Premier League: Fulham v Arsenal - Preview

'This season is about how much we make of our potential'

Don't dare tell Arsène Wenger his side can't win the title this season.

Ahead of the trip to Fulham on Saturday, one reporter ventured to suggest that, after two defeats, Arsenal were merely playing for a Champions League position before the September sun had even left North London.

It brought the darkest of clouds to Wenger's mind.

"How can you say that after five games?" the manager snapped back. "We feel confident that we have a strong chance to do it. Everybody will drop points and the most important thing is to be consistent and win our next game."

The Frenchman has had to defend his side ever since those back-to-back defeats in Manchester. Morally, the manager argues they have not got their due after a teak-tough start to the campaign.

"What you forget is that in our first four games we played at Everton, Man City and Man United," he went on. "Places where everybody can drop points.

"But since then we have won away from home in the Champions League plus we have beaten West Brom and Wigan.

"We came out of the two [defeats] to Man City and Man United with a feeling that we have a massive potential. This season is about how much we make of our potential not how good we are.

"We want to transform our potential into a realistic option to win the Premiership.

"We certainly should not come out of the game with Manchester United, for example, with any inferiority complex. We should have frustration because we lost the game and congratulations to Man United about that. But certainly we have not a feeling we were outplayed and deserved to lose the game."

However, lose they did.

At the end of last season the manager reflected that five defeats in his side's first 14 games scuppered any realistic title aspirations. After posting two defeats, deserved or not, already this term the question remains how many Arsenal can afford to lose.

"You can never afford to lose a game," replied Wenger when that precise question was asked later on in his media work. "And you never go with that spirit into the game.

"How many games can you afford to lose? None. But can you win the title losing five games? Yes, Manchester United have shown that and we have shown that.

"But of course it depends how many you win as well because, in a League where you get three points for a win, you must consider how many draws you make. Of course you want to lose a minimum amount of games and I suppose you could say since the League has been played it has been between zero and five."

If, according to the manager's maths, Arsenal's margin for error is three defeats in their remaining 33 fixtures then a slip-up on Saturday would be costly.

Wenger expects to welcome back Andrey Arshavin after a groin problem. Robin van Persie was a doubt in midweek but was expected to pass a fitness test and make the trip.

Manuel Almunia (chest infection) is still out so Vito Mannone is likely to deputise but, at his press conference, Wenger did leave the door open to retain Wojiech Szczesny after his impressive debut in midweek. Samir Nasri (broken leg), Johan Djourou and Lukasz Fabianski (both knee) are all out. Theo Walcott is fit after his back problem but this game may have come a little too early for him.

Craven Cottage is Arsenal's Jekyll and Hyde ground. In the last five years they have come away with either a high-scoring win or a humbling defeat. Last season a goal from Brede Hangeland consigned Arsenal to their first defeat in just their second game of the campaign. It portrayed tell-tales signs for both teams.

Wenger's side never won their game of catch-up after stumbling off the blocks. Fulham's bedrock turned out to be their home form and defence. It helped them finish seventh and secure a place in the Europa League for the first time.

"We realise that Fulham is always a place where you want your team to really perform," said Wenger. "I believe the whole team is conscious of that and focused.

"We have prepared well and we will go there to try and win the game."

This is one of those unheralded away trips that will tell us much about the true mentality of Wenger's side.

Beautiful, flowing Arsenal would be nice but efficient Arsenal will be enough.

PREVIEW DEBUT MAN CITY VS ARSENAL-Cesc: Manu left me scarred

CESC FABREGAS last night led a scathing Arsenal backlash on former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor.

Speaking for the first time about Adebayor's antics during last weekend's defeat at Manchester City, the Arsenal skipper lifted his tracksuit bottom to reveal a nasty three-inch gash across his right calf.

That was the result of an X-rated Adebayor tackle and, pointing to the wound just above the ankle, Fabregas said: "I think this is a red card here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was from Adebayor."

The £25million City striker's shameful kick in Robin van Persie's face marred the match and earned him a three-game ban.

SCARRED ... Cesc Fabregas' right leg looks a mess

But his tackle on Fabregas could have left the midfielder with a broken ankle and Fabregas, 22, was keen to make the point.

He added: "I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened. You know this is football and it can happen. Well... it's not football but it can happen."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger blasted Adebayor's behaviour but Fabregas' gesture revealed the level of resentment towards their one-time team-mate.

Fabregas added: "All I tried to do when he was at Arsenal was to create opportunities for him to score.

"So I think I didn't do too badly for him. I don't know. It is a bit strange. We don't think about him any more. He doesn't play for Arsenal so we just have to concentrate on our game and our players."

Adebayor, who quit the Emirates in bitter fashion this summer, is also facing a further ban from the FA after running the full length of the pitch to celebrate his goal - City's third in the 4-2 win - in front of the angry Arsenal fans.

It sparked a furious reaction from the away supporters and was heavily criticised in many quarters.

Fabregas said: "No, there's never been another player who left and behaved like this.

"I have no idea why he did this. We always respected him, you know. It is difficult. He will have his own opinions. You have to ask him that. I don't really know."

The Arsenal star also refused to be drawn on speculation Adebayor, 25, had become isolated in the Arsenal dressing room.

And he insisted: "Let's just move forward. If this is true or not it just stays in the dressing room."

Even Emmanuel Eboue, a close pal of Adebayor, rounded on his fellow African star.

Last season, Togo striker Adebayor put a consoling arm around the shoulder of a tearful Eboue when the Ivory Coast ace was subbed against Wigan after a section of disgruntled Arsenal fans booed the defender.

Now, in the week when Wigan visit the Emirates again, Eboue did not mince his words about his pal.

He said: "Adebayor didn't do well and that is no good for football because you have a lot of young people who watch the game.

"But I am happy because the FA gave him a three-game ban. I know him and he will think about what has happened and will take it on.I am very disappointed about it, very disappointed."

Eboue has not spoken to Adebayor since last Saturday and may never speak to him again unless the City man calls to offer his apologies.

Former Gunner Kolo Toure, who followed Adebayor to Eastlands, felt compelled to go to the Arsenal dressing room and apologise.

Eboue added: "I haven't spoken to him since Saturday because I am very disappointed in him, it was a bad thing to do.

"In the dressing room, we were very disappointed because we don't know what happened to Adebayor.

"When he was in our team, we were together, we did everything together and so we don't know what happened.

"Kolo came into our dressing room and he said sorry to everyone and that was very nice.

"If Adebayor calls me, I'll speak with him. If he calls me, I'll say, 'Thank you, God.'

"If he doesn't call me, that's his problem. I think about my team."

PRIVIEW DEBUT MAN CITY VS ARSENAL-ARSENE WENGER just could not get Emmanuel Adebayor out of his mind.

As Wenger prepared for tonight's Champions League clash in Liege he started listing the Arsenal players missing through injury.

"Adebayor," he began, before laughing at his mistake.

It is the only time the Gunners boss has found humour in anything to do with his former striker over the last few days.

The events at Eastlands are still raw.

Adebayor's stamp on Robin van Persie's head during Manchester City's 4-2 win on Saturday was an image Wenger never expected to see.

Dutch ace Van Persie was so upset he put out an official statement on the club website which called Adebayor's actions "mindless and malicious".

Wenger said: "Of course I back Van Persie. If somebody stamps on your head in that way, you wouldn't say 'Thank you very much' and turn the other cheek. Only Jesus Christ did that.

"Of course we are disappointed because when you go to the head, you are always scared for people.

"You want to be protected. I think it was a very bad challenge, surprisingly bad. I didn't expect him to do that."

Wenger believes £25million Adebayor, instead of being bitter about his Arsenal experience, should be grateful for the education he enjoyed after joining for £3m from Monaco in January 2006.

He said: "It's life, professional players move on. But you have to be objective to see who helped you and who didn't.

"If you take a distance from events you always get to the right judgment. The longer distance will make him realise Arsenal was a very positive influence in his life."

Eduardo, Arsenal's Croatian frontman, will play tonight after an independent appeal panel overturned UEFA's decision to ban him for two games for diving to win a penalty in the Euro play-off against Celtic.

Wenger said: "I thought first during the game that it was no penalty, which is what I said afterwards.

"But, having talked to him, he told me he was touched.

"We employed a forensic expert who proved he had been touched.

"They looked at the replay and proved he was touched on his ankle and like UEFA I believe what they tell me and what he tells me."

Wenger argued making capital out of a foul in the box was part of the game.

He claimed: "Did Rooney not make the most of it when he dived against us?

"Sometimes a striker makes the most of it because he wants to cheat, sometimes because he wants to protect himself and sometimes because he wants to show the referee that he has been touched.

"So you have to identify what is the right reason behind it. I believe sometimes it is a reflex. It doesn't mean the player is always cheating."

Eduardo was out for more than a year with a double fracture of a leg after a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor.

And tonight he faces a man who is the scourge of Belgian football for breaking the leg of an Anderlecht player.

Axel Witsel got an 11-match ban and the Belgian FA wrote to UEFA asking them to extend it to the Champions League.

UEFA refused and Witsel has since had his sentence reduced to eight games.

Arsenal will be without injured duo Van Persie and Denilson plus Manuel Almunia, who has a chest infection. Vito Mannone deputises in goal.

ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Eboue, Eduardo, Bendtner.

Standard Liege 2 Arsenal 3

POIROT himself might have struggled to work this one out.

The fictional Belgian detective would have been scratching his head at how Arsenal went two down in five minutes, then won thanks to mysterious capers in the penalty area.

At the centre of it all was Eduardo, who went from arch-villain to match-winning hero.

The Croatian striker cannot stay out of the Champions League headlines.

He was only playing because his two-match suspension for diving in the qualifier against Celtic was overturned by UEFA's appeals tribunal.

But, when he tried a ridiculous backheel to gift Liege the opener, the travelling fans must have wished his ban had been upheld.

Liege quickly got a second from the penalty spot after William Gallas was adjudged to have tripped Milan Jovanovic but Nicklas Bendtner pulled a goal back on half-time.

Then Thomas Vermaelen equalised with 12 minutes left, although he and Alexandre Song looked offside and Song appeared to handle the ball as well.

Three minutes later, a Cesc Fabregas corner came through a crowd of players and Eduardo kneed it over the line for the winner.

Quite amazing.

A huge banner in the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium had called for revenge for 1993 when Arsenal inflicted the Belgian club's heaviest defeat in European competition, a 7-0 thrashing in the Cup Winners Cup.

Another one simply read "Vendetta" and the messages certainly had the desired effect on two minutes.

As Belgium star Vermaelen cleared a corner, it dropped to Eduardo whose attempt at a fancy flick fell into the path of Eliaquim Mangala.

Liege's centre-back could not believe his good fortune and he fired in a 20-yard shot which beat rookie keeper Vitor Mannone at the near post.

The damage quickly got worse.Gallas appeared to have Jovanovic under his control as the Serbian striker collected a ball in the box.

But, when Jovanovic attempted to come inside, down he went with Gallas adjudged to have clipped his opponent's heel.

Spanish referee Eduardo Gonzalez had no doubt it was a penalty but replays suggested Jovanovic made the most of it.

Whatever the truth, up stepped Jovanovic to double the lead.

"It was harsh," said boss Arsene Wenger afterwards before adding with a smile. "It's a case we can win on appeal."

Wenger said his troops were caught cold. Too right. They were frozen to the spot.

Poor Mannone had touched the ball twice - both times to pick it out of the net.

The 21-year-old was only playing because of sickness to first choice Manuel Almunia and injury to reserve stopper Lukasz Fabianski.

The Italian looked nervous and the crowd could sense it. His kicking suffered badly as he repeatedly sliced clearances.

For Arsenal it was all horribly reminiscent of their last game in the Champions League proper, the semi-final with Manchester United that saw them ship two goals in the opening 11 minutes.

With the Gunners also missing Andrey Arshavin, Denilson, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie it was a big ask to come back.

Having lost their previous two league games against both Manchester clubs, Arsenal were staring at a third defeat in a row for the first time in seven years.

Tomas Rosicky, making his first start in 20 months after a serious hamstring injury, tried to get his team going but they were absolutely shell-shocked.

Gradually, though, Arsenal found their rhythm and pulled a goal back just before half-time.

Midfielder Abou Diaby did extremely well to turn Mangala and played in Bendtner down the right.

The Danish striker was on to the ball before the home defence could react and he fired through the legs of keeper Sinan Bolat. It was the lifeline Arsenal needed.

Early in the second half, Emmanuel Eboue performed heroics to turn a low Wilfried Dalmat cross over his own bar - and from that point the Gunners began to wear down their opponents.

But there was a large slice of fortune or two for the equaliser. A Fabregas free-kick was floated to the far post, where centre-half Vermaelen and midfielder Song seemed offside.

As Song fell over, the ball hit his arm before dropping to Vermaelen to finish it off from close range.

Liege coach Laszlo Boloni protested: "Two offside and they played it with the hand."

Arsenal were not satisfied with a draw.

And after 81 minutes Eduardo kneed the ball in from Fabregas' corner to grab all three points.

International Watch: Three Gunners on target

A host of Arsenal stars have been on show for their countries in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches over the past week. Below is a comprehensive list of what our globetrotting Gunners have been doing.

Nicklas Bendtner
Denmark 1-1 Portugal, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Albania 1-1 Denmark, World Cup Qualifier, September 9

Nicklas Bendtner scored Denmark's goal in their home draw with Portugal. The Arsenal striker controlled a diagonal pass with his chest and then finished brilliantly with his left foot.
Bendtner was on the scoresheet again as Denmark earned a point in Albania. They now hold a three-point lead at the top of Group One ahead of the final round of games in October.

Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Gael Clichy
France 1-1 Romania, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Serbia 1-1 France, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Following Saturday's draw with Romania, France no longer control their destiny in Group Seven. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna both played 90 minutes for Les Bleus, but there was no involvement for Abou Diaby or Gael Clichy. Former Gunner Thierry Henry got the goal for France.
A point in Serbia means the French World Cup dream is not over, and they now hold a four-point lead over third place Austria. Gallas and Sagna both played 90 minutes, while Clichy was an unused substitute.

Cesc Fabregas
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Spain 3-0 Estonia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Cesc Fabregas was a second-half substitute as Spain hit five past Belgium. Spain confirmed their place in South Africa with a 3-0 win over Estonia. Fabregas started the game and opened the scoring with a strike 33 minutes in. Santi Cazorla and Juan Manuel Mata added the second and third respectively in the closing 10 minutes.

Thomas Vermaelen
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Armenia 2-1 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Belgium's hopes of reaching the World Cup Finals were dealt a massive blow on Saturday as they went down 5-0 in Spain. Thomas Vermaelen played 90 minutes in the game. Belgium suffered a fifth consecutive qualifying defeat on Wednesday, going down 2-1 in Armenia. Thomas Vermaelen sat out the game through suspension.

Philippe Senderos
Switzerland 2-0 Greece, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Latvia 2-2 Switzerland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Switzerland opened up a three-point gap at the top of Group Two with a 2-0 win over Greece. Philippe Senderos was an unused substitute as the Swiss left it late, with two goals in the last 10 minutes. Switzerland maintained their three-point lead at the top of Group Two with a 2-2 draw in Latvia. Senderos was an unused substitute as Alexander Frei and Eren Derdiyok scored the Swiss goals.

Tomas Rosicky
Slovakia 2-2 Czech Republic, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Czech Republic 7-0 San Marino, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Czech Republic are struggling in Group Three after only managing a draw against group leaders Slovakia. They can no longer qualify automatically for South Africa 2010, but gave their hopes of making the Play-Offs a boost with a crunching 7-0 victory over San Marino.
The Group Three minnows have now conceded 44 goals in their nine qualifying games after Milan Baros scored four, Vaclav Sverkos bagged a brace and Tomas Necid helped himself to a goal. Tomas Rosicky started the game but was withdrawn after 56 minutes.

Eduardo
Croatia 1-0 Belarus, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
England 5-1 Croatia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Croatia closed the gap on England to four points with a 1-0 win over Belarus. Eduardo started the match and was brought off with eight minutes remaining. Eduardo scored a consolation goal for Croatia as their hopes of automatic qualification to next year's World Cup were terminated by a rampant England at Wembley.

Robin van Persie
Netherlands 3-0 Japan, Friendly, September 5
Scotland 0-1 Netherlands, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Robin van Persie scored the Netherlands’ second as they defeated Japan 3-0 in a friendly match on Saturday.
Netherlands completed their qualification campaign without dropping a single point in Group Nine. Eljero Elia scored the winner against Scotland with eight minutes remaining. Van Persie played 84 minutes in the match.

Aaron Ramsey
Wales 2-1 Italy, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Wales 1-3 Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Aaron Ramsey scored the winner as Wales beat Italy 2-1 to continue their good start to qualifying for the 2011 European Under-21 Championship. Ramsey took the corner from which Christian Ribeiro opened the scoring. Having seen Italy equalise, Ramsey fired home a volley midway through the second half.
Ramsey then joined the senior Wales squad and played 90 minutes as their qualification hopes were ended with a 3-1 defeat to Russia.

Alex Song
Gabon 0-2 Cameroon, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Cameroon v Gabon, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Alex Song didn't feature for Cameroon as they defeated Gabon 2-0 on Saturday. Cameroon secured their second win over Gabon and went top of African qualifying Group A with two goals in Yaounde. Jean Makoun and Samuel Eto'o scored as Arsenal's Song played 90 minutes alongside his uncle Rigobert.

Andrey Arshavin
Russia 3-0 Liechtenstein, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Wales v Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Andrey Arshavin sat out Russia's 3-0 win over Liechtenstein through injury but will be hoping to feature in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Arshavin captained his nation to a 3-1 victory in Cardiff – claiming an assist for the opening goal - as Russia guaranteed themselves a top-two finish in World Cup qualifying Group Four. Their match-up with Germany in Moscow next month will have a huge impact on deciding who tops the group.

Wojciech Szczesny
Poland 1-1 Northern Ireland, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Slovenia v Poland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9

Wojciech Szczesny didn't feature as Poland drew with Northern Ireland and then lost 3-0 to Slovenia in Group Three

Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs
Macedonia 1-2 England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Greece 1-1 England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 8
Jack Wilshere won the penalty from which Lee Cattermole scored England's winner. Kieran Gibbs played the 90 minutes while Wilshere came on with 18 minutes to play.
Gibbs and Wilshere then both played 90 minutes as England Under-21s secured a 1-1 draw in Greece. England took the lead five minutes in courtesy of Daniel Sturridge but Greece equalised with 40 minutes played, Sotiris Ninis' shot deflecting in off Gibbs.

Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast 5-0 Burkina Faso, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Emmanuel Eboue played 90 minutes as Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 5-0 to continue their 100 per cent start to Group E in the final round of World Cup Qualifying in Africa.

Arsenal youngsters celebrate a pre-season strike

'The lads are grasping the new formation'

When Arsenal's Carling Cup kids step out at Emirates Stadium this month, don't be surprised if they slot seamlessly into Arsène Wenger's new formation.

The manager has adopted a 4-3-3 system this season and the switch has already paid dividends with emphatic wins over Everton, Celtic and Portsmouth in the bag. The new formation has given Arsenal a solid base in midfield and allows their attack-minded players more freedom to create scoring opportunities.

Of course where Wenger leads, the rest of the Club follows. That's why the Frenchman is not the only one instilling new ideas into his players on the training pitches at London Colney. Neil Banfield's Reserve team have also embraced 4-3-3 and Steve Bould has adopted the same formation at Academy level.

Banfield's boys have started impressively, recording two emphatic wins in the Reserve League South. And the second-string boss has explained why the young Gunners must come to terms with Wenger's new policy before the Carling Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion on September 22.

"We always take our lead off the manager and how he wants to play tactically," Banfield told Arsenal.com.

"The manager at the moment has decided to play 4-3-3. He may change, but he feels that through the Club he wants the Reserves and the Under-18s to play that way under me and Steve [Bould] so we have continuity.

"That means when he picks someone we know they've got half an idea of what's expected of them. So they are not going in blind, they are aware of their responsibilities, offensively and defensively.

"It takes time, patience and work on the training ground, and walking it through with them. We've gone from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and people start to think 'well, that's not a big change', but sometimes it is for some of these lads.

"They need to know what their responsibilities are on the pitch, what they have to do in certain situations, and it takes a little bit of time. But I think they are grasping it at the moment."

International Watch: World Cup Qualifiers

A host of Arsenal stars were on show for their countries in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches over the weekend, and many have more matches in midweek. Below is a comprehensive list of what our globetrotting Gunners have been doing.

Nicklas Bendtner
Denmark 1-1 Portugal, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Denmark v Sweden, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Nicklas Bendtner scored Denmark's goal in their home draw with Portugal. The Arsenal striker controlled a diagonal pass with his chest and then finished brilliantly with his left foot. The Danes are still top of their qualifying group and will be looking to extend their lead on Wednesday with victory over Sweden.

Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Gael Clichy
France 1-1 Romania, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Serbia v France, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Following Saturday's draw with Romania, France no longer control their destiny in Group Seven. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna both played 90 minutes for Les Bleus, but there was no involvement for Abou Diaby or Gael Clichy.
Former Gunner Thierry Henry got the goal for France. A win against Group leaders Serbia on Wednesday will ensure at least a Play-Off place for France.

Cesc Fabregas
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Spain v Estonia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Cesc Fabregas was a second-half substitute as Spain hit five past Belgium. The European champions are assured of at least an appearance in the Play-Offs. They are currently six points ahead of second-place Bosnia with three games to play in Group Five.

Thomas Vermaelen
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Armenia v Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Belgium's hopes of reaching the World Cup Finals were dealt a massive blow on Saturday as they went down 5-0 in Spain. Thomas Vermaelen played 90 minutes in the game. Should Bosnia defeat Turkey on Wednesday then Belgium will be unable to qualify for South Africa.

Philippe Senderos
Switzerland 2-0 Greece, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Latvia v Switzerland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Switzerland opened up a three-point gap at the top of Group Two with a 2-0 win over Greece. Philippe Senderos was an unused substitute as the Swiss left it late, with two goals in the last 10 minutes. A win over Lativa on Wednesday would put Switzerland in a strong position to qualify.

Tomas Rosicky
Slovakia 2-2 Czech Republic, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Czech Republic v San Marino, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Czech Republic are struggling in Group Three after only managing a draw against group leaders Slovakia, leaving the Czechs seven points off the pace with just three games remaining. A Play-Off place is perhaps a more realistic target for Tomas Rosicky and his international team-mates. Though they are five points behind second place, they still have to play both Northern Ireland (second) and Poland (third) before the end of the qualifying stage. Rosicky missed the match through injury.

Eduardo
Croatia 1-0 Belarus, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
England v Croatia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Croatia closed the gap on England to four points with a 1-0 win over Belarus. Eduardo started the match and was brought off with eight minutes remaining. A win at Wembley on Wednesday would put the pressure on England to win their game-in-hand.

Robin van Persie
Netherlands 3-0 Japan, Friendly, September 5
Scotland v Netherlands, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Robin van Persie scored the Netherlands’ second as they defeated Japan 3-0 in a friendly match on Saturday.
The Netherlands are the only European nation to have already won their qualification group and are currently 14 points ahead of Macedonia and Scotland in Group Nine. They complete their qualification fixtures with a trip to Scotland on Wednesday.

Aaron Ramsey
Wales 2-1 Italy, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Wales v Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Aaron Ramsey scored the winner as Wales beat Italy 2-1 to continue their good start to qualifying for the 2011 European Under-21 Championship. Ramsey took the corner from which Christian Ribeiro opened the scoring. Having seen Italy equalise, Ramsey fired home a volley midway through the second half.
Ramsey will now join up with the senior Wales squad for a World Cup qualifier against Russia next Wednesday. Wales' chances of qualifying are slim, and anything but a win would render it impossible for John Toshack's side to make it to South Africa.

Alex Song
Gabon 0-2 Cameroon, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Cameroon v Gabon, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Alex Song didn't feature for Cameroon as they defeated Gabon 2-0 on Saturday. Another three points from the return fixture on Wednesday could see Cameroon go top of Group A.

Andrey Arshavin
Russia 3-0 Liechtenstein, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Wales v Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Andrey Arshavin sat out Russia's 3-0 win over Liechtenstein through injury but will be hoping to feature in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast 5-0 Burkina Faso, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Emmanuel Eboue played 90 minutes as Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 5-0 to continue their 100 per cent start to Group E in the final round of World Cup Qualifying in Africa.

Wojciech Szczesny
Poland 1-1 Northern Ireland, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Slovenia v Poland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Wojciech Szczesny didn't feature as Poland drew with Northern Ireland in Group Three.

Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs
Macedonia 2-1 England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Greece v England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 8
Jack Wilshere won the penalty from which Lee Cattermole scored England's winner. Kieran Gibbs played the 90 minutes while Wilshere came on with 18 minutes to play.
England now travel to Greece for a game on Tuesday. The Greeks have already played two games, and won them both, so it will be a tough test for Gunners Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere.