Evening everyone.
As you are no doubt aware by now, Arsenal have concluded their week in style, by beating Fulham 3-1. The team picked up exactly where they left off against Fenerbahce and it was good to see. Even more so, knowing, how limited our options are, but the players we do have can deliver three times inside seven days. First things first, though.
The manager made two changes from the squad, that beat Turkish side on Wednesday: Jenkinson for suspended Koscielny and Podolski for Whilshere. Zelalem was a new face on the bench.
Sagna's shift to central defence saw Jenkinson start on the right, while Rosicky was paired with Ramsey in midfield, allowing Cazorla to play under the striker. Cazorla's place, in its turn, was taken up by Podolski.
We got off to a lively start at Craven Cottage, with Rosicky feeding Walcott with a lofted pass, but Stockdale blocked the Englishman's effort with his feet. The pressure was building up and, four minutes later, the goal came.
Ramsey's mis-hit shot found Giroud and the Frenchman grabbed his chance, by poking the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0 and three goals for him in just as many games. Another clinical finish from Giroud.
Fulham responded in an energetic manner, and Taarabt low shot tested Szscesny with Duff being the first on rebound. However, the Pole regained his footing quickly and parried the shot with his legs. A brilliant piece of work from Wojciech.
Arsenal took full control of the game after that and it paid in the 41st minute, when Walcott's low drive was palmed away again, only for Podolski to be the first on the rebound to smash the ball home. The German's unconstrained joy was coupled with that of my own, seeing how he brings something different to this side. 2-0.
We could have easily made it 3-0 before half-time only for Podloski's pass to find no one at the far post. I think, he should have finished his run himself, but I see no point in debating it now. Fulham, though, did have a couple of half-chances too, before the break, with the closest one being the freekick, which somehow found it's way through the wall, but Szczesny was there to claim it, demonstarting quick reactions and some good tactical awareness.
The second half started in a more open manner, with both teams going for it. Walcott's run was interrupted by a brilliant slide tackle from Riise and Szczesny was once again the saviour, when he batted away Taarabt's low drive. What a man. Szczesny, that is.
Arsenal looked a more dangerous side still and a goal, which came in the 68th minute was a direct result of it. Giroud controlled the ball wonderfully in the centre of the park, ran some distance and then fed Cazorla. The Spaniard turned at the byline and laid off a pass for onrushing Podolski. The German pulled off another brilliant shot with his left and the ball found the far corner of the net again to make 3-0 and game over for Fulham.
After that, the game calmed down a bit (understandably so) and Wenger replaced his big guns Giroud and Podolski for Monreal and Sanogo respectively, handing the Frenchman his first debut. Whilshere also came on for tired Rosicky.
Sanogo even had a chance to score, but Walcott's low pass was intercepted. Otherwise, it was a simple tap-in for the Frenchman. Walcott may have scored himself, only to be denied again by Stockdale.
Fulham didn't go down as quietly as it seems. They scored a goal of their own through Berbatov's restless energy and Bent's positioning. It pained me to see the ball end up in out net. I was mostly sorry for our keeper, who's been brilliant throughout, to be denied a clean sheet after such an excellent performance.
Fulham huffed and puffed for the remainder of the match, but came up with nothing, owing mostly to us keeping the tempo down. When the referee blew for the last time, it signalled the first and truly desrved three points of the campaign.
I would also like to say a few words about individual performances.
While I have already mentioned, how good some of our players were (Szczesny, for instance), I'd also like to pay tribute to Sagna, Ramsey, Podolski and Giroud.
Sagna filled in brilliantly as a centre-half and it's easy to see, why the manager considered him a true option back in July, when news spread of Vermaelen's injury. Calm and composed, the Frenchman seems to have found some of his old form again, which is great to see. I'm still firmly of the opinion, that we need a centre-half, because it's sheer madness, going into the season with just two of those, but it's nice to see Sagna doing great, even though he's mostly deployed at the centre of our defense.
Ramsey was full of energy again, and that's his third full game in a week, mind you. He was scurrying and making tackles and even finishing his efforts himself, when no one else was in sight to help him out. He didn't score, but I'd have loved him to. A very, very good performance.
Giroud, meanwhile, has again showed the qualities I mentioned this week. He had little service, made full use of the few chances he had, and, when off the ball, fell back to let the teammates bounce the play off of him, combining with Cazorla and Walcott to great effect. He scored another goal to make it 3 goals in three games and I, for one, is very glad to see him spearheading out attack.
Walcott also deserves a mention. The English winger hasn't scored as of yet, but he's on the brink of doing so. I don't know, what's the missing component, but I don't think we should worry yet. He works his socks off, shoots a lot and will eventually get there in terms of scoring.
And finally, Podolski. The manager said after the game, that the German hasn't fitted the game plan in previous games, and was left out because of it, and not because he's in some kind of bad form. This time around (again, from the manager's words), the tactical approach was altered and Podolski was handed a start. He was later substituted, but in the 80 minutes he played, he was very helpful and deserves all the praise, heading his way.
The manager was also quizzed about his transfer policy after the game and when the new playeres will be coming in. Somewhat worryingly, he said, we'll see no new faces before the return fixture against Fenerbahce. This only leaves five days for him to complete the deals before the window closes. All of this leaves a huge question mark, over whether we'll see any signings at all. He also denied making a fresh bid for Cabaye, but I hope, it's just part of his "keep it under wraps" policy. The alternative - that we aren't even close to buying anyone - is too much to handle.
Anyway, congrats on three well and truly deserved points and let's see, what the next week brings. I'll reserve all judgement on transfers till 2nd September.
That's it for today. Back tomorrow
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