ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal 4 Fulham 0:FULHAM'S SECOND-STRING put up so little fight here it was plain even their minds had left for Hamburg and Wednesday's Europa League final against Atletico Madrid.
The chances of their bodies following are in doubt, however, as Roy Hodgson revealed concerns over the cloud of volcanic ash disrupting the continent’s flight schedules may lead him to ask Uefa to postpone the final.
Fulham are scheduled to fly to Hamburg at 11am tomorrow but are exploring the possibility of heading off earlier. Hodgson fears that may not be possible. “It’s all very well people saying, ‘Change the flights’, but we’re talking about 40 people and lots of kit. It’s not just one person going on a package holiday,” he said.
Fulham have experience of finding alternative ways of getting to Hamburg, having travelled there by bus for their semi-final. However, Hodgson says that will not be possible this time and that in the event of a flight ban, Uefa should delay the match.
“The problem with these late changes is they rule out the possibility of taking trains because they’re all booked up,” said Hodgson. “So we might have no choice and in that situation we would hope for Uefa not to show their usual intransigence and possibly find a solution, ie by postponing the game.”
A postponement would have the advantage of giving the Fulham striker Bobby Zamora extra time to recover from his achilles injury.
Hodgson said the 29-year-old was making “some progress” but was still uncertain for the game against Atletico. The manager does expect him to be fit for England duty, if summoned. “Time is running out for him in terms of Wednesday but (the injury) should in no way prevent him from taking part for England – if he is lucky enough to be called.”
Arsene Wenger said Theo Walcott has been told he will feature in that 30-man squad, but added he has had “no indication” as to whether Sol Campbell will be included. The 35-year-old did little to enhance his chances of an England recall here. He was guilty of surrendering possession with several slack passes and in the 65th minute he could have conceded a penalty after misjudging a header and tangling in the box with the American Clint Dempsey – a potential opponent at the World Cup.
Fulham had no joy. The action was almost entirely in their half and the visitors contributed to their defeat. Mark Schwarzer miscontrolled a Chris Baird back-pass in the 21st minute, gifting the ball to Andrey Arshavin, who rounded him and scored. Five minutes later Bacary Sagna dissected the Fulham defence with an astute pass to Walcott, who crossed for Robin van Persie. Schwarzer deflected the Dutchman’s shot on to the bar but was helpless to prevent the striker from slamming the rebound into the net.
In the 38th minute Walcott’s cross ricocheted off two players before Baird skewed the ball into his own goal.
Substitute Carlos Vela completed the scoring in the 83rd minute.
Guardian Service
