Arsenal (3) 4 Fulham (1) 1
The idea that poor home form could cost Arsenal the championship was challenged
by a superbly incisive performance. Against, moreover, a team who had prevented
the opposition from scoring in nearly half their previous League matches - though
you would not have credited it as Fulham's defences were all but fatally breached
before half-time.
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Zat Knight a late selection, after Sean
Davis came down with a virus in the morning, had a tough game as the defensive
midfielder
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Sublime talent: Thierry Henry was once more in superb form up front for Arsenal
While it was a predictable enough outcome - a smart-alec might say, of a contest
between France A and France B - valuable support for the outstanding Thierry
Henry came from Cameroon's Lauren, who joined Henry and Sylvain Wiltord in one
of those three-man attacks that are becoming the height of fashion among international
managers, Sven-Goran Eriksson among them.
Lauren and Henry found the net along with Patrick Vieira, Henry's second goal
making him the first Premiership player to reach 20 in the current campaign (Ruud
van Nistelrooy's 19th had kept Manchester United on top yesterday). Henry reached
the figure in an incongruously inelegant manner as a header from Lauren bounced
from the foot of a post and in off him; barely deserved maybe, but at least Henry
was in the right place at the right time, as he seemed to be all afternoon until
making a slow, applause-drenched walkto the tunnel.
For Fulham, with only one win in five League matches, the result points to a struggle
to stay in the upper half. For Arsenal it is an encouraging prelude to the return
fixture with Bayer Leverkusen at Highbury on Wednesday.
Again Robert Pires was excellent. His point-securing goal in Germany last week
had underlined the splendour of his contribution to the side; it was his ninth
of the season. With Freddie Ljungberg having chipped in 10 before succumbing
to a rib injury last month, the penetrative significance of Arsene Wenger's
first-choice wide midfielders cannot be overstated.
Even without his goals, however, Pires would be a more than handy provider
and few would deny that of late he has eclipsed his compatriot Vieira and become
the club's key man. Here the customary French flavour was enhanced by the presence
of four Fulham starters from the across the Channel - the same number as Arsenal
- plus three substitutes.
These included the 18-year-old French academy product Jeremie Aliadiere, who
featured in Arsenal's FA Youth Cup-winning team last season, scoring nine goals
to equal Michael Owen's record for the competition. Aliadiere, who had not been
involved in a Premiership match before, had the honour of taking over from Henry
in the closing minutes. With his presence, there were enough Frenchmen to form
a team. Plus, of course, the respective managers and, in the case of Jean Tigana,
his principal assistant, Christian Damiano.
Tigana turned to Zat Knight after Sean Davis had reported a virus in the morning,
and it quickly became obvious that the role in question - Fulham's defensive
midfielder - was not going to be an easy one. Even before Arsenal took an early
lead, Wiltord had glanced a header across the face of an anxious Edwin van der
Sar's goal, and Wiltord was soon to take part in the slick move that brought
the breakthrough.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst began it, advancing and finding Henry, whose instant
lay-off set Wiltord free to the left. He cut in, teasing Van der Sar with hints
of a near-post shot before squaring for Lauren to slide home.
| 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 inspired Henry, constantly dropping off the front, shot impetuously and high
when served by a fine long ball from Van Bronckhorst. But the Dutchman did not
distinguish himself defensively when Fulham equalised. Rufus Brevett sent over
a swirling cross from the left and Van Bronckhorst, instead of challenging Steve
Marlet at the far post, unaccountably backed away from the striker, who had little
difficulty in heading wide of a hopelessly exposed David Seaman.
Fulham, however, did not remain level for long and this time the malady afflicting
left-backs struck Brevett, who, in endeavouring to find Andy Melville, succeeded
only in giving possession to Henry. A reverse ball, beautifully executed, found
Vieira galloping through and Van der Sar was well beaten. The goalkeeper saved
smartly with his feet from Lauren but, towards the interval, was obliged to
concede again after Henry mastered Melville rather too easily.
A Pires cross led to the fourth goal and Lauren's header left Henry with a
chance he could not, quite literally, miss.
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).