Arsenal-Fulham: Gunners Learn To 'Win Ugly' with the Help of a Young Italian

Arsenal finally won a game they didn't deserve to win. They need to win more games like this, they said on Match of the day. The need to 'win ugly.'

I always thought that winning ugly was a euphemism for playing really rubbish and getting away with it. Basically, a lucky escape.

This was what happened at the Craven Cottage yesterday. Arsenal played poorly and simply rode their luck. Fulham were the better side and deserved at least a point.

The gunners played some of their best football this season in their last two games, against Man Utd and Man City, and lost them both.

They play their worst football against a determined Fulham side and leave with a win and a clean sheet.

That's the puzzling, unpredictable nature of football for you, the best team sometimes doesn't win. However, after a long season, the table doesn't lie: You finish where you deserve to finish, and that's the simple truth.

POSITIVES FIRST

Vito Mannone in goal for Arsenal, making only his third premier league start, was outstanding for the gunners. He made a string of crucial saves and was solid through-out the game. A '10 out of 10' performance as Arsene Wenger saw it.

I have to be honest here, I wasn't at all impressed by Mannone's previous outings for Arsenal. He was pretty shaky against Wigan last week with his handling and decision-making on crosses really worried me.

However, he came through for Arsenal yesterday and produced a man of the match performance under constant pressure at times. He showed real character for someone so young and i hope he develops into a world class keeper for Arsenal.

Robin Van Persie, also, produced a moment of real class to secure the points for the gunners. He took his goal with expert skill reminiscent of his compatriot Dutch-man, Dennis Bergkamp. The first touch and execution was just perfect. It deserved to win the game.

THE NEGATIVES

The first thing I noticed about the game yesterday was that the defence was exposed in full-back areas too many times, especially down Clichy's left-back position.

Fulham forwards got in behind Arsenal's left on several occasions to deliver some dangerous crosses, which could've easily turned into goals for the home team.

I'm not really surprised by this because this was also a problem area in the Man City game two weeks ago, in which the defence was exposed from the sides by the pace and guile of the City forwards.

This is happening for three different reasons:

1) Gaël Clichy does not look fully fit to me. He picked up where he left off at he end of last season - in terms of performances -  before he was out injured for the last two months. Furthermore, he looked half a yard slower and very lethargic yesterday.

Andrei Arshavin also looked below par, but this is understandable as he's fresh from injury.

2) Lack of protection from midfield. I've covered this topic extensively in my last article, which I argued that this team is in desperate need of a world class holding midfielder. I think the consequences of not strengthening in the defensive midfield position was there for all to see yesterday.

For me, Alex Song doesn't  have the discipline needed to do the job in big games. This is also true for Diaby, Denilson, and Fabregas. They are not good at the dirty side of the game: tracking back, tackling, fouling...etc.

Don't get me wrong, Song has improved immensely in the last year or so, but it's clear that he's not yet at the high level standard the team requires in that vital position.

This is not a fault of his own. If you look at all the top clubs, their holding midfielders are often quick, strong and very experienced. Song's lack of speed in that area is really hurting the team. I think he, more than anyone, can benefit from an experience player alongside him in midfield.

When Clichy or Sagna bombs forward to attack, its crucial that the holding player has the discipline and know-how to read the game and cover the full-back.

This was not happening yesterday and, therefore, the centre-backs were exposed time and time again.

3) This new 4-3-3 system provides little cover for the full-backs. The new formation is getting the best out of this team offensively with more players getting in the box and scoring goals.

At the start of the season, it also looked like that this formation is making the team more solid, especially in midfield. However, as we've seen in the last few games, this is not the case.

When a team plays an attacking 4-3-3 system, its important that the wide-forwards help out the full-backs and put in a shift. Arshavin and Bendtner are naturally attacking players, and although they try very hard defensively, its clear that they don't provide the same protection that a wide midfielder would.

That's why i would've preferred to see a straight-forward 4-4-2 system yesterday with natural wide midfielders and Bendtner upfront alongside Van Persie. That's the best formation for playing teams like Fulham.

FINAL THOUGHT

What I really enjoyed about yesterday's performance was the level of commitment showed by most players in the team. I thought Fabregas had orchestrated everything in midfield and had his best game since the Everton game.

The center-back pairing of Gallas and Vermaelen looked solid again, but let down at times by the ineffective cover from midfield.

Abou Diaby was pretty average in midfield yet again and if he doesn't sort out his inconsistent performances then I'm sure he'll find it harder to get games in the first team. He needs to get his act together quickly.

If the team manages to 'win ugly' like this in six or seven games from now until the end of the season, then I'm sure Arsenal will have a great chance to be the champions of England for the first time in Five years.

All in all, average performance, clinical finishing and a clean sheet. I'll have that, thank you very much.

Video: see highlights of the game here.

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