Arsenal 2-1 Fulham: New Season, Same Arsenal

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
12 Aug	12:00 PM	P	Fulham (H)	2	1	Win

Yet again it was the late, late show by Arsenal in what proved to be a repeat of so many home Premiership matches last season. Arsenal had to rely on two late goals to avoid their first opening day defeat in the last six seasons.

Arsenal as always set out to play their usual aesthetic game but could not have suffered a worse start in the game as they gifted, the opening goal to Fulham with less than a minute gone. David Healy (who looked offside prior to being closed down by Gaël Clichy and William Gallas) had pressured the Clichy into playing the ball back to Jens Lehmann. The German goalkeeper attempted to trick the Fulham forward by playing a no look pass back to Clichy but got it horrendously wrong. The ball was kicked with his right foot but managed to bounce up off his knee and into the path of the Northern Irish centre forward. Healy, reunited with his former national team boss Lawrie Sanchez after being one of his first purchases since taking over at Fulham, could not have believed his luck as the ball fell into his path less than 6 yards out with the keeper left on his backside and with nothing left to do but to prod the ball into the empty net.

In typical Arsenal fashion, the home side turned the screw with their usual fluent passing, and as was the case in most games last season, flattered to deceive when it came to actually putting he ball in the back of the net. Whether it be wayward finishing or the heroics from the away keeper Tony Warner (who incidentally was only on the pitch after first choice Antti Niemi picked up an injury in the warm-up) the home side could not manage a way to put the ball in the back of the net.

This was until Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute after some mazey dribbling from Touré (didn't know he had it in him!) resulted in the Ivorian being brought down in the box by American Carlos Bocanegra. Robin van Persie made no mistake with the spot kick, blasting the ball into the top right hand corner of the net, leaving Warner with no chance. With stoppage time looming Alex Hleb managed to bring down a long ball in the box before turning to make some room for the shot before firing low into the bottom corner.

It was good to see Hleb score his first Premiership goal of the season on the opening day when he only managed to score twice the whole of last season. It might be due to the fact he was playing in his preferred central role rather than being stuck out on the right. In fact he could have even got a brace had it not been for a last ditch goal line clearance from Zat Knight.

The home side's first chance of the game had come to Tomas Rosicky but the Czech international captain scuffed his shot wide before Fabregas tried his luck from distance, but the result was the same.

Hleb, looking dangerous from the start, received the ball wide to the left of the box and managed to twist and turn his way towards goal and looked to have earned his side a penalty after being brought down by Chris Baird but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.

Minutes later Bacary Sagna, making his Premiership debut, put in a ball from the right wing, and with the aid of a deflection from van Persie, the ball bounced up in front of Rosicky who showed some quick thinking to get a snapshot of a volley in, however the ball flew just wide of the upright. It seemed like a goal was imminent. Then Manu Eboue showed some good linkup play with Sagna, cutting the ball back to Hleb who had his goalbound shot hacked off the line by the impressive Knight. Yet again it was the same story.

Hleb then had another penalty claim minutes later, although being fair to him it was more claims from the crowd rather than the player, and yet again the ref waved play on.

Fulham had a couple of chances but nothing to test Lehmann with shots from Alexei Smertin and Simon Davies being comfortably saved by the German.

With halftime looming Hleb, van Persie and Rosicky (twice) had gone close and had it not been for Warner the Arsenal could have found themselves with a healthy lead. Then, after being put through by van Persie, Fabregas somehow managed to neither score nor make a pass to the onrushing Rosicky and the Fulham goalkeeper managed to smother at the feet of the Spaniard. As it was half time came with Arsenal still trailing to that freakish opening goal.

The second half started where the first left of with Arsenal piling on the pressure on the Fulham goal. Rosicky managed to chest down a diagonal cross field ball from Mathieu Flamini of all people and race through on goal before being thwarted once again by Warner.

On a rare counter attack from Fulham the ball fell to Davies who was left unmarked in the box but his stinging shot was parried by Lehmann who had gone some way to making up for his previous error by keeping the Arsenal in the game.

It was end to end stuff after this point with Arsenal piling forward and Fulham trying to hit the home side on the break in an attempt to consolidate their lead.

Again, van Persie was put through before Baird produced a fantastic recovery tackle to deny the Dutchman. Rosicky then let fly with one of his trademark piledrivers with Warner in no mans' land but once again it was Knight who came to Fulham's rescue deflecting the ball wide of the left hand upright.

Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner were introduced minutes later for the ineffective Eboue and the misfiring Rosicky and the young Gunners impressed. Walcott showed great pace and Bendtner used his big frame to give the Arsenal a physical presence up front.

Touré found some space wide left of the box and his low curling effort was heading goalward before Warner managed to get a strong palm to the ball. Pushing up at almost every opportunity the Ivorian then managed to twist his way past three Fulham challenges before being upended in the box. It was third time lucky as the ref finally pointed to the spot. van Persie though had everything to do as the keeper was on form but after choosing his spot, and hitting the ball with so much power, Warner had no chance as the Fulham keeper was sent the wrong way.

There was relief around the stadium but the players weren't done yet as Flamini tried to get the ball back to the halfway line in order to prevent yet more time wasting by the away team. Bouba Diop and Warner were having none of that though as they refused to give the ball back to the Frenchman. In fact when Flamini did get a hold of the ball, Diop manhandled the Frenchman to the ground which resulted in all three players being put into the book.

Fulham's gamesmanship came back to haunt them as the Arsenal weren't finished yet. With seconds of normal time remaining Hleb scored the wining goal to send the Emirates stadium into raptures. It might have been a bit harsh on the Fulham goalkeeper Warner who really should have been Man of the Match but Fulham as a team rarely threatened after being gifted the opener and with their time wasting I have no sympathy for the away side.

User Comments

Aussie Fan

Posted on 14 Aug, 2007 at 12:38 AM - Reply

I Totally disagree with the Same Old Arsenal TAG, Cause this Year have found a way to win. They fell behind like so many times before, but this Year they used the Width of the Pitch on Each Occassion through Pre Season and in the First Game of the Season. In my opinion we can only get better. Its my Humble opinion that this Year Chelsea will be the Team to drop out of the top 4. I Know you think i might be on Drugs or whatever, but Birmingham had that Game won, if it weren't for bad Keeping. Liverpool/Arsenal & Man U To fight for the title. And i really do Believe this is the Year Arsenal finally Crack that elusive UCL! First to Sparta and then the rest!

verone

Posted on 13 Aug, 2007 at 04:46 PM - Reply

I agree with the article. I still believe that the fans at the stadium should be more supportive of their players and encourage them all the time. All said and done, the question arises; who is a true fan?
One who has a season ticket?
Or one who brags about the history of Arsenal and is the 'know-it-all'?

There are many stereotypical fans that would fit into countless catergories, but the truth is, to me, a true Arsenal Fan, is one who can emotionally and well as rationally love Arsenal Football Club. You don't have to own a season ticket to the Emirates, or have an Arsenal Jersey, or memorise every one of Arsenal's historic moments.. a true fan is one who, deep down inside, loves Arsenal, the football they play, however and whatever happens on or off the pitch.

Yorkie

Posted on 13 Aug, 2007 at 01:48 PM - Reply

I think this arsenal team deserve good credit for their victory, a goal so early for fulham was always going to result in hard work and it would have been easy to allow heads to drop after 70 80 mins with no luck finding a goal. but they proved their grit and the team spirit so much lauded in pre season was there to see. i think the arsenal of last year would have only scraped a draw in this game. lets hope we can continue to show the same fight and cut out the mistakes at the back

gsr

Posted on 13 Aug, 2007 at 11:50 AM - Reply

Lehmann shouldn't have made the mistake, and we should've gotten the penalty for the foul on Hleb. Then it would've been 3-0, a much better looking result.

Either way, Hleb scored, so already its nothing like last season.

Ho Ho Ho

Posted on 13 Aug, 2007 at 10:51 AM - Reply

Come on, be fair, we were shooting on target all afternoon but their keeper was awesome. We could have had 4 or 5 on any other day. Mad Jens cocked it up at he beginning but the team stuck to the task & got the result they deserved. Had it been last year we would have probably lost!

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