Good evening.
Arsenal's splendid fashion of putting lesser teams to the sword continued yesterday with another fine win, this time over Fulham. The Cottagers has thus become the second side Arsenal took six points from over two games.
Arsene named an identical side to the one that got the job done at Villa Park. Monreal (despite all the doubts over his health) started on the left, while Rosicky was among the substitutes.
The first half was a rather uneventful one. Arsenal had one clear-cut chance in the 4th minute, when an interplay between Wilshere and Ozil allowed the latter to fire a low shot which was cleared off the line.
Fulham created a couple of decent chances, but, fortunately, our keeper was up for it. Szczesny first saved from a good Sidwell shot and then had to race Dejagah and Kacaniklic to the ball, after they have found some space.
We had the last word when Sagna's fierce shot was parried by Stekelenburg, but the game was still an even-shared one, though we dominated territory and possession.
After the restart, however, Arsenal upped the tempo just like they did against Cardiff, and it worked again. Gnabry saw his effort saved, then there was a scrap in the box as Arsenal almost got the ball into the net, but were denied by some last-ditch defending.
Fulham cracked under pressure soon enough. Cazorla cut inside from the left, Giroud and Wilshere combined and the Englishman returned the ball to Santi who smashed it home from the penalty spot. A great goal fro an in-form Spaniard.
Five minutes later, Cazorla doubled our lead. Monreal's cross fell to Santi just outside the box, he took a touch and sent a low shot flying towards the far corner past Stekelenburg.
After that, the game died down. Fulham was finished, we knew it, they knew it, so no one really tried to pull anything off.
Except Podolski. He came on for a tiring, but brilliant Gnabry and had two very presentable chances. His first effort was blocked by one of the defenders, his second was pushed onto the post by Stekelenburg.
Fulham could have nicked a consolation goal, something that could probably have sent Mertesacker into overdrive and force him to kill everyone responsible for ruining his second clean sheet in a row, but, luckily for his teammates, Bent wasted his chance, followed by Kasumi. In the end, we got the win and the clean sheet.
Our brilliant defence apart, I would like to give the props to Wilshere, Cazorla and Podolski. A run of games in his favoured position has clearly benefited Jack as he was, again, at the heart of every good Arsenal move with his trademark bursts of speed and close control of the ball. He will now give the manager a real choice headache, seeing as Arteta and Ramsey are set to return against Southampton. A situation that will, no doubt, only benefit everyone.
Cazorla seems to finally find his form, something the manager was quick to acknowledge:
"He was out for a long time at the start of the season and had some injury problems. After that he had an ankle problem and only recently, since mid-December, has he come back to his level".
His brace means he now has three goals in three games. Let's see how things progress over the course of the next couple of games, but the signs that the Spaniard is returning to his best, are encouraging.
And Podolski. When he came on, he always looked dangerous on the ball. He also put in a shift defensively, retracing his steps to help Monreal out. It's a pity the German didn't score, but at least we know he's all ready to play if the manager needs him.
And Arsene said, that's exactly, what he'll do:
"Every player who is on the bench is frustrated. But Lukas has a fantastic spirit and attitude and he showed that when he came on. He will play. He has been out for four-and-a-half months and it takes time, but he looks sharp. When he comes in he gives us something. First of all his occupies the flank well, his left foot is intelligent and dangerous. He is now physically ready".
That's another competitive player back to his best and the returns of Arteta, Ramsey, Bendtner and Vermaelen a week from now will make our bench packed with quality players.
This win ensures we stay top, though both City and Chelsea have won their respective games and we still have no margin for error. And we shouldn't, for the time being, need it. We play Coventry, Southampton and Crystal Palace in the upcoming weeks and should be looking to win all of these. Before all the hell breaks loose in mid-February. In the meantime, we can just enjoy being top.
Oh, and one last thing. I'm leaving for Maldives next Friday, so I won't be able to cover Coventry game. As for our next two Premier League fixtures, I'll do my best to find steams and watch them there. So check back often in case anything pops up.
Until later
Arsenal's splendid fashion of putting lesser teams to the sword continued yesterday with another fine win, this time over Fulham. The Cottagers has thus become the second side Arsenal took six points from over two games.
Arsene named an identical side to the one that got the job done at Villa Park. Monreal (despite all the doubts over his health) started on the left, while Rosicky was among the substitutes.
The first half was a rather uneventful one. Arsenal had one clear-cut chance in the 4th minute, when an interplay between Wilshere and Ozil allowed the latter to fire a low shot which was cleared off the line.
Fulham created a couple of decent chances, but, fortunately, our keeper was up for it. Szczesny first saved from a good Sidwell shot and then had to race Dejagah and Kacaniklic to the ball, after they have found some space.
We had the last word when Sagna's fierce shot was parried by Stekelenburg, but the game was still an even-shared one, though we dominated territory and possession.
After the restart, however, Arsenal upped the tempo just like they did against Cardiff, and it worked again. Gnabry saw his effort saved, then there was a scrap in the box as Arsenal almost got the ball into the net, but were denied by some last-ditch defending.
Fulham cracked under pressure soon enough. Cazorla cut inside from the left, Giroud and Wilshere combined and the Englishman returned the ball to Santi who smashed it home from the penalty spot. A great goal fro an in-form Spaniard.
Five minutes later, Cazorla doubled our lead. Monreal's cross fell to Santi just outside the box, he took a touch and sent a low shot flying towards the far corner past Stekelenburg.
After that, the game died down. Fulham was finished, we knew it, they knew it, so no one really tried to pull anything off.
Except Podolski. He came on for a tiring, but brilliant Gnabry and had two very presentable chances. His first effort was blocked by one of the defenders, his second was pushed onto the post by Stekelenburg.
Fulham could have nicked a consolation goal, something that could probably have sent Mertesacker into overdrive and force him to kill everyone responsible for ruining his second clean sheet in a row, but, luckily for his teammates, Bent wasted his chance, followed by Kasumi. In the end, we got the win and the clean sheet.
Our brilliant defence apart, I would like to give the props to Wilshere, Cazorla and Podolski. A run of games in his favoured position has clearly benefited Jack as he was, again, at the heart of every good Arsenal move with his trademark bursts of speed and close control of the ball. He will now give the manager a real choice headache, seeing as Arteta and Ramsey are set to return against Southampton. A situation that will, no doubt, only benefit everyone.
Cazorla seems to finally find his form, something the manager was quick to acknowledge:
"He was out for a long time at the start of the season and had some injury problems. After that he had an ankle problem and only recently, since mid-December, has he come back to his level".
His brace means he now has three goals in three games. Let's see how things progress over the course of the next couple of games, but the signs that the Spaniard is returning to his best, are encouraging.
And Podolski. When he came on, he always looked dangerous on the ball. He also put in a shift defensively, retracing his steps to help Monreal out. It's a pity the German didn't score, but at least we know he's all ready to play if the manager needs him.
And Arsene said, that's exactly, what he'll do:
"Every player who is on the bench is frustrated. But Lukas has a fantastic spirit and attitude and he showed that when he came on. He will play. He has been out for four-and-a-half months and it takes time, but he looks sharp. When he comes in he gives us something. First of all his occupies the flank well, his left foot is intelligent and dangerous. He is now physically ready".
That's another competitive player back to his best and the returns of Arteta, Ramsey, Bendtner and Vermaelen a week from now will make our bench packed with quality players.
This win ensures we stay top, though both City and Chelsea have won their respective games and we still have no margin for error. And we shouldn't, for the time being, need it. We play Coventry, Southampton and Crystal Palace in the upcoming weeks and should be looking to win all of these. Before all the hell breaks loose in mid-February. In the meantime, we can just enjoy being top.
Oh, and one last thing. I'm leaving for Maldives next Friday, so I won't be able to cover Coventry game. As for our next two Premier League fixtures, I'll do my best to find steams and watch them there. So check back often in case anything pops up.
Until later