EPL match day experience. Since I have never been there I could be completely wrong but I liken the look to watching a Cubs game; you just get a sense that the place has a good feel to it…

The actual game now? Well… that was interesting (frustrating). It was like Arsenal packed a whole year’s worth of shooting ineptitude into 1 game. That team sure looked like they desperately needed the little blue pill to get it going; while we did “finish” it was nothing to write home about.

The lineup consisted of a dominate mid field set up with Theo/Giroud acting as our forwards (lets see, Santi up top? check) and dominate the mid we did. Possession was off the charts in Arsenal’s favor (71/29) and yet never did we look that threatening. Even after the early send off, it never really looked like Arsenal truly had their way while playing a very commendable Fulham side that seem to play toward the end like they wanted it much much more than we did. Seriously, for the last 20 minutes of the match if one didn’t count the players on the pitch (or keep reading underneath the scoreline that Fulham were down a man) I believe you’d have thought we were playing down a man! At this point I can’t tell if it was their effort or Arsenal’s willingness to just “hold” on to a 1 goal lead for the win.

Now granted, one might feel like I am writing about a loss here. Nope. I am quite happy with winning (right after the match Dad said a win is a win) but this was no confidence building win and we still have some big games to play so I come away more worried today than yesterday. Not to mention that the late sending off of Giroud means we lose his presence for the next 3 games (both reds were equally justified IMHO). Awesome.

I don’t really know what to write about with regard to this game. The totality of the game was actually pretty damn boring. I found myself going to my  iPhone to read about the news during long stretches of our training ground possession display. I love our style of play generally but this one seemed like the classic argument against Arsenal of looking for the perfect goal. We moved the ball pretty well at times but we couldn’t quite get that final third to come together (another major problem we all know about); AND THAT WAS UP A MAN FOR GOD SAKES!!!

It was great to see Rosicky on the pitch but let’s remember that it is not like this guy was banging in goals for Arsenal before his career double day. So while it was nice that we had a big midfield presence that was our problem at the same time; no one played horrible but no one played that great either. Theo’s pace was neutralized by the fact that Fulham never really got forward after they went down a man (until the end where Fulham seriously looked threatening) so we were forced to deploy hold up play in the middle with either lots of close range touch and go action OR getting someone to shoot the damn ball in/around the box! That really never came together and so it was our BFG who collaborated with Kols to put one in the net on a set piece. Nifty.

There were a few counter attack chances but by then we had subbed Theo out and Podolski isn’t known for his speed (I think Theo probably runs that ball down and gets a shot on goal at least). We also had a chance through Rambo but at that point the guy had been running all game and isn’t exactly known for a laser foot; you could tell the lad was tired by his collapse at the end of the shot…

So, let’s do a quick recap here: we played up a man for roughly 80% of the match, scored our lone goal on a set piece (seriously?), was almost out shot on goal and we lose our “starting striker” for the next 3 games. Wicked awesome. A win is a win I guess…