Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 22 May 2011 09:39

After fighting for the title for much of the season, to end up with the automatic Champions League place no longer in our hands is somewhat difficult to stomach. Ending the season in fourth will impact on our season next campaign. Not only do we have to disrupt our pre season plans but without the guarantee of Champions League money it will almost certainly have an impact on our transfer dealings.

We are hoping that Bolton can take points off Manchester City at the Reebok while Arsenal get at least a point better against today's opponents Fulham at Craven Cottage.

If the team was firing on all cylinders then I would be quietly confident that we could pull out the needed result but currently the team is in free fall and have taken many painful knocks on the way down so I wonder how the team will cope today against Fulham who have recently taken a beating at the hands of a resurgent Liverpool side a couple of weeks ago. Yet that game aside, their form has been relatively good and you would expect a tough game of football.

They pushed us close earlier in the season at the Emirates when it needed two bits of excellence to turn the game in our favour from Samir Nasri and Van Persie apart, that extra cutting edge has been badly missing of late.

Predicting a line up is somewhat difficult today as a number of players are facing fitness tests ahead of the game. Johan Djourou should return from an ankle problem so should replace Squillaci who did not produce a good enough performance in the first half against Aston Villa. However, it will be yet another new defensive partnership at the heart of defence, assuming that Laurent Koscielny is still out injured. Thomas Vermaelen has yet to start a game alongside Johan Djourou. In theory, they should compliment each other well. Both probably the best in the air while both play on the opposites sides of the defence so it has potential but in practice, Djourou has not been the same since returning from his shoulder injury and Vermaelen will take a few games to get back to his best. However, his second half showing against Villa last week was promising.

We are still waiting on the fitness of Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby so who knows which players will take to the field this afternoon.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:

One to watch: Jack Wilshere

We have been greeted to some wonderful yet surprising news that Jack Wilshere will be resting his legs over the summer instead of galavanting around with the under 21s. While his effort and commitment has never been faulted this season, it looks clear that the season has physically taken its toll on his body. The rest will certainly do him the world of good. Before that, I believe he has one more strong performance in him.

After the hoo har of the under 21s it would come as no surprise to see Wilshere have a fantastic game this afternoon, switching on another spotlight on the whole situation.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

Fulham 2 Arsenal 2 (Arshavin, Walcott)

I was going to write Fulham 2 Arsenal 1 but my finger wouldn't allow me to, it remains to be seen whether any of those results would actually be good enough to claim an automatic spot in next years Champions League. The one hope that I cling onto is that 99% of the time my predictions are wrong so hopefully the boys can turn on the style and Bolton can do us a favour. After we loaned them Jack Wilshere, I think it is the least they could do.

COME ON YOU GOONERS

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Comments (6)

• 22-May-2011 10:27 | | TL Gooner  - Freshen Up
  

  I'd like to see us freshen up the team, play 4-4-2 with Bendtner and RVP up top. NB has looked impressive in the last couple of games when he's come on so lets play him in his position and ask him to show us why he should be in the starting XI next season.
  
  Plus, Fulham aren't a team that pack the midfield anyway- they play 4-4-2 too so I'd like to see us give it a try.
  
  Fulham 1-3 Arsenal- I'm optimistic about this one, got a feeling we'll win!
  
  (Wilshere, Bendtner, van Persie)

• 22-May-2011 11:12 | | gunner  - lansbury
  

  i hope lansbury gets a few minutes to show his quality, I really hope he can step up next season.

• 22-May-2011 13:37 | | James  - goal scoring
  

  Arsenal /Arsene should watch how Spurs scored the first goal against Liverpool. No overpassing and shoot on sight.
  By the way when bent scored his goals,the high Arsenal defence line was exposed and he had time and space to shoot..This has been the story of most of the goals conceded.
  When the gunners bring the ball to the box,see the number of defenders crowding round each gunner. You do the maths. No wonder the gunners lose and will continue to lose until Wenger cuts down the overpassing or pass to eternity.

• 22-May-2011 13:40 | | Omglol
  

  Fulham 0-4 Arsenal RVP 2 goals
  Bolton 1-1 Manchester City
  
  .... I can hope, try and stop me :-)

• 22-May-2011 22:32 | | jack  - losers
  

  TLGooner & OMG get a life. what team have you two been watching these last 2 months.

• 23-May-2011 13:17 | | Danny
  

  Who would have thought 7 years ago when we became the Invincibles that the the next 7 seasons we would finish 4th FOUR times.We are getting further away not closer

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