Santi at the double

Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

Arsenal maintained their one point lead at the top of the Premier League table with what turned out to be a routine 2-0 win at home to Fulham on Saturday.

In the build up to the match, Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen declared that he knew the formula to frustrate and defeat the Gunners, as Arsene Wenger’s side would not spring any surprises and continue to play the game as only they know how. During an extremely drab first half, many Arsenal supporters may well have had those words ringing in their ears as the away side sat extremely deep in an attempt to stifle the Gunners. Yet the home crowd’s frustrations were not a result of fine work from Fulham, but rather a lethargic approach from Wenger’s team.

Arsenal had in fact started the match extremely well, taking the game to their opponents and almost opening the scoring after only four minutes. Ozil and Wilshere combined beautifully, as the Englishman released the German inside the box. As Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg raced off his line, Ozil steered the ball past him, but his effort did not have enough power to beat the retreating Hangeland, who managed to clear the ball off the line. Having opened up the Fulham defence with such consummate ease, it seemed only a matter of time before the Gunners would open the scoring, yet their early endeavour soon petered out and Arsenal’s play became extremely sloppy, sluggish and easy to read.

Fulham, in turn, grew in confidence and at times looked threatening on the break, with former Gunner Steve Sidwell forcing Szczesny into a fine save, following a shot from just outside the box, before both Dejagah and Kacaniklic raced through on goal, only to have the ball stolen off them by Szczesny, who had raced off his line. The Gunners simply cannot afford to have such lapses in their play, as a better side than Fulham may well have punished them and turned what should have been a routine victory into an extremely difficult afternoon for the home side.

Arsenal had to increase the tempo in the second half and in a sign of intent, the Gunners returned to the field some two or three minutes before their opponents. Serge Gnabry, making his third successive start, was the first to enthral the crowd, highlighting his supreme talent, as he skipped past three Fulham challenges before curling the ball towards the far post and forcing Stekelenburg into a fine save. The Gunners should have taken the lead seconds later, when a Cazorla free kick delivery was met by Sagna at the back post. The right back’s effort evaded the goalkeeper, but once again Arsenal were thwarted by a goal line clearance. In the scramble, the ball fell to Koscielny, but with the goal at his mercy, the Frenchman somehow diverted his effort straight at Stekelenburg.

Although the crowd inside the Emirates Stadium could not believe such a miss and were maybe starting to feel it would be one of those days when the ball just will not go in, Arsenal did not have to wait much longer to open the scoring. In the 57^th minute, Cazorla laid the ball into Giroud in the area and the striker flicked it on to Wilshere, whose excellent cut back found Cazorla in the middle of the box, for the Spaniard to fire into the bottom right hand corner.

There was a huge sense of relief amongst the home crowd and five minutes later Arsenal and Cazorla doubled their tally for the afternoon. Monreal’s cross was expertly brought down by his compatriot before Cazorla unleashed a low shot towards goal and beyond the despairing dive of Stekelenburg, who had been unsighted as the shot came in.

The game was over as a contest now and Wenger decided to replace the impressive Gnabry with Podolski. Having been frustrated by his lack of action against Aston Villa, Podolski appeared to be a man on a mission, seeking to prove his credentials to the manager. The German put his powerful left foot into action in the 71^st minute and was extremely unlucky not to see his effort fly into the back of the net as Stekelenburg’s outstretched arm diverted the ball onto the post.

This is what has been so impressive about the Gunners this season. The spirit within the camp is exceptional and all the players in the squad have contributed to Arsenal’s excellent campaign so far. When called upon, the likes of Gnabry, Bendtner and Podolski have all produced moments which have turned games around and enabled Wenger’s team to maintain their title tilt. As difficult games come thick and fast over the next few weeks and months, Wenger will need every single member of his squad firing on all cylinders and raring to go, if Arsenal are to turn a fine start into a phenomenal season.