Arsenal beat Fulham to go top of Premier League
Manchester United's match away to Blackpool this weekend was postponed due to the adverse weather conditions in England and the fact that Blackpool do not have under soil heating to help melt the ice that has accumulated on the pitch. But whatever the reason
may be it gave Arsenal and Chelsea all the reason in the world to win their respective games and as an effect go top of the Premier League.
Arsenal faced Fulham this weekend in a London Derby, knowing that they need to capitalise on Manchester United's unfortunate predicament. Last weekend, Arsenal disposed off a young Aston Villa side in a match where a win was proving to be a big uncertainty
in the second half even though they took a 2-0 lead in the first.
Arsenal started the game as they did the last, with Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Andrei Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh in attack. Jack Wilshere and Alex Song were deployed as defensive midfielders in front of the backline which consisted of Bakary Sagna, Sebastien
Squillaci, Laurent Koscielny and Gael Clichy. Lukasz Fabianski continued in goal for his tenth successive appearance in the Premier League.
Fulham set up a little more defensively, as teams normally do at the Emirates Stadium. Kamara played the lone striker upfront. Zoltan Gera and Clint Dempsey played on the wings. Smon Davies, Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu were put into the centre of midfield.
John Pantsil, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes and Matthew Briggs were in defence, although Chris Baird had to come on for young Briggs in the 28th minute due to injury.
The match started brightly for Arsenal and they created plenty of chances before Samir Nasri put them one ahead in the 14th minute with a sparkling display of individual brilliance and stunningly quick feet when he tip toed past challenges from Brede Hangeland
and Simon Davies before unleashing an unstoppable finish with his left peg. The move was assisted by Arshavin and Arsenal were 1-0 up to the delight of the Emirates and Arsene Wenger. Nasri continued his fine goal scoring form, this goal becoming his 10th
from 13 starts. Nasri alone has subdued plenty of the damage Arsenal have had to endure in Fabregas' absence and it looks like Nasri isn't prepared to go back into the Captain's shadow, and with performances like these he has a case.
On the 32nd minute, Chris Kamara equalised for Fulham, the ball dropped in front of the Arsenal defence and Squillaci headed straight into Koscielny's face with force, disorienting the defender, and as Koscielny saw stars Dempsey poked the ball through to
Kamara who was in space and he finished past the flailing Fabianski. It was 1-1, and Koscielny went down, suffering a concution. He had to be taken off and Johan Djourou went on to replace him.
Now, Fulham were in the ascendancy and they should've taken advantage as Arsenal were clearly rattled after Koscielny went off injures. But they managed till half time. The second half began as the first ended, with Fulham holding all the cards. Arsenal
weathered the storm for about ten minutes and then began to take a foothold in the game. Robin Van Persie was thrown on to add some attacking flair in the final third in place of Tomas Rosicky. And it all paid off in the 75th minute. Andrei Arshavin drove
through midfield and passed the ball to Van Persie who in turn found Nasri. And leave it to Nasri to provide one of the sublime finishes you are likely to see in any Premier League season. Nasri raced onto the ball from Van Persie and danced away from two
defenders and then the goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, now as Nasri was facing away from goal he spun and shot the ball into the net on the half turn. It was a goal of magnificent improvisation, a spectacle, a miracle. Clearly jubilant with his effort, Nasri raced
off to celebrate. That goal was enough to see Arsenal through till the end, and it was a goal fit to win any match.
Arsenal eventually ground out the three points, but they made it extremely difficult for themselves by missing a plethora of chances. The crowd was as vociferous at the Emirates as never before as they were anxious to avoid another league defeat at home.
And Arsene Wenger must be pleased by the display, especially of Samir Nasri who has become a twinkle toed marvel, a player in red hot form, one who has stepped out of his shell this season and graced the world with his technique. And if he can keep this going
then the title could seriously end up at the Emirates this season.
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