Arsenal (3) 4 Fulham (1) 1
In bobsleighing parlance, this was France 1 against France 2 – a confrontation
between Arsène Wenger's sophisticated troops and Jean Tigana's barmy-army.
to maintain their interest in the Premiership race.
With so many Gallic faces on show, it was perhaps inevitable that the headlines
would be made in France. And so it proved, as four of the goals were scored
by French internationals, while the other was netted by a French-speaking Cameroonian.
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Luis Boa Morte returns to first team
action at his first English club
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That is not to say that this was the classiest of Continental displays, but Arsenal
will just be pleased to have secured the three points. Before yesterday, they
had often struggled to impose themselves in matches at Highbury this season. Perhaps
this is because the Gunners often sit deep, looking to play on the break like
the visiting team. The ploy can be a risky one, not least because of Arsenal's
continuing defensive frailties, but against Fulham they were simply too strong.
"Every time we won the ball back," Wenger said, "we were dangerous.
Our movement out from the back was exceptional. I'm delighted."
Nothing will have given the Arsenal manager more pleasure than the sight of
one particular battle-hardened soldier coming through 90 minutes of League football.
Following a lengthy lay-off due to a shoulder injury, old pony-tail was back
in goal at Highbury. David Seaman, himself, will be relieved to have resumed
his career, not least because his World Cup place hinges on performances in
the next two months. England still need his craft and experience, but even the
patient Sven Goran Eriksson can not afford to wait much longer before deciding
on his first-choice goalkeeper.
Not that the 38-year-old had much to do in the opening exchanges. Just as the
filthy pre-match weather was clearing, Arsenal played a delightful move to open
the scoring. Fashioned in Holland and France – courtesy of a three-way interchange
of passes between Giovanni van Bronkhorst, Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord –
the goal was expertly tucked away by the Cameroon international Lauren. Time,
the fans must have thought, for Arsenal to complete a comfortable home win.
Au contraire, mon cher Mr Wenger. Within six minutes of claiming the lead,
Arsenal's often shaky defence was once again undone by the simplest of goals.
Rufus Brevett was given the freedom of Highbury to launch a deep cross, which
the totally unmarked Steve Marlet needed only to nod past the hapless Seaman.
Game on, then.
Au contraire, mon cher Mr Tigana. The crowd had barely been given time to settle
when Henry latched on to a sloppy back-pass from Brevett, before taking one
touch and then executing the perfect reverse pass for Patrick Vieira. The Arsenal
captain had no trouble in picking his spot from 16 yards. The home team should
have gone further ahead midway through the first half after Oleg Luzhny had
picked out Lauren's run at the near post. Lauren, playing in the Arsenal midfield,
hit an instinctive right-foot shot, but Edwin van der Sar saved well with his
legs.
| Match
Stats |
Arsenal |
Fulham |
| Goal
attempts |
15 |
6 |
| On
Target |
10 |
5 |
| Hit
woodwork |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
19 |
14 |
| Offsides |
4 |
1 |
| Corners |
6 |
5 |
| Yellows |
0 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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The Fulham keeper could do nothing seven minutes before half-time, though,
as Arsenal extended their lead thanks to a familiar source. Having guided him
through the early stages of his career, Tigana knows all about Henry's ability
to use his pace to turn defenders. Pity Andy Melville had not done his homework,
as the League's top scorer skipped past the Welsh international and buried his
shot into the bottom of the net. "He's always been an incredible talent,"
said Tigana, who coached Henry at Monaco in the early Nineties. "He was
absolutely outstanding today."
As is so often the case when a team has a comfortable lead, Lady Luck then
lent a further helping hand. Robert Pires found Lauren at the far post with
a pin-point cross, which the recently crowned African Nations' champion headed
over Van der Sar but on to the post. Henry was quickest to react, although he
knew little about the rebound that hit his knee before hitting the back of the
net. Henry accepted the plaudits, but not before shaking his head in pleasant
disbelief.
Such was Arsenal's domination that they could even afford to bring on Jeremie
Aliadière for his Premiership debut. The 18-year-old Frenchman was poached
from his country's Federation in 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the hottest
French prospects. "If you don't give a kid his chance when you are 4-1
up, then when will you do it?" Wenger asked. "He will never forget
this day."
Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Stepanovs, Luzhny, Pires (Grimandi 73),
Vieira, Parlour, van Bronckhorst (Dixon 43), Wiltord, Henry (Aliadiere 81).
Subs Not Used: Edu, Wright.
Goals: Lauren 5, Vieira 15, Henry 38, 59.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Goma, Melville, Knight (Boa Morte 56), Brevett
(Harley 63), Legwinski, Malbranque, Collins, Hayles (Saha 61), Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Ouaddou.
Booked: Goma(56, foul).
Goals: Marlet 10.
Att: 38,029 Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).