Nick Ames's match report
Here’s the view from our man at Craven Cottage.
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Full time: Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
Peep peep! That was a perfect start to the season for Arsenal. Willian made all three goals; the other debutant Gabriel defended well and scored the second goal; and Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both got off the mark. Aubameyang’s goal was a beauty. Fulham did not play badly but were quietly outclassed.
90 min Three minutes of added time.
89 min Decordova-Reid tries to chip Leno from 50 yards, and fails.
86 min Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette, who scored the opening goal.
85 min Pepe beats his man and pokes a low cross that is booted clear inside the six-yard box. Aubameyang was waiting behind for his second goal.
82 min “Yes, it’s only Fulham but Arteta has his squad in top form already,” says Mary Waltz. “In control from the start, they look like they have a goal or two left in them and a clean sheet on the road seems guaranteed. The Gunners look nothing like the side that gave ulcers to their fans in the recent past.”
78 min Granit Xhaka is replaced by Dani Ceballos.
You don't see this every day 👀
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 12, 2020
Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah got into a heated exchange during a pre-match training routine 👜 pic.twitter.com/u1qMPuZ8Ux
78 min That chould have been 4-0 to Arsenal. Bellerin slid a through pass to Aubameyang, who went round Ream and clipped a shot from a tight angle that was headed off the line by Hector.
75 min A substitution apiece. Fulham bring on Bobby Decordova-Reid for Onomah, and Nicolas Pepe has replaced the excellent Willian for Arsenal.
74 min Xhaka is down holding his right ankle after a challenge from Hector. I think he’s okay.
71 min Rodak makes an excellent point-blank save from Lacazette, though it wouldn’t have counted because Aubameyang was offside in the build-up.
70 min The match is petering out now. Arsenal’s next game is West Ham at home a week today; Fulham go to Ipswich in the EFL Cup on Wednesday and Leeds in the league next Saturday.
67 min Mitrovic shoots straight at Leno from 20 yards.
63 min A double change for Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa replace Kebano and Kamara.
61 min Cairney is booked for fouling Willian 25 yards from goal.
61 min The scoreline is a bit harsh on Fulham. But it’s a helluva start for Arsenal, not least because of the performance of their two debutants. Willian has made all three goals; Gabriel has scored one and, more important, defended with rugged authority.
It started when Arsenal played through the Fulham press on the right wing. Then Willian - who now has a hat-trick of assists on his debut - sprayed an excellent crossfield pass to Aubameyang on the left. He moved into the area, used Odoi as a screen and swept a trademark curler into the top corner. That was a quite thrilling goal.
GOAL! Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (Aubameyang 57)
What a great goal!
56 min A good effort from Kamara, who whistles a low shot just wide of the far post from 20 yards. Leno had it covered though.
55 min Bellerin is booked for wrestling Cavaleiro to the floor on the left wing.
54 min “Time for Scott Parker to throw on another tie-pin,” says Charles Antaki.
53 min It’s a long way back from here from Fulham. They’ve done plenty of good things in this game but have struggled to penetrate the new, improved Arsenal defence.
GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Arsenal (Gabriel 49)
Gabriel scores on his debut! Willian curled a dipping corner towards the six-yard line, where Gabriel got in front of Hector and forced the ball through the legs of Rodak. It looked like a straightforward header but replays showed it actually came off his shoulder. As if he’ll care.
49 min Holding plays an impromptu game of keepy-uppy before finding Lacazette, who wins a corner. That was a spectacular bit of play from Holding.
47 min A thrilling run from Aubameyang, who beats Hector with elegant ease before Ream comes across to make an important interception on the edge of the area.
46 min Peep peep! Arsenal begin the second half.
Half-time reading
Half time: Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Peep peep! Arsenal lead through Alexandre Lacazette’s scruffy early goal. It was a half of nice football if few chances: the debutant Willian hit the post with a fine free-kick, and a confident Arsenal deserve to be ahead. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.
44 min “Sammy Nelson, now there’s a blast from the past,” says Christopher Neal. “Once famously scored at both ends against Bristol City and dropped his shorts to the crown in celebration.”
That’s no way to address Her Majesty, etc.
43 min This hasn’t been a mismatch, far from it, but Arsenal’s superior class has been evident in a few key moments.
41 min “While we’re on attire, could Scott Parker be wearing a nicer suit?” says BD Simmons. “It’s making me feel a tad inadequate slouching around in my pyjamas.”
One word, two syllables: Sergio Ramos.
40 min “I am looking forward to Scott Parker’s half-time teamtalk being released as a single,” says Ian Copestake.
39 min Aubameyang is booked for a late tackle on Odoi.