Fulham are now in a very precarious position there is only a point between them and the bottom three, and no doubt, they are aware of the urgency of the situation. Sanchez will have had them practicing dead ball situations all week, knowing full well that we are the Premiership’s number one mug when it comes to a corner or free kick.

Arsenal have also conceded the first goal more times than any top or middle ranking club.  It would be a pleasant treat if, in the Grove sunshine, the team could, just for once, score first and keep a comfortable lead.  Probably too much to ask.

Hopefully now that Lehmann has a new contract he will concentrate on the game a bit more.  If not, then hopefully Wenger will drop him.  I understand that when trying to get a player to sign it is not good time to drop them, but now is.  I notice that Wenger is talking up Almunia, I hope that is code for shape up you bastard.  I am a great admirer of Lehmann but his last two or three performances have not been good enough, and could have contributed to losing points.

Once again there are new injuries with Ljungberg and Rosicky both unavailable for the match.  However the ever improving Diaby will be available, but it is a nuisance that we will be missing out on Rosicky’s new found fire power. Perhaps Hleb will score a goal; ooh there’s a pig flying by the window. 

However, the pressure is off, there is not much difference between a third and fourth place so it could be that the team discover its scoring boots.  Which would be apt because against Fulham we will be remembering a midfielder who was the leading goal scorer in the 73-74 season.

It will be very sad to reflect in the Grove sunshine Alan Ball has left us at such a young age.

I cannot remember a world cup-winning player at Arsenal before Alan Ball; he was one of the best Christmas presents I ever had.  He was purchased on the 22^nd of December 1971, and Arsenal played at home on the Boxing Day, so it really was a Christmas present.  They paid 225,000 pounds for him, which was like 25,000,000 pounds today, and the Gunners rarely bought big.  It was probably shopping therapy for Bertie Mee who was already beginning to lose his way after two very successful seasons.  However, it certainly gave Gooners something to be excited about as they made their way to the ground on a cold Boxing Day morning.

 I cannot remember a thing about the Boxing Day game, for me that has always been a problem of football, the games just roll one into the other and the memory fades.  Sure one or two very big games stick in the memory for ever, but clearly this one did not.  Nevertheless, what I do remember is the amazing skill of Alan Ball, I am sure that Bally could have played Wenger ball.

He used every inch of his white football boots, and such boots were really poncey in 1971, to direct the ball in all directions.  He rarely bothered to control the ball sending it off on a defence splitting pass as soon as he received it.  The team was used to a more direct form of play and had to adapt to Alan’s short ball game.  He was a fantastic player who never gave less than 100% and although he did not have a great shot, he would always try to get into a scoring position.  His goals were never as great as his midfield play but they reflected the never say die aspect of his character.  He would never let anything beat him, short of stature, weak of shot, he would get the ball into the net by hook or crook, including headers.

 Wenger could do worse than getting Hleb to watch a video of Alan Ball scoring goals, then hitting him around the head saying you are twice as big as him why can’t you do it?  Watch them here .

Arsenal will also remember Arthur Milton a player who was part of the 1953 championship winning team.  I can’t claim to remember Arthur, however I do, just about, and mainly from second hand sources, remember a day and age when footballers also played top class cricket.  But the demands of modern football would change all that.  Arthur is not really remembered for being a great Gunner, but for being a player for whom football was a half of two games (apologies to Guardian letters).

I can’t imagine Arthur, or Bally being that keen on Arsenal becoming part of an American franchise; and they certainly knew about football. For me there will be plenty to reflect on, hopefully that will include some good finishing.

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