Fulham 2-1 Arsenal: Gunners hopes
shredded
Arsene Wenger may just have to face his own 'moment of truth' after
a 2-1 defeat at Fulham all but ended Arsenal's hopes of forcing
their way into the Barclays Premiership title race.
The Gunners boss had admitted his team were entering a crucial
phase of the campaign, both domestically and in Europe.
With little margin for error following the weekend loss at Bolton,
this 2-1 reverse at Craven Cottage looks set to prove fatal.
The decision to rest several first-team regulars - with one eye on
both Saturday's north-London derby against Tottenham and next
week's Champions League trip to Porto - proved unwise as Fulham
rose to the challenge.
An early goal from Brian McBride set the tone for the evening,
before Tomas Radzinski swept in a second from close range.
Although Robin van Persie reduced the deficit before half-time with
a brilliant 30-yard free-kick, even the introduction of Theo
Walcott could not save Arsenal - who finished the game with 10 men
following Philippe Senderos' dismissal for a second yellow
card.
From Claus Jensen's left-wing corner, McBride got ahead of his
markers to meet the ball at the near post, flick it backwards up
over Jens Lehmann and past Mathieu Flamini on the line.
Captain Thierry Henry, fit again following a neck problem, looked
menacing again down the left, as he cut inside before drilling an
angled strike over the bar.
Captain Luis Boa Morte tricked his way past Alexander Song with a
sublime backheel before dashing to the by-line and pulling the ball
across goal.
Tomasz Radzinski arrived just in time at the far post ahead of
Flamini to double Fulham's lead with a tap-in on 19 minutes - but
then needed treatment after his momentum took the Canadian into the
advertising hoardings.
It should have been 3-0 and game over just after the half hour when
Boa Morte dashed clear of the Arsenal defence, with more than a
suspicion of offside.
Arsenal went up the other end and pulled a goal back nine minutes
before the break through a stunning free-kick from van
Persie.
Liam Rosenior upended Alexander Hleb, and was booked for his
troubles.
The young Dutchman lined up behind the dead ball - a full 30 yards
from goal slightly right of centre.
There was only ever one thing on his mind, as van Persie promptly
curled a quite breathtaking left-foot effort around the wall and
into the far corner, past the diving Antti Niemi.
Jensen was just off target with his chance from a free-kick as the
match became somewhat scrappy.
McBride forced another good stop from Lehmann, this time at his
near post, as the hosts finished the half on top.
Wenger called for Cesc Fabregas at the restart, with Song taken off
- and the Gunners looked lively.
Henry thought he had levelled after collecting a trademark
cross-field pass and driving an angled shot past Niemi from the
left. However, the assistant's flag had already been raised in what
looked a marginal call at best.
Tomas Rosicky was given a rest, with England starlet Walcott set to
inject some pace down the Arsenal right.
On 63 minutes, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when centre-half
Senderos, who had already been booked, received a second yellow
card for a clumsy challenge on Boa Morte, just outside the penalty
area.
The Fulham captain was within inches of restoring his side's
two-goal advantage - but the free-kick rattled back off the
crossbar with Lehmann rooted to the spot.
Arsenal had to take risks now, and continually left themselves open
on the quick counter attack.
However, the visitors almost snatched an equaliser when Walcott's
first-time shot from the edge of the Fulham penalty area struck the
outside base of the far post as the Gunners rallied.
Tempers were close to boiling point in the closing stages, Flamini
and McBride both cautioned for their part in a touchline
tussle.
Henry nearly connected with Walcott's low centre, as the Gunners
were left to reflect on what might have been as their title dreams
faded - a result which no doubt would have been greeted with just
as much jubilation a few miles down the Fulham Road.
