ARTETA’S DELIGHT BOYS CONJURE UP
THE BOYS from Brazil grabbed centre-stage as Mikel Arteta once more showed his Midas touch. Arsenal’s boss blooded his South American new boys and both were pivotal as his side eased their way into the new campaign.
At the back, £27million recruit Gabriel gave an assured goalscoring debut and hinted at a bright future with a confident and powerful display.
Arteta freed up Willian by using him in a central role – and the old-timer had a hand in all three goals as
Fulham boss Scott Parker was handed a harsh lesson.
And afterwards there was more good news for Arsenal as Arteta revealed that Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, also on the scoresheet at Craven Cottage, was poised at long last to sign at new contract.
Injuries at the back forced Arteta’s hand over Gabriel’s selection. But even that came up trumps.
He said: “They were both really good. For Willian it’s easier because he knows the league and he’s very settled here, so I knew his performance will happen straight away.
“For Gabriel, it was a big chance for him to come in today. He hasn’t played for the last six months but he had a terrific performance.”
And Arteta said he expected Aubameyang to sign a new Arsenal deal within days. “I’m really positive we are going to get it done very soon and hopefully in the next few days you will get some news,” he said.
At the age of 32, Willian is a player Arteta was hoping would fit in seamlessly and have an instant impact. And he looked to have enjoyed himself in an Arsenal shirt every bit as much as he ever did at Chelsea as he moved centrally with devastating effect.
It was a similar story with Gabriel, given a first start following his move from Lille.
The centre-back was physically imposing, up for a scrap and determined not to give the opposition so much as a free-kick within sight of the goal.
It has to be said, amid all this praise, that Fulham did make life easy for their opponents.
A bright start was undermined with hapless defending. A half-hit Granit Xhaka shot was poked goalwards by Willian after Tim Ream got his feet in a tangle six yards from his own goal.
Marek Rodak saved the original effort but Alexandre Lacazette snaffled the rebound. Moments after the restart it was two. This time Willian’s right-wing corner was nodded home from inside the six-yard box by Gabriel. He was unmarked, which says it all.
Just after the hour the contest was over. The end of a lovely pitch-length flowing move was provided by Aubameyang after a weighted crossfield pass from Willian.
The Gabon striker cut inside onto his right foot and, well, you can guess the rest.
Parker (left) spoke about “fine margins” but the scoreline was not unfair. He said: “We have come from the Championship and you can’t let defeat after defeat really cripple you.
“We’re going to lose more than we win but we have to keep learning and developing.”