Arsenal (3) 4 -1 (0) Fulham
Home form, as Arsène Wenger pointed out last week, will be the making
or breaking of Arsenal's season. Highbury, where life has been peculiarly uncomfortable
throughout this Premiership campaign, a familiar air of conviction returned
with impeccable timing; at the stage of the season Wenger described as 'the
moment of truth'.
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Fulham Boss Tigana faces up to the difference between
top and middle clubs in the Premiership
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Those home truths could have been very different given that Wenger was forced
to field another makeshift team from his injury and suspension-blighted squad.
The sight of two of their least reliable performers, Igors Stepanovs and Oleg
Luzhny, taking the field might have put an element of doubt into Arsenal minds,
but against a strangely unmotivated Fulham, it was not a problem. Their French
contingent saw to that.
Never mind a matter of London pride, this was more like a French derby, with no
fewer than eight of the managers' compatriots in the starting line-ups. It was
first blood to Arsenal, only five minutes elapsing before Lauren finished a slick
passing move. The goal might have come from Africa, but it was made,unmistakably,
in France.
Robert Pires, the architect behind so much of Arsenal's creation this season,
led the way with a dynamic dribble and perceptive pass to Thierry Henry. In
a flash the ball was helped on to Sylvain Wiltord, who picked out Lauren's surge
into the six-yard box. The Cameroon player, making his first Premiership start
after a month away earning his second African Cup of Nations winner's medal,
prodded in.
As is so often the case this season, Arsenal's capacity to undermine their attacking
brio with lapses of defensive reason hit them where it hurt. Rufus Brevett measured
a cross towards the far post, where Sol Campbell and Giovanni van Bronckhorst
seemed to ball watch in slow motion, granting Steve Marlet time to light a Gitane
before aiming for goal. One gentle leap and nod of the head later, the ball was
nestling in the corner of David Seaman's net. That first 10 minutes encapsulated
exactly why Arsenal believe they can win the league and exactly why they can throw
it all away.
Optimism returned before long, as Wenger's men restored their lead when Henry,
in swaggering mood, bedazzled the Fulham defence with a diagonal burst and reverse
pass to Patrick Vieira, who lashed his first goal of the season past an unprotected
Edwin van der Sar.
The Holland goalkeeper was exposed again when the galloping Lauren swept in
another dangerous shot, but Van der Sar's smart reaction save kept Fulham in
the picture. Not for long, though. Another French flourish took Arsenal into
a comfort zone.
Vieira won possession with a crunching tackle, Wiltord's flick invited Henry to
burn past Andy Melville and Highbury's top scorer finished with a cool drive.
Wiltord ought to have been the third Frenchman to net for Arsenal, when Pires's
effort was blocked and fell to his friend's feet with the goal gaping. Somehow,
he scooped over the crossbar.
| 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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Rude though it is to gatecrash this French love-in, Lauren - returning to his
original position of right midfield, having spent most of the season utilised
at full back - was a revelation. Unshackled, he rampaged forward at will. When
Pires curled the ball on to Lauren's head, he guided the ball in only to be denied
by a post. Henry, following up, was almost embarrassed to claim the goal as it
bounced off him and in.
Although Wiltord, Pires and Henry continued to pepper Van der Sar's goal, it
was no surprise that Arsenal eased off, considering this Premiership question
was sandwiched between crucial Champions League games against Bayer Leverkusen.
And, to Fulham's credit, they endeavoured to minimise their blushes by searching
for more goals of their own. Seaman stood firm. No late equalisers this time.
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)