Boys are back in town..

With a number of must win games to play in only a short period of time, Mikel Arteta had to make some sensible changes for yesterday’s game against Fulham. In came Myles Lewis-Skelly into midfield,  Calafiori into left-back supporting and possibly rotating with Myles, whilst upfront Bakayo Saka and Leo Trossard brought their fresh legs to the party. The Fulham manager Marco Silva had proven to be a thorn in the side of Arsenal teams in the past so I wasn’t expecting an easy, open game. But that’s exactly what we kind of got, well the open bit anyway.

After only 2 minutes and following great work by Myles who drove forward, yes not sideways, forwards and found Trossard who then blasted his low hard drive just wide. Leo didn’t score again but he put in one hell of a 90+ minute shift, with some of his close control and ability to spin in zero space leaving opponents marking fresh air, it was good to see him back to his best. Great to have you back Leo!

Arsenal continued to press forward with Saka showing some dazzling close control, his quick feet and body swerve left US international Robinson on his butt around the 9th minute and his low cross evaded Leno and was poked home by a delighted Gyokeres. The crowd went bananas. 5 minutes later more great work by Saka set up Trossard but he again fired wide, but he was getting closer. Fulham were pretty much second best throughout this period, I’m not suggesting that they were ‘on the beach’ it’s just that Arsenal were in the zone.

Arsenal continued to press for their 2nd goal and around 26 Gyokeres got off a shot that was blocked by an increasingly desperate Fulham defence with Saka firing the rebound wide when he probably should have tucked it away. 29 minutes and more mayhem in the Fulham defence saw Calafiori head home but he was agonisingly offside. Still the home crowd encouraged by the teams performance kept up the support. As the clock ticked towards half-time we couldn’t help thinking that we should probably have had a 3-0 lead by now.

Then on 40 minutes we finally got some breathing space when following some thoughtful movement and control by Gyokeres he played in Saka who was in the space Viktor created after slowing down and drawing two defenders to him. Bakayo outfoxed Leno and drove a blistering shot into the near post of the goal. We thoroughly deserved that and probably more because this team doesn’t always enjoy the fruits of its labour.

From then on it was like 2023/24 with the red hordes swarming all over the Cottagers. Great work by Saka on 44 and our new inside forward Saliba almost set up our new striker Gabriel on the far post, the teams movement was mesmerising.

As the clock hit 45 minutes Ricardo Calafiori won the ball and put in Eze whose only thought was to get forward and try to score, his low drive thundered just wide of the post. We needed the cherry on the cake and Saka almost presented it to Fulham as he under-hit his pass inside to Gabriel and it looked like curtains for us but the King of Brazil was in regal form and simply brushed aside the challenge from the Fulham pleb.

Big Gabby found the impressive Trossard who drove into the box before delivering a delicious cross to Gyokeres who deftly headed the ball back over the stranded Leno for his 21st goal of the season, that was more like it people. Half-Time 3-0

Silva must have got into his team at half time as they came out with his words ringing in their ears and along with I suspect Arsenal playing a more circumspect half of football (with Tuesday on our minds) it became less entertaining and more of a battle.

Madueke replaced Bakayo at the break which made perfect sense. Jimenez drew first blood with a long range drive that had Raya scurrying as it went high and wide. But despite Fulham’s increased efforts the Gunners came close again on 56 as Trossard, again, put in Gyokeres but Leno did well to save. Arsenal settled into a more containing pattern saving energy and occasionally threatening the visitors, just to keep them in their place.

Silva made three changes and Arteta did likewise on 64 as Zubimendi came on for Rice and Jesus for Gyokeres, sensible substitutions! On 72 Castagne had a shot on target but Raya saved it without too much fuss. Fulham were still trying to spoil the party and we did miss the presence and physicality of Gyokeres up front because Jesus just hasn’t got it anymore – also we so miss Merino.

Dowman came on for the impressive Eze on 78 and Mosquera replaced the tiring Ben White on 83. Ben had worked tirelessly but still had that tendency to look for the safe ball inside and backwards when a forward pass was on and apparently he copped some frustrations from the crowd, which was sad. But overall he had a decent game and got forward generally a lot more like the old Ben.

Arsenal were in full ‘clean sheet’ mode as we entered the last 10 minutes and Fulham were just too impotent in attack so the Gunners managed the game competently and Max had some fun. On 80: from a corner it looked as if we’d got our 4th as Calafiori got up to head the ball on target but his effort inadvertently defected off of the bonce of Leno and over the bar. On 85 Dowman facing his own goal around the halfway line spun and left his marker marking nobody, then Max did what he does best and in true Kaka style he was off on a run at goal holding off the attentions of a Fulham defender who was lolling all over him. Max evaded the other white shirts and just put his shot wide, what a shame.

It was the first time this season that Arsenal had held a 3-0 half-time lead, it was also an indication that the team was rediscovering its best form at just the right time.

We March On.

By Kev