Fulham vs. Arsenal: 5 Things We Learned from the Gunners' Loss

In absolutely crushing fashion, Arsenal lost to Fulham, 2-1, at Craven Cottage.

In yet another game that Arsenal needed to win to keep pace with their rivals, they succumbed to defeat yet again. It was really one of those matches where I wish I weren't so emotionally invested in the team.

Granted, both of the Cottagers' goals came after the sending off of Johan Djourou, but it was still an extremely disappointing performance from the Arsenal. Dare I say it almost resembled many of last year's failures against supposedly lower opposition.

But fortunately, there are many more matches to be played, and we will just have to get on with it, starting with next Monday's FA Cup tie against Leeds United.

There are lessons to be taken from a defeat like this one, and these are five things we learned from an absolutely infuriating game of football.

I know, I know. I sound like a typical Arsenal supporter, always blaming our hardships on the officials. Hear me out, though.

Arsenal were denied a clear penalty when our old pal, Philippe Senderos, tripped Gervinho in the box, countless free-kicks were not given and in one instance, John Arne Riise actually pushed Johan Djourou off the pitch with both hands in order to win a ball back.

And this happens in almost every game.

But the biggest decision that went against Arsenal was Djourou's second yellow card, which was given after the Swiss barely put his hand on Bobby Zamora, causing the latter to tumble to the ground like he had been shot.

Arsenal are good, but when the other team constantly gets the help of the officials, it's like playing against a team with 14 or 15 men—in other words, completely unfair.

I had hoped after Arsene Wenger finally spent money at the end of the summer transfer window that I would never have to accost him for not doing so again.

Sadly, I may have been wrong.

It was apparent against Fulham that Arsenal have little depth, as an obviously tired side was forced to lumber around the pitch against a much quicker opponent. Rather than rotating, Wenger knew he had to play all of his regulars, as tired as they were, in order to have any chance of winning the match.

And late in the game, there was no one Arsenal could bring on besides Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun to have any sort of impact off the bench.

For a club of the Arsenal's stature, this is simply pathetic. Hopefully, Wenger will have some sense knocked into him again and realize that he must spend to make his "big" squad stronger by acquiring someone like the pictured Lukas Podolski.

After all, how big is your squad really when you don't want to use all but a few of your players?

While Arsenal are missing many of their top players, including Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere, it is clear that no one is more crucial than Bacary Sagna.

Time and time again, Johan Djourou, Sagna's replacement at right back, was torched by John Arne Riise or any of a number of Fulham wingers. He has looked very awkward on the right all season, and his poor play has hurt the Gunners time and time again.

His discomfort contributed to his sending off, and it sapped much of the energy from many Arsenal attacks, as Djourou is not much of an asset going forward. Plus, it forced Theo Walcott to track back and assist in defence, which the Englishman failed miserably at.

Sagna can attack, and Arsenal sorely need the defensive solidity he brings to the right back position. His return, more than that of any other player, is needed desperately.

If 2012 is really set to be the "Year of the Ox," why can't the young Oxlade-Chamberlain get any playing time when his services are desperately required?

Midway through the second half, Arsenal were beginning to lose all sense of attacking direction, and the Gunners lacked any potency at all. Yet, for some reason, Wenger decided to first throw on Tomas Rosicky, and then Yossi Benayoun to add bite to the front line.

Needless to say, both moves failed.

That makes the fact that Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn't even on the bench extremely perplexing. His speed and dynamism were exactly what the Gunners needed to kick start their attack and get a crucial second goal that would have probably put the game away.

Yet, for some reason, the manager continues to persist with stale options instead of the fresh, hungry one. I, like many, am completely flummoxed.

It is sometimes lost among all the talk of Robin van Persie's contract that Theo Walcott's expires at the same time. And, based on Walcott's performance today, it is easy to see why he is often overlooked.

Capping off a string of lackluster performances lately, the Englishman put in a real stinker against Fulham. He seemed intent on letting Riise motor past him constantly, waste several attacks and put almost all his crosses well off target.

I have more faith in Walcott than do many others, but it is getting harder for me to believe in him with every passing game. It seems that his game is still reliant on pace alone, and his lack of any consistent skill in other areas is what is preventing Arsene Wenger from letting him play in his preferred central role.

Walcott's form is yet another reason why Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to be given more chances; perhaps if a hungry young talent is nipping at his heels, Walcott will step up his game.

If he does not improve and is subsequently let go during the summer, it will be no real tragedy, either. In Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal have a player who is already more polished than Walcott is.

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