What a weekend we’ve had! It felt like the pressure was really on Arsenal to win this one and despite bits of criticism flying here and there, we won it fairly comfortably and were deserving of the three points. The winning goal came from another set piece, with Trossard poking in at the far post, which is again, leading to broadsides from opposing fans and media about how Arsenal have scored around 60% of their goals from set pieces this season. However, anyone who actually watched the game would agree that although Arsenal broke the deadlock from a corner, they calved out several presentable opportunities from open play and their all-round play was actually pretty good. Still a few things to work on, which I’ll come onto in a minute, but plenty of reasons to be positive.
It didn’t feel like it at the time, as 1-0 leads are always a bit nervy, especially heading into the final stages, but Fulham never had a shot on target all game, so you’d have to say that Arsenal managed the game really well. It wasn’t all plain sailing as there was one or two near misses that went wide or over the bar nevertheless, the stats don’t lie and David Raya picked up his seventh clean sheet in all competitions without dirtying his gloves. I’m not a massive believer in historical statistics as they can be really distorting and can be used to fit whatever narrative you are trying to create, but there was a good one doing the rounds following the win. This game was apparently the first time Arsenal have limited an opponent to no shots on target for the second game running since the Arsenal Invincible season in 2003/04. Not a bad omen, but there is a long, long way to go yet.
Manchester City had gone top on goal difference by beating Everton so taking all three points at Fulham insured that we returned to the top of the table, with the weekend only getting better from there. The 2pm kick off on Sunday brought a smile to the faces of Gooners everywhere as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Tottenham in their own back yard and if that wasn’t good enough, an even better result, from an Arsenal perspective, came from the 430pm kick off at Anfield. Manchester United shocked the early season pace setters, Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, to ensure that Arsenal remained three points clear at the end of match week 8, while opening up a four-point lead on the Champions. I know I’ve said it before, but that is some turnaround considering we were five points adrift of Liverpool, apparently floundering, just weeks ago!!
The line-up
The line-up was very much as expected with Arteta having clear favourites in most positions now, and two or three injuries in other positions limiting his rotational options. The back five was the same one that started at home to West Ham before the break with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi occupying the 6/8 positions in midfield. The frontline was again unchanged, with Leandro Trossard keeping his place on the left again, and Viktor Gyokeres starting again upfront with Bukayo Saka to his right. The final slot, the one position where there probably is a bit of debate around was filled by Eberechi Eze, with alternative options Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri starting on the bench. Despite an apparent return to fitness, Piero Hincapie was not named among the substitutes.
First half
It was a relatively slow start from Arsenal as Fulham came out of the traps flying and were running all over the midfield in the early stages. This led to a few half chances and nearly moments for the home side, with Harry Wilson having two or three decent efforts from promising positions, but none of them worked David Raya. I’d classify the opening 20-25 minutes as uncomfortable from an Arsenal perspective without our goal being put under too much pressure. At the end of the day, Fulham’s midfield were on top and managed to get through our own midfield, but they then still had to beat the best defence in the league and one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now and they never looked like doing either. At the time it didn’t feel like that, but on reflection I think that’s about fair.
Arsenal’s only attack of note in the first 15-20 minutes so nearly resulted in the opening goal, with the offside flag denying Riccardo Calafiori what would have been a fantastic goal. A lovely switch from Jurrien Timber found Leandro Trossard out on the left and his first time cushioned pass fell perfectly to Calafiori, who was positioned in the number 9 position, between two defenders (obviously!). The Italian lashed a first time half volley into the right-hand corner (think Calafiori’s goal against Manchester City but closer in and on the bounce) in what would have been one of the goal’s of the season, until the offside flag went up. VAR soon confirmed that this was the correct decision, and Arsenal had another goal for the ‘if only’ scrapbook. Take nothing away from Calafiori though, this was an absolutely brilliant finish that any striker would be proud of. Where did we get this guy from?!?!? Not seen many defenders in the last 20 years who can hit a ball as cleanly and as consistently as the Italian.
As the half wore on, Arsenal began to feel themselves into the game as the international break cobwebs were slowly beginning to blow away and by the 35 minute mark, I’d say the game had swung in Arsenal’s favour, with most of the attacking play now going towards Bernd Leno’s goal.
As with Fulham’s early pressure, there was a lack of clear cut chances but Viktor Gokeres did find himself in behind in the inside left channel after his excellent run was picked out by Bukayo Saka. The link-up play was nice and showed how the relationships between Gyokeres and his teammates is really developing, but in truth Gyokeres was never likely to score from his angle as the natural trajectory of the pass took him quite wide. The Swede did manage to get a powerful strike away with his right foot that warmed up Leno’s hands and although this was more of a half-chance, it was still good to see Gyokeres get a good connection on the ball and work the keeper.
Next it was Calafiori’s turn again, as he volleyed just over from an awkward looking cross before the last attack of the half resulted in Declan Rice whipping one of those, now trademark right footed shots from the left of centre, aiming for the left corner. Unfortunately Rice slightly over-cooked this one and it sailed out for a goal-kick with the half time whistle brining he half to a close, moments later.
Second half
The second half continued in pretty much the same way as the previous half had ended with Arsenal dominating the ball and doing much of the early running. Bukayo Saka beat Ryan Sessegnon for what felt like the tenth time already this game, as the winger showed the Fulham man a clean pair of heels as he drove to the byline only to cut it back through Viktor Gyokeres’ legs and just managing to bounce to the safety of a Fulham defender, who cleared. It was the first time Arsenal really opened Fulham open, as Arsenal flexed their muscles in the early exchanges.
The next chance fell to Fulham as they managed to work a chance on the break for Harry Wilson, but again his shot was off target as it sailed over David Raya’s crossbar to safety. Not an easy chance, but it reminded Arsenal again, that Fulham were still a force in this game.
However, shortly after, Arsenal were on the attack again and this time, they made it pay. After managing to force a corner, Bukayo Saka delivered one of his best towards the near post which Gabriel managed to get their first (as he usually does!) to flick on with Leandro Trossard loitering with intent at the back post and being left with the simple task of forcing the ball across the goal line with his thigh. It had been coming, and the goal again came from, that’s right, a set piece. This led to more stats from SkySports and lots of online discussions regarding Arsenal being boring, direct, one dimensional and so on. The Arsenal fans in the away end at Craven Cottage didn’t seem to mind too much, as the goal brought about jubilant scenes from players and fans alike, as both recognised, this could be a big goal. The goal came from a set piece, but Arsenal’s overall play and intent had deserved a goal so I find it really difficult to care about anyone else’s opinion on how we get our goals! A goal is a goal and I celebrate them all the same! Especially when they are as key as this one.
Shortly after the goal, Eberechi Eze, who had a quiet game, was withdrawn in place of Mikel Merino, as Arteta sought to turn the screw and they nearly did just that on 64 minutes. Bukayo Saka exchanged passes with Leandro Trossard and found himself in the left channel inside Fulham’s box. Saka bamboozled his way passed one defender and then brought a sharp save from Leno, with the rebound just evading Viktor Gyokeres, who was in there poaching. Saka was back to his unbelievable best on the night and had more to say shortly afterwards as he drove across the edge of the Fulham penalty area, only to be brought down by the Fulham substitute, Kevin. The referee pointed to the spot, only for VAR to intervene and highlight that the Fulham man got a touch on the ball – no penalty. There’s a lot of talk about Kevin fouling Saka before getting the ball, but for me, this was the right decision and the one that I would want to be given, were the roles reversed.
The roar from the Fulham fans gave the home side a new lease of life and it took Arsenal 5-10 minutes to wrestle back control of the game. They did manage to do just that and the next chance again fell to Gyokeres, who really should have done better when well placed inside the Fulham box, only to thrash his left foot shot wide of the target.
The final chance of the game, again fell to Gyokeres who worked the chance well inside the box with his back to goal, before forcing the ball straight at Bernd Leno. It would have been some finish from there, but I think the point that Mikel Arteta was making in his pre-match press conference about how much Gyokeres brings to the team as a whole was brought into sharp focus here. The chance was little more than a half chance, which he turned into a shot at goal that Leno could only parry. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli was quick on the scene and had a much easier chance, which Leno also did well to save. Had Martinelli turned this one home, I think people would been talking a lot more about the part Gyokeres played in the build-up which is unfair in some ways, as I’ve heard very little about it because Martinelli wasn’t able to convert.
Fortunately, on this occasion, Arsenal did not have to run those missed chances as Arsenal saw out the full NINE minutes of stoppage time to claim a massive three points and return to the summit of the Premier League. The scenes at the end of the game told their own story as players, coaches and fans enjoyed the win together and it leaves me thinking once again…how important could this win be come the end of the season?
Three key takeaways
VAR plays too much of a key part in Premier League football matches.
Intervening is fine, it’s the artificial affect that the decisions can have on the atmosphere, and the course of a game that I really don’t like. Arsenal were ahead and on top in this game and awarded a penalty which was withdrawn following a VAR review. The roar from the Fulham fans deafening and gave the fans, and consequently the team, such a massive lift, having done basically nothing. On this occasion, Arsenal stood firm and reasserted themselves on the game but it could have been a completely different story and football is soon going to be littered with turning points based on moments like this.
The whole thing just seems anti-football to me. A cheer for a disallowed goal should not be the same as the cheer for a goal…should it?!
Eberechi Eze is going to need to do a bit more than this, if we’re going to keep on winning games in Odegaard’s absence
I absolutely love this guy so I’m not going to dig him out as such, but we need much more from Eze when it comes to games like this. Towards the end of the transfer window, I think most Arsenal fans had made their peace with the business that we’d done and the fact that Ethan Nwaneri was going to act as cover for Martin Odegaard. After seeing Nwaneri come on so much in the previous season, it didn’t feel like too much of a drop off in quality and we all know that Nwaneri will get better and needs game time, so fine. Then Arsenal went and did a ‘madness’ and brought in Eberechi Eze, from under the noses of Tottenham (had to get that in again!), so all of a sudden, we had a player at a very similar level to Odegaard to bring in, should the skipper need to be rotated. The drop off was now so small that we should barely see a difference in quality when Odegaard is injured, that’s what you pay £60m for. However, the drop off in yesterday’s game was visible for all to see and it’s only one game, so no need to panic, but we need more from Eze.
If Gyokeres keeps getting into these positions, he will score plenty of goals for this football club
I’ve said it quite a lot already so I won’t dwell on this point, he just needs a goal. I liked his runs and some of his hold up play was also much improved today but he did have one chance in particular that was a bit wild and was very much in keeping with a player who is short of a goal. There was plenty to like about this performance from our new striker and once the next goal goes in, I wouldn’t bet against Gyokeres going on a real purple patch for us. Let’s hope it comes sooner rather than later.