Looking to maintain their slim lead in the Barclays Premier League, the Arsenal Gunners are making their final game preparations before welcoming in Fulham for a BPL showdown at Emirates Stadium. Through 18 matches, Arsene Wenger's Gunners hold a one-point lead over Manchester City in the league standings and lead Chelsea by two points. Not bothered by the fact that many people favor Man City or Chelsea as the best club in the Premier League, Wenger said recently that his club can only control their actions on the pitch and must be fully focused if they're to upend Fulham this weekend.
“I always expect the best from our team,” he said. “If you look at the last 12 months you will see that our form has been consistent, so let's go from strength to strength and develop our game. Let people make Man City or Chelsea the favorites, we can accept that. The reality is that on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., that is where you can perform and where we have an opportunity to convince people that we are serious about what we want to achieve.
“We know that one of the targets in the second part of the season is for us to be strong at home and recently we have done that, so we want to continue that,” Wenger continued. “Tomorrow of course is a very important game, it is a derby, and because now we go into a part of the season where every game becomes massive.” While the Gunners can't afford to slip up at home, the Cottagers -- currently 16th in the BPL table -- hope to earn what would be an impressive victory in order to remain above the final three spots. Clubs that finish 18 through 20 will endure relegation, something Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen doesn't want to see happen.
Earning four victories and one draw against five losses since taking over for former coach Martin Jol last month, the former Manchester United assistant says he's still trying to get a feel for his team but notes that their next opponent is extremely dangerous.
“You look at it and you try to play the best hand in different situations,” he said. “You are still trying to get to the situation where you say 'now I know which cards suit best.' Arsenal have got a very good chance compared to the previous seasons, but Arsenal have got no secrets and they have had no secrets for the last eight years. They play as they play -- they won't change. That is the way they are. For many seasons they have picked up the accolade of being the team that plays the most beautiful football. You know what you are going to be up against.”
Arsenal vs. Fulham: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Saturday, Jan. 18
TIME: 10 a.m., ET
TV COVERAGE: NBC Sports Network
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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