Secret away grinders Arsenal can secure low-scoring win at Fulham

Fulham have proved tough nuts to crack for Arsenal over the last five seasons, losing by more than a single goal in just one of their nine meetings and earning two wins and four draws in that sequence. However the Cottagers never looked like getting back into it against Chelsea and the Arsene Wenger’s men can be backed at 3/4 for their first win at Fulham since 2009. 

In recent games it’s taken a performance of vigilant defensive resolve to get any change out of Arsenal – with Everton the only opponent in their last six to avoid defeat – unfortunately for Fulham their possession of such a quality is almost entirely governed by who scores first. The Cottagers have gained less points from losing positions than any other Premier League side this term.

The Gunners have scored first in just 15 of their 33 league outings in 2012/13, but such has been the sleep-hit nature of their season that it’s unsurprising to learn that they’re now registering at a superior ratio of five times in the last seven games.

For all the hand-wringing over the lack of defensive understanding in the Arsenal team they’re an exceptionally tight outfit on the road, having conceded just 14 away league goals all season – the Premier League’s lowest total.

Such defensive chastity comes at a cost to attacking ardour and the Emiratis have bagged a mere 22 on their travels in the same period of time. Considering Fulham have scored a goal or less in  seven of their last 10 home games the 4/9 about less than 3.5 goals looks appealing.

Confidence in Fulham would have been higher but for their tame home roll-over against local rivals Chelsea last time. More bite would have been expected from the Cottagers who had entered the derby with three wins and two draws in their last six home games, especially considering they’d played 27 less games than their 3-0 conquerors.

Arsenal are flying on a run of five wins and a draw in six games and can be backed to dispose of Fulham at 3/4 with Coral.