Arsenal started brightly as the new Premier League season kicks off with both old foe and new recruits starring as they beat newly-promoted Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage in the early kick-off on Saturday.
The Gunners opened their account through striker Alexandre Lacazette’s tap-in in the 9th minute of the game as debutant Willian’s shot was parried by Marek Rodak. Moments after, Willian hit the frame of the post with a free-kick as Arsenal continued to dominate.
Willian was involved yet again as Arsenal doubled their lead. His corner was met by fellow debutant, Gabriel Magalhaes, who went on to be voted man-of-the-match after the break before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang curled home a beauty from just inside the box from another Willian assist as Arsenal strolled to an opening day victory.
How Arsenal got the job done against Fulham
With new manager Mikel Arteta starting his full campaign with the side, he went on to claim his 18th win in the last 30 games showing Arsenal’s momentum and belief clearly for all to see.
Bernd Leno was quickly called into action early on in the match as he had to deny Aboubakar Kamar at his feet after a mix-up between himself and Gabriel. But Arsenal soon switched gears and went ahead inside 10 minutes.
Watch the highlights of the match…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebrz6ZKSHAI
Alexander Lacazette profited off a parried shot by Marek Rodak to put the tap home into an empty net to put Arsenal ahead but the move started from Granit Xhaka’s miscued attempt from the edge of the box which fell fortuitously to Willian at close range after Tim Ream failed to clear.
The visitors continued their dominance with Fulham lacking bite and were nearly 2-0 up as Willian’s whipped free-kick from 20 yards came off the foot of the post.
But it was Arsenal who would get their second of the match and it happened four minutes after the break as Gabriel rose easily above Michael Hector to meet Willian’s wicked corner.
The ball ended up in the back of the net after going off the defender’s shoulder, but under new handball rules, the goal stood.
It was soon 3-0 through a superb team goal synonymous with the Arsenal side; Lacazette did well holding the ball on halfway before Willian found Aubayemang on the other end of the pitch with a diagonal pass. The Arsenal captain did the rest, curling into the top corner from 15 yards.
It means Willian is the first player to assist two goals on his Premier League debut for Arsenal since Ray Parlour in August 1992 against Liverpool.
Aubameyang almost had his second of the match but saw his shot from an acute angle cleared off the line by Hector after he rounded the goalkeeper.
Arsenal looked really comfortable on and off the ball and dominated throughout as Arteta looks to turn a work in progress into tangible success. Fulham, on the other hand, know they’ll have easier opponents as they look to succeed where they failed in 2019.
Arsenal will be at home in their next fixture in the Premier League and it’s another London derby against West Ham on Saturday night.
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Fulham have lost their last 11 top-flight London derbies – including 10 defeats in the 2018/19 season – the longest ever run by a club in top-flight history.
- 11 Brazilians have now appeared for Arsenal in the Premier League, following club debuts for Gabriel and Willian, with only Chelsea and Manchester City boasting more (12 each).
- Arsenal have scored the first goal of a Premier League season four times, with only Liverpool doing so more often (5).
- Alexandre Lacazette is the first player to score the opening goal of a Premier League season on more than one occasion (also 2017/18 v Leicester).
- Gabriel is the 10th player to score on his Premier League debut for Arsenal, and the first to do so in an away match since Thomas Vermaelen in August 2009 against Everton.
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