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Fulham unlucky - Sunday Mirror

last updated Sunday 16th September 2001, 8:55 AM
ARSENAL left it late to storm to the top of the table after failing to wrap up the game in a one-sided first half.

Dennis Bergkamp scored in the fifth minute of second-half injury time to settle any nerves, as the Gunners bounced back from defeat in their midweek opening Champions League game in Spain.

Thierry Henry, in a rich vein of form, also helped spare any Arsenal blushes with his fourth goal in five league games in the 82nd minute, after the North London side had threatened to run riot at Craven Cottage in the first 45 minutes.

Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg gave the Gunners the lead as early as the 17th minute, after which Arsenal began to create and waste a catalogue of chances.

Fulham ensured Arsenal paid the price, drawing level three minutes after the break through Steed Malbranque before Henry and Bergkamp's late show.

The game was played at a pulsating pace and Fulham were the first to threaten. Sol Campbell's clumsy challenge presented John Collins with a free-kick 20 yards from goal.

Melville rose unchallenged at the far post, but sent the ball just the wrong side of the post.

Patrick Vieira was booked for keeping too close an eye on the dangerous Louis Saha.

But the visitors' overall patience was to be rewarded, as Robert Pires's cross was diverted to Freddie Ljungberg who made no mistake from close range.

Martin Keown followed Vieira into the book, but Arsenal looked untroubled as they pushed forward looking for a second goal.

It should have come in the 30th minute - Lauren's inch-perfect pass found Thierry Henry and when his low driven cross arrived at the far post, Francis Jeffers somehow missed the target.

Arsenal had another golden chance to increase their lead in the 37th minute. This time Henry was the guilty party as Ashley Cole set him up with just Van der Sar to beat, but he shot straight into the side netting.

And the giant Dutchman again prevented Henry from scoring, tipping over acrobatically after the Frenchman was set up by Ljungberg.

Arsenal were made to pay for those misses three minutes into the second-half.

Former Gunner Luis Boa Morte skinned Sol Campbell down the right, and from his cross Malbranque hit a first-time shot past the despairing dive of Seaman.

Sensing they had acquired an edge over their rivals, Fulham stole forward looking for the lead and only Seaman's backside appeared to prevent Sylvain Legwinski from achieving that.

In the 73rd minute Fulham introduced record £11.5million signing Steve Marlet, almost immediately counter-acted by Arsenal who threw on Bergkamp, ironically a £2million target for the hosts in the summer.

Campbell was having a mixed game, and almost gifted Fulham the lead 12 minutes from time, allowing Saha to nip in and touch it on to Marlet who should have done better.

As ever though, Arsenal were not to be underestimated. Pressing forward, Ljungberg's neat through-ball found Henry who turned swiftly to place a right-foot shot past Van Der Sar with eight minutes remaining.

With five minutes of injury time played, and Fulham pushed forward in desperation, Arsenal caught them on the break and when Witlord pulled the ball back, Bergkamp made no mistake.

FULHAM:
Van der Sar 7, Finnan 7, Brevett 6, Melville 7, Symons 7, COLLINS 8, Malbranque 7, Legwinski 7 (Marlet 7), Saha 7, Davis 7, Boa Morte 7.

ARSENAL:
Seaman 7, Cole 7, Vieira 7, Keown 6, Campbell 6, Lauren 7, Pires 7, Ljungberg 7, Parlour 7, Henry 7, Jeffers 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Tigana 7; Wenger 7.

MAN OF THE MATCH:
JOHN COLLINS: Vintage performance in midfield


Att: 20,805 Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).
Source Sunday Mirror
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