Arsenal go from very ordinary to sublime

IN THE immediate aftermath of Arsenal’s opening goal, the television cameras did not pan to the dugout, where Unai Emery appeared relieved, or to the terraces, where fans embraced.

Instead, they cut to Fulham’s young winger, Ryan Sessegnon, who trudged upfield, with his head bowed and a forlorn look to the ground. Granit Xhaka had provided the breakthrough but Sessegnon had previously held this game in his grip and, deep down, the teenager will know this.

Twice in the first half, Fulham cut through a dreadful and anxious Arsenal defence and twice the 18-year-old spurned opportunities that he surely gobbles up every day at the training ground.

The first came in the 18th minute and it was the kind of chance we have seen Arsenal concede on so many occasions over the years. With the Gunners overcommitted to attack both in numbers and in mind, Fulham raced upfield on the counter and after Aleksandar Mitrovic cushioned the ball back to Tom Cairney on the halfway line, the Fulham captain instantly weighted a low pass to the run of Sessegnon on the inside right channel.

He sped the distance of the Arsenal half, beyond his cast of heavy-legged pursuers, but confronted by the whites of the goalkeeper’s eyes he opened up his body and curled wide. More woe was to follow. As Cairney spread the play for Andre Schurrle, the German crossed delightfully for the unmarked Sessegnon, who, with the goal gaping, missed his kick entirely.

Within two minutes, the ball was in the Fulham net and with it their hopes of an unlikely victory greatly diminished.

The Arsenal goal was well-worked, as Alex Iwobi cut in from the left and picked out the run of Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder had ambled in on Cairney’s blind side and slotted the ball past Sergio Rico easily.

Arsenal had taken only four points from the previous four games, including Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Anfield. Their defence, despite featuring the experience of Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi, appeared rattled.

This was a fraught opening period in which the home side were fortunate to be level, never mind leading. ‘The Arsenal fans did not look very happy with their team,’ Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri observed. So do not be fooled by the handsome scoreline.

In truth, portions of this game resembled the more angst-ridden moments of the late Arsene Wenger period.

Supporters groaned when Arsenal mislaid passes and roundly booed the manager’s decision to substitute Alexandre Lacazette with Aaron Ramsey in the second half as Arsenal sought to protect a 2-1 lead.

Emery’s decision was vindicated within four minutes when Ramsey scored the third goal to take the match away from Fulham. ‘I understand the supporters but I need to do my work,’ Emery said.

Lacazette soon scored the second, yet their frailties remained and Fulham finally did score when Sessegnon’s low cross was tapped in by substitute Aboubakar Kamara, who angered Ranieri when he took a penalty from Mitrovic and missed it against Huddersfield on Saturday. Ranieri said: ‘I killed him, but softly. He apologised to me and his team-mates. ‘My players are like sons. I kill but after I give oxygen.’ As Fulham chased the game, Ramsey prodded in the third before PierreEmerick Aubameyang’s strike deflected over Rico

to cap the win.