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). |