Morning all.
The fans. In the tone of Craig Revel-Horwood – FAB-U-LOUS! Seriously, you’d have thought we were playing at The Emirates rather than Craven Cottage.
Mikel Arteta on if he would have been chanting with our away supporters…
I would be singing with them to support the team, that’s for sure! They’ve been exceptional, the amount of people that are coming here, their attitude, their passion and the energy that they’re putting in is incredible. We’re going to need that and that’s a game-changer for us, so thank you.
On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s team were just as good. The first half was superb with only one team in the contest. Fulham are having a very good season but yesterday, certainly during the first 45 minutes, I don’t think they knew what had hit them.
When the squad was announced, there was the surprise return of Leandro Trossard and the news we’ve all been waiting for, Gabriel Jesus was back in the squad.
Starting 11: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Jesus
After a bit of keep ball, Arsenal were in. An exchange of passes between Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka and our Brazilian winger was past his man and popping a shot at the Fulham goal. Leno saved it but his clearance hit Robinson and then the back of the net. Martinelli was rightly ruled offside.
Corner after corner followed, the third of which saw us go ahead. Leandro Trossard supplied the cross, Gabriel headed past Leno. Our second came soon after. Another header, another Gabriel but this time it was Martinelli. The goal started with William Saliba who played an outrageously good ball out from the back to Leandro Trossard. The Belgian crossed and Martinelli did the rest.
Then came a move which nearly, so very nearly, ended with a goal which would have been in contention for goal of the season in my opinion. Odegaard, Trossard and Xhaka were all involved – Odegaard to Xhaka, a dummy, then Trossard again with a ball to Xhaka and he looked certain to score but was so unlucky when his final touch was a tad heavy. Lucky for Leno, talking of which, our old keeper was called into action again, this time by Martinelli.
Just before half-time, Martin Odegaard made it 3-0. Leandro Trossard totted up a hat-trick of assists by setting up our captain. Talk about Mr Cool, one touch, two touch and then bang, Leno was beaten.
Fulham were better in the second half, or we dropped off a bit but it didn’t matter as the hard work had already been done. More Arsenal goals would have boosted our goal difference but we’re back in action on Thursday so perhaps a bit of energy preservation was going on. Martinelli, Odegaard, Nelson and even Jesus late on had opportunities, the best perhaps falling to the latter. Now that would have been the perfect way to announce his return.
The best Fulham managed was a Mitrovic header which rattled the crossbar and a couple of shots which Aaron Ramsdale saved well.
- Mikel Arteta chalked up win number 100.
- Leandro Trossard made Premier League history by becoming the first player to record a hat-trick of assists in the first half of an away game.
- Arsenal won their fifth London Derby away from home without conceding a goal. No club has done that before.
All in all, it was a really good day for Arsenal as the women won their match later in the day too. Plus, Casemiro was sent off yet again so he’ll miss Utd’s next three matches and better still, his team dropped two points at home.
Two more fixtures for Mikel Arteta’s team this week and then it’s the international break.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, I think after a second straight red card it’s a four match ban. His loss for half the remaining games will seriously hurt Man. U.
I read four as well but whatever it will hurt them I just wish it was Fernandes purely because I detest the man.
First half yesterday we were sublime and second half we definitely dropped off , I wonder what Arteta said at half time ? Were we conserving or is their still a mental block against stuffing a team out of sight.
I said the other day that I married into a Fulham supporting family , they have been remarkably silent since the end of the game although I have to say my wife is now converted .
It’s taken long enough.
Morning Cicero, Potter, all.
Four? Even better then.
All good things come to those who wait Potter..
Now we need to put Liverpool behind bars and get some thing out of man city game to clear the ground for the rest of the season, We have to take all the remaining games as serious as a cup final bcz the anaconda is behind us and they can follow you up to the last match.
win our next match and we will be 8 points clear of Man City although it means we have played 1 more than them it will still put the pressure on even more.
Breaking news! Tottenham sack manager.
Tottenham Women that is.
Do you think that Pochettino will apply ?
He seems to be the fans favourite.
Pochettino like Kane, wants to win a least one trophy, They won’t do that at Spuds.
I think the Kane situation is similar to RvP, ie, he’ll end up at Utd. He’ll get even more penalties up there..l
He must be getting worried that Haaland will get his penalty record.
I bet Potter.
New post up