Arsenal went to the top of the Premiership
with this victory, but Arsène Wenger's team were pushed all the way
by their London rivals and the two late goals they scored made it a flattering
result.
The match looked to be heading for a draw after Fulham's Steed Malbranque
had equalised Fredrik Ljungberg's early goal, but Thierry Henry and Dennis
Bergkamp struck in the final eight minutes to secure the crucial away victory
that allowed Arsenal to take advantage of the failures by Bolton and Manchester
United. Fulham started brightly. They were both quick in thought and quick
to the ball. John Collins and Sean Davis being particularly busy in midfield
and making Ray Parlour look just a little bit slow.
Their tidy football was reminiscent of Ipswich last season and suggested
that they might be the West London club that claims a Champions' League
place. Sweet revenge for Mohamed Fayed who invested in Fulham only after
being rebuffed by Ken Bates.
It was pretty and simple but not effective. And when Arsenal stirred themselves
round about the quarter-hour mark there could be only one result. Arsenal's
first goal was scrappy. Robert Pires passing to Henry whose shot was headed
by Kit Symons standing on the six-yard line straight to an unmarked Ljungberg.
Having taken the lead Arsenal had several chances to double it. There was
a brisk move down the right as Lauren passed to Henry who crossed straight
across the front of the goal to Francis Jeffers making his debut and standing
a yard in front of an open goal. Flail as he might he somehow failed to
make contact with the ball.
Minutes later a shot involving minimal backlift but astonishing power from
Henry could only be parried by Edwin Van Der Sar and the alert Jeffers nearly
made amends.
As for Fulham, their best hope lay in an Arsenal player being sent off and
levelling the playing field. Patrick Vieira was the first to be booked,
after eight minutes, for a foul on Louis Saha. Martin Keown the next for
a foul and Saha. And Lauren the third for breaking the trend and fouling
Luis Boa Morte.
None of them were bad fouls but all of them looked eminently repeatable.
But then a surprise. Three minutes into the second half Boa Morte barrelled
down the right, brushing aside Ashley Cole, and passed accurately for Malbranque
to score from eight yards. Steed the Avenger, indeed.
Suddenly Arsenal seemed discomforted. Cole looked dodgy, Keown had his hand
in the air appealing for impossible offsides. If this is to be the England
defence, expect plenty of goals.
It looked certain that Arsenal would gain a creditable four points from
consecutive trips to West London but now everything was up for grabs. And
Fulham looked the more grabby. A Collins cross was headed goalwards by Sylvain
Legwinski and David Seaman kept the ball out with his inner thigh.
Fulham's urgency threatened to blunt the previously incisive Arsenal. If
Davis had been a tad taller they would have scored after a round of head
ball in the Arsenal area.
Steve Marlet, Fulham's record signing, came on and Bergkamp replaced a fading
Jeffers. Fulham pressed forward. A Sol Campbell mistake nearly let in Saha.
Arsenal look rattled but they got away with it and when they went forward
Ljungberg's through ball was met by a perfectly placed shot from Henry.
Then in injury time Sylvan Wiltord set up Bergkamp. For their second-half
efforts Fulham deserved better. Against less talented or less fortunate
teams they will surely receive it. They could yet be this season's Ipswich.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Brevett, Symons, Melville, Finnan, Collins,
Davis, Malbranque, Legwinski (Marlet 71min), Boa Morte (Hayles 87min), Saha
Arsenal: Seaman, Cole, Campbell, Keown, Lauren, Pires (Wiltord 80min),
Vieira, Parlour, Ljungberg, Henry (Grimandi 83min), Jeffers (Bergkamp 74min)
Booked: Vieira 7, Keown 17, Lauren 29, Parlour 58, Legwinski 61,
Boa Morte 80, Symons 89
Att: 20,805 Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood). |