Just think about how differently yesterday's game could have turned out if Arsenal had been successful with our attempted £3 million move for Mark Schwarzer last summer. He produced two magnificent stops, one from a downward Gibbs header at 0-0 and another from an excellent Nasri free kick at 1-1.
It has to be said that it wasn't the best of games, Arsenal switching from the normal 4-2-3-1 of lat to a new look 4-4-2, with Chamakh, getting his first league start since the end of December, starting alongside on form striker Robin van Persie up front. Two goals would have seen van Persie beat the record of goals scored in a season from 1 January (18) currently held by Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. In the end, he had to settle for equaling that record, and beating his own for the number of consecutive away Premier League games scored in - now standing at an impressive 9.
Fulham also playing 4-4-2 opted to play a counter-attacking, long ball game, Zamora and Johnson causing regular problems for Djourou and Vermaelen. Arsenal had the first real chance of the game, an intelligent through ball from Chamakh finding Samir Nasri near the byline in acres of space, he played the ball back to Gibbs, continuing to deputise for the injured Gael Clichy, who swung in what can only be described as on over-hit cross. It passed straight over everyone, finding Bacary Sagna on the opposite wing, who cut back, and dinked a delightful ball to the far post with his weaker left foot. Fulham's Hughes a spectator as Gibbs made a late run, before executing a superb downward header. Mark Schwarzer was at full stretch to deny the young full back his first Arsenal goal.
Minutes later though, Kieran Gibbs became the villain of the hour, some poor positional play saw him come far too far into the middle of the pitch, he and Vermaelen going for the same man, leaving Bobby Zamora in far too much space out wide, and he duly took advantage, collecting the ball out wide, and attacking the space where Gibbs should have been, before cutting the ball back, to former Gunner Steve Sidwell, who calmly slotted home from 10 yards, placing the ball through both Djourou and Szczesney's legs.
Arsenal stunned, Fulham ecstatic. Zamora was the next to pose a threat, getting in behind Djourou from another long ball, showing real strength to hold off the Arsenal man, before spurning his chance, shooting hopelessly wide from 15 yards, the ball ending up nearer the corner flag than the goal.
The Cottagers conceded just 3 minutes after going in front, Robin van Persie scoring his 18 in the Premiership this season, and equalling and extending the records mentioned earlier. Some nice combination play from Diaby and Chamakh presented the opportunity for the through ball, which Arsenal's #10 duly latched onto, firing low, beyond Schwarzer, into the bottom right corner. His 22nd in all competitions. It was poor positioning from another former Gunner, Philippe Senderos, which may have given van Persie the space he needed, Hughes was again not aware, and should have been covering better.#
The equaliser was quickly followed by another Fulham chance, captain Danny Murphy breaking from a throw, nutmegging Szczesney, for what seemed like a certain goal, but Thomas Vermaelen tracked back, and cleared off the line fantastically, Murphy hot on his heels, following his shot in.
That was to be the last decent chance of the half. The second half was even more eventful than the first. Captain for the day, Robin van Persie entered the referee's notebook on 48 minutes for dissent, after appealing very strongly for a free kick about 30 yards out, when blatantly fouled by Brede Hangeland. Just one of many wrong decisions from referee Martin Atkinson, in a second half with 4 solid penalty shouts. The first fell to Fulham, just a minute after van Persie's caution, Andrew Johnson appealing for a handball against Djourou. Replays would suggest that the Arsenal man did nothing wrong. They make it look more like the Fulham number eight handled it.
Schwarzer's second magnificent save came on 51 minutes. The veteran Aussie, scrambled across his goal to tip a Samir Nasri free kick around his upright. A fingertip save from a fine free kick. Robin van Persie has a challenger for who can take them best. Another poor decision soon followed. Samir Nasri playing himself into and out of trouble on the right-hand edge of the box, just about to cross the ball from right on the byline, Atkinson blew for a foul. Use of the advantage rule would have been more appropriate. The free kick itself, wasted by top scorer van Persie. Shooting from a far too acute angle.
The second 'penalty' was a futile appeal for handball from Fulham, Atkinson definitely getting it right this time, the ball hitting Gibbs on the shoulder. The non-penalty was swiftly followed by a ball over the top, Jonathan Greening picking the ball up, before crossing the ball backwards, Bobby Zamora rising above everyone to head home. Szczesny undecided on whether he was coming or staying caught in no man's land, although in fairness even if he had stayed on his line, there was little he could have done about it. Fulham two, Arsenal one. For the second time, Arsenal had to show the mental toughness to pull a goal back and salvage a point. Soon after, Johnson wasted a decent chance to put Fulham two ahead, lashing the ball miles over the bar from a reasonable position.
The third penalty shout came on the hour mark, Briggs blocked off in the area, a good shout, and I think the wrong call from the referee. Virtually straight after, van Persie was released down the left, swinging in a half decent ball, straight to the Fulham stopper Schwarzer, but he fumbled. The ball unexpectedly spilled to his feet, Marouane Chamakh failed to capitalise, firing tamely and off balance, Schwarzer getting the slightest of touches, and Briggs preventing it going for a corner. A real chance.
Wenger's response? A triple change. A knock-carrying Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby making way for Theo Walcott, Andrei Arshavin and Emanuel Eboue. Walcott immediately causing problems down the right hand side. 70 minutes saw Fulham's third change, goalscorer Bobby Zamora off for Zoltan Gera. He had an almost instant impact, literally. Diving in studs up on Thomas Vermaelen, earning himself an early bath, and Fulham their first red card of the season, and possibly putting paid to their Europa League hopes (through the fair play scheme). Fulham down to 10 with 15 minutes to go. Minutes later van Persie was denied a golden opportunity for Arsenal's second, the linesman wrongly flagging for offside.
Walcott earned Arsenal a corner in the 80th minute, and it was then that the 4th penalty shout occurred. Thomas Vermaelen hauled to the ground right in-front of the referee in the build up to van Persie's corner. No more than 2 yards away, the referee missed it, and so seemingly did the TV cameras. A blatant foul and another opportunity van Persie was denied for that 19th goal since the turn of the year. After an end to end 10 minutes which didn't yield any chances, Walcott's pace burned Fulham, he latched onto a Vermaelen through ball, cooly slotting home, across Schwarzer and via the left post. 2-2 and that's how it remained. Some of the intricate Arsenal triangles creating a chance for Arshavin, who blazed his shot from 20 yards just over the bar, the last chance of the game.
A slightly disappointing end to a disappointing season. Perhaps it hinted at what we'll be seeing next season, a 4-4-2 formation, with what looks a promising van Persie & Chamakh partnership.
What do you think? Let me know via the comments below, or through Twitter: @Goonernl
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