Arsenal rout Fulham and put Liverpool woes behind them
Arsenal responded to their thrashing by Liverpool in the best possible manner reeling off a routine 4-1 humbling of struggling Fulham yesterday.
Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka had set Arsenal on their way with his fourth goal of the season. Alexandre Lacazette added the second after 55 minutes with their momentum temporarily halted as Aboubakar Kamara pulled one back after 69 minutes.
However, Welshman Aaron Ramsey came off the bench to make it 3-1 eleven minutes from time and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a fourth.
Arsenal have yet to keep a clean sheet since beating Huddersfield Town on December 8, but a second win in six matches saw them move on to 41 points two points off the Uefa Champions League places.
Xhaka admitted Arsenal had something to prove after the 5-1 humbling at the Premier League leaders. He said: “After a bad game against Liverpool, we want to show a good game and to improve. Fulham have a new coach and a good team. We were a bit nervous at 2-1, but 4-1 makes us happy.
“We can learn a lot from the game against Liverpool – they are a good team this year – but we have West Ham away and then Chelsea at home which is a tough programme.”
Fulham have shown little sign of a recovery under Claudio Ranieri since he took over from the dismissed Slavisa Jokanovic and are second from bottom.
Arsenal exposed the defensive frailties that have blighted Fulham’s season in the 25th minute as Alex Iwobi spotted Xhaka advancing unmarked into the penalty area and flighted the ball into his path.
The midfielder had all the time he needed to control the ball and poke it past Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico. A second goal arrived 10 minutes into the second half.
It was Arsenal at their intricate, quick-passing best.
Iwobi, on the left, touched the ball forward to Aubameyang, who saw Kolasinac advancing inside him and rolled it into his path. The defender unselfishly squared for Lacazette to hit the ball past Rico from ten yards.
Kamara briefly gave Fulham hope when he made amends for Saturday’s controversial penalty miss at home to Huddersfield – he had insisted on taking the spot kick himself – by arriving at the far post to convert Sessegnon’s low cross.
The Gunners, though, put the game to bed 11 minutes from time.
Matteo Guendouzi and Kolasinac opened Fulham up down the left, Aubameyang smacked Kolasinac’s low cross against the post and the rebound fell to Ramsey, who shot high past Rico’s left hand.
Aubameyang made it 4-1 after 83 minutes when Fulham failed dismally to clear a corner and the Gabon striker’s shot was deflected over Rico by Tim Ream’s attempt to block.
Defender Denis Odoi admitted that Fulham “crumbled” in the second half.
He told Sky Sports: “We showed can play football but it’s a reality check also. Arsenal were a little bit more efficient in the beginning. We started well in the second half but then we crumbled a bit.
“At 2-1 we were still pushing. We thought 2-2 might be possible. After 3-1 it was just disappointment. You still try to push but your know its hard. It was 4-1 when there was a communication issue between myself and Jean Michael Seri.
“The legaue is still on and we have every chance to stay in it.”