Arsenal vs Fulham preview - Gunners reliant on Robin's goals

Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal are currently "reliant" on the goals of in-form captain Robin van Persie - but maintains the Gunners are far from a one-man team.

The Holland forward netted a brace in the midweek Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund to take his tally to 17 as Arsenal secured safe passage through to the last 16 as group winners.

Van Persie, 28, has enjoyed a superb 2011, breaking the 30-goal barrier for the calendar year with another double in last week's win at Norwich.

Despite the Dutchman's red hot form, Wenger maintains there are others who can wade in with the goals as he prepares for Saturday's visit of Fulham, when Arsenal will look to record a sixth-straight Premier League win.

"Robin is top, top, top in the world at the moment. Hopefully we can keep him going," Wenger said.

"He is in a period where he shows it is natural for him to score goals. When you are not desperate for goals, you score.

"We are reliant on Robin, of course, because he scores many goals, and that is always a problem when you have when someone is playing extremely well.

"However, I believe that players like Gervinho, [Theo] Walcott, [Andrey] Arshavin and [Aaron] Ramsey will score goals as well, but at the moment they are more in the providing zone.

"I am confident that in the near future, some others will score goals as well."

Wenger added: "We have [Marouane] Chamakh and Park Ju-Young, who I think are quality, but at the moment they are not getting the opportunities because Robin is in such fantastic form.

"It will be up to them to show they can take the relay when needed because the season is long and we play in many competitions, hopefully for a long time. Everybody will get a chance."

Wenger, though, maintains it is up to the likes of Arshavin, who was an unused substitute in midweek, to force their way back into contention.

"I feel sorry for every player who does not play, but competition is part of our job," he said.

"You must accept that in some periods of your career somebody can get in front of you."

Despite requesting Holland not to play van Persie in the second of their recent internationals, Wenger understands he cannot simply wrap Arsenal's talisman striker in cotton wool.

"You have to accept the gamble and the risk," the Gunners boss said.

"We had periods with Thierry Henry going through stages like this, it is the same.

"Risk is part of the game and enjoyment demands risk. You have to just play full through it and that's life. That is part of sport.

Arsenal have dedicated the match to their global charity partner Save the Children.

Players will be donating a day's wages along with many Arsenal staff to help raise funds, while 50p from each programme sale will also go to the charity and there will be collection buckets - some manned by "mystery guests" - for supporters to give what they can.

Midfielder Thomas Rosicky (thigh) could be in contention after missing out against his old club Borussia Dortmund in midweek while Laurent Koscielny is set to continue at right-back in the absence of Carl Jenkinson (back) and Bacary Sagna (ankle).

Martin Jol insists Fulham can get something the match, but knows they must find a way to shackle Van Persie to stand any chance.

Jol was quick to praise his compatriot, but believes Fulham can cause an upset in north London.

"The priority is to defend well but still play with confidence and belief," Jol said. "I think we have done that in our last three or four away games.

"We have kept a clean sheet three times so we have some confidence of doing that [again]. I think we are always capable of creating a few chances.

"Of course they have their strengths, but they also have their weaknesses like any other team.

"The other night Borussia Dortmund did well against them but Arsenal have the quality now with Van Persie, he is the one scoring the goals and has a hell of a record.

"They play in a specific style with two wing players, Van Persie up front and three midfielders - two attacking, one sitting. That has changed a bit from a couple of years ago when van Persie was a lower number 10 or second striker.

"They are playing with a lot of possession and of course they have a lot of talent in the team, but they still have to rotate at the back. Hopefully we can exploit the space we get.

"In any game we will get chances, so if we can do the same we did against Wigan, where we scored two goals out of three or four attempts, then we can always get a result."

Jol will be without several first-team players. Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff is out with a calf problem, while international team-mate Stephen Kelly is also sidelined with a thigh injury.

Although John Arne Riise returns after missing last week's clash at Sunderland due to the birth of his son, Steve Sidwell, Zdenek Grygera, Orlando Sa and Simon Davies are all missing.