We ground out another result on Monday and another three points to take us back to the top after, as everyone predicted, Chelsea, then Manchester City jumped to the top of the pack. This weekend presents us with a potential chance of opening a slight lead against Chelsea as they welcome a very shaky United tomorrow. To do so we'll have to overcome a Fulham side who have been in poor form recently.
Ahead of the tie it seems we will have a few players missing. Rosicky will miss the match after the referee deemed a very bloody broken nose to be unworthy of stopping the match. Nacho Monreal is another doubt after picking up a knock to his ankle on Monday so I think Gibbs will step back into the team. Ramsey and Arteta remain out so I can see the two holding roles being retained by Wilshere and Flamini. Cazorla seems to be rediscovering his form last season so I think he'll start along with Ozil and of course Giroud up front. The right wing however will be interesting. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his return from the bench against Aston Villa after Serge Gnabry started so they'll jostle for the start. Knowing Wenger I think Gnabry will get the nod as he likes to ease players back in.
Annoyingly Hangeland and Stekelenburg will be back to face us today which gives them experience. Hangeland also gives them power at the back so Giroud could be in for a very physical game. Going up the pitch obviously Berbatov remains a real threat for them and seems to have a worrying habit of scoring against us so our defence will have to keep in quiet. Although Hangeland offers power at the back he isn't the fastest so we will need speed to get through the defence as I think our chances of winning ariel duels could be slim today.
Another important match today where we can't afford to slip up, we go into this game knowing that 3 points means we'll be top for another week and if we do win we'll pile the pressure on Chelsea tomorrow.
