Gunners miss Cole for Fulham clash

Arsenal were without suspended England left-back Ashley Cole for the Premiership clash with Fulham at Highbury.

Gael Clichy deputised and manager Arsene Wenger made three other changes from the team that beat Portsmouth before Christmas.

Dennis Bergkamp, Francesc Fabregas and Freddie Ljungberg while Robin van Persie and Mathieu Flamini were relegated to the substitutes’ bench.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman included three strikers in his line-up. Right-back Liam Rosenior was replaced by the more experienced ex-Gunner Moritz Volz while, surprisingly, midfielders Steed Malbranque and Sylvain Legwinski had to settle for a place on the bench.

Coleman added more punch to his forward line with Collins John and Tomasz Radzinski partnering captain Andy Cole.