Fulham 0-3 Arsenal. 5 Things

1. The Fixture

Just 42 days after Arsenal’s FA Cup win and 14 days after our Charity Shield victory. The Gunner’s most recent games have felt like spread out days of glory. Can every match finish with a trophy and a mark in history? It’s been enjoyable. But it’s time to get back to reality, and the ups and downs of a season long campaign.

The Fans would have liked to start the season with a home tie, but as away games go, they won’t get much easier than a trip across London to Craven Cottage. Out of the last 20 times we have visited Fulham, we have only lost four times. Last time the sides met in the midst of a drab period we managed a convincing 4-1 victory over the Cottagers. Arteta has shown he has the tactical know-how to undo the most ambitious team. Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea have all fallen victim. The test now is to show we can overcome teams without the winning ambition; the teams that will sit back and soak it up.

 

2. Added Value of Confidence Boost?

Laccazette’s future has been is still up in the air with plenty of paper stories linking him to a move away from the Emirates. He’s at a good selling age, and if the club are looking to raise funds without crippling the team, he appears an OK option. Having said that, he has made a significant contribution to the team in terms of both goals and work rate. Arsenal’s other strikers haven’t really taken the chances given to them. If he leaves, they would need to go into the market themselves to replace the attacker. Either way, a goal together raises his price tag and his confidence.

Fulham enjoy a couple of minute’s possession, and a decent passage of play sees them make it all the way to Leno, who makes a comfortable save. The keeper places the ball on the ground, and the game begins. Arsenal work the ball around the back line and through midfield. Despite Arsenal’s attempt to pull Fulham out of position, they are well positioned when Elneny has the ball in their half. The Egyptian has plenty of space and attempts a long ball over the top to Aubameyang. A Fulham defender competes for the high ball. They both miss the ball, and it runs wide for Auba to collect near the by-line. The striker cuts the ball back for Xhaka, who hits a fairly poor attempt on goal. It’s straight at a defender who can’t sort his legs out in time and fumbles the ball to Willian. Our new signing has little time to shoot before the keeper is there to smother it, and the ball rolls out to Lacazette’s feet, he eagerly accepts the gift and thumps the ball into the net from about a yard out.

 

3. A Goal for Our New Leader

The messiah, the saviour, Arsenal’s missing link. For any defensive player we buy, the global pressure is huge. Gabriel even credited the fan base for having an important impact on him signing for the club. A clean sheet and a goal for our new guy will do little to dampen expectations. Willian has also been impressive today, and he provides the assist for his fellow newbie.

Rob Holding wins a bouncing ball and produces an outrageous run, mimicking and surpassing Tony Yaboah, as he juggles the ball and dances past defenders then coolly lays the ball off to Lacazette out wide. The Frenchman’s cross is blocked for a corner. Willian takes it and produces an out-swinging ball from the right that drops directly on Gabriel’s head, in the middle of the goal, six-yards out. It’s not the cleanest of connections, but he simply walked to the front of the queue of players and headed the ball down and through the keeper’s legs.

 

4. Score-Rinse-Repeat

If Arsenal have scored two without Aubameyang, you can bet your house he’ll get the third. On 57 minutes, our star-striker completes the rout. The goal looks familiar and almost mirrors identically a goal scored against Liverpool.  The forward hasn’t signed his contract yet. But, if you’ve found a manager that has a formula for keeping you in the goals, surely you would stay.  

The move starts from a goal-kick taken short to Gabriel, standing wide of the 18-yard box. He passes to Xhaka, who orchestrates a series of passes between the goalkeeper and defensive players along the back-line. Arsenal then break the press and have eight against four Fulham players in the opposition half. Willian picks up the ball and swings it out to Aubameyang. He controls it with his chest, takes a couple of touches to move inside, and curls the ball into the top corner.

 

5. The Goalkeepers

Leno or Martinez? Overall, both of them are probably the best keepers we’ve had since Lehman wore the gloves. The Argentine seems more relaxed on the ball and more commanding in the mayhem of aerial bombardment. Leno, on the overhand, is very impressive on one-on-ones. If a striker is bearing down on goal, it’s the German you want in between the sticks.

The more marketable player of the pair is Leno. Rumours of a £16 million bid accepted will do little to please the fans. £16 million for Martinez or £30 million for Leno?  Conspiracy theorist are suggesting a Bayern Munich style Gnabry-gate, which would see Martinez move to Aston Villa briefly before securing a move to Chelsea. Given the keeper’s age, and relatively low profile, it seems a bit farfetched.