Arsenal Predictions: How FC Could Be Third After Trashing Fulham at the Emirates

Arsenal Are Third on the EPL Table After Trashing Fulham at the Emirates: That's what the headline could read at the end of the day, if only wishes were horses!

But why not? Here's how it could happen.

Tottenham Hotspur are unable to score at West Bromwich Albion and are beaten. Arsenal beat Fulham by six unanswered goals, raising their goal difference to plus nine—one better than Tottenham. Arsenal thus overtake Spurs on the table.

Newcastle United are also unable to score in their game against Manchester United—or score only one goal, but lose the match. Their goal difference either remains plus seven or becomes plus eight (if they score just one goal). Arsenal are one or two goals better.

Chelsea play a goalless draw at home with Wolverhampton Wanderers. They are thus two points behind Arsenal. If they win by a lone goal, they become joint third with Arsenal—not too bad a prospect!

Liverpool either lose to Manchester City or play a draw in tomorrow's game, in which case the goal difference would not count. The two Manchester clubs maintain their dominant position on the table.

Needless to say, this is carrying wishful thinking too far.

In reality, the above scenario is highly unlikely. It will not happen—period. What you see here is the hopeless case of a pathetic Gooner.

Arsenal are likely to win their match against Fulham at the Emirates this evening, but not with six unanswered goals. This is possible, of course, but is highly improbable.

Actual Predictions for Arsenal and Closest Rivals

While Arsenal have only failed to score three times in their last 21 matches—a goalless draw against Newcastle, a two-nil loss to Liverpool and a goalless draw against Marseille—this is not a high scoring side. The Chelsea game is the only exception where Arsenal scored five.

The chances, therefore, of Arsenal scoring six goals against Fulham are very slim.

Of Arsenal's closest rivals—Spurs, Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool—the probability that each will win their game is high, with the exception of Liverpool, which will have a difficult game against Man City.

Chelsea should have a comfortable game against Wolves at Stamford Bridge, despite their recent run of bad form. They should have three points in the bag by the end of the day. They will still be ahead of Arsenal when the day is done.

Spurs will not lose at the Hawthorns. A bad result for them would be a draw. They should still be ahead of Arsenal by three points at the end of the day—with a game in hand to boot.

Newcastle may lose to Manchester United, but may still be ahead of Arsenal by virtue of a superior goal difference. Arsenal will have to score five against Fulham to overtake them. I don't see that happening.

Sunday's game is a test for Liverpool. To pass with flying colors, they need to beat Manchester City. In fact, this is the right time to beat Manchester City after their descent from their high and lofty parch—where they've been boasting about being among the best in Europe and about winning the UEFA cup—the upstarts!  

Confidence at the moment is not as high as used to be at the Etihad. Liverpool should therefore grab the opportunity to teach City a lesson or two.

If they do, they will still be ahead of Arsenal—barring the latter scoring two more goals than any margin they've scored against City. Then again, having returned to their comfort zone, Manchester could easily rout Liverpool, in which case Arsenal would leap to sixth position.

Round 13 Likely Results

This, then, is the likely result at the end of Round 13:

Tottenham will win against Westbrom and be on 28 points.

Newcastle will lose against Manchester United and remain on 25 points.

Chelsea will win against Wolves to take their points tally to 25.

Liverpool will draw or lose against Manchester City and be either on 22 points or 23 points.

Arsenal will beat Fulham and add three points to their tally.

For the next seven games after today's match, Arsenal's position on the table is not likely to change in a big way. The change will likely happen after their return matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle. And when they have played Manchester City twice.

If they get decent results in these matches, it should stand them in good stead.

To be realistic then, Arsenal are not going to be third on the table at the end of the day. They may, however, advance by one place—three or two points clear of Liverpool if they do not lose or draw later in the day at the Emirates.

Here's hoping today's game favors the Gunners.