Arsenal family, Gunners faithful, Gooners contingent… we have the chance to once again put some daylight, between ourselves, and Mancheatster City.
A win against Fulham today, will put us 6 points clear at the top of the table.
The Emirates needs to be rocking, as the Arsenal players will need all the help they can get, during this pressure game.
The right support can put energy back into their legs, give them confidence, and reduce The Cottagers, to noting more than a pie.
This feels very much like the decisive derby, because I have a feeling that City will drop points in the their next two games. I’m going to send up 115 prayers.
The starting lineup was Raya in goal, Calafiori at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba central, and Ben White at right-back.
In midfield it was Rice, Eze, Lewis-Skelly… and up front, it was… Trossard on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Saka on the right.
The midfield selection excited me, because I, and many other Arsenal fans… had wanted Myles Lewis-Skelly to get a run of games in midfield. He adds a different dynamic, a different energy, he’s an excellent ball carrier, and he’ll try to beat people with driving runs. That’s something the other midfielders won’t do.
It was a brave call from Arteta, a much needed call, and most importantly… the right call.
We started the match and let Fulham know immediately, that we mean business. We were playing some wonderful football. Intricate, quick, incisive, one-touch passing.
We were energetic, purposeful, and our movement was a sight to behold. The Emirates crowd responded with roars, cheers, and rapturous applause. It had been a while since we’d witnessed this level of attacking football.
In the 9th minute, Saka picked up the ball on the right… invited Jimenez to take it off him, and with a drop of the shoulder, and a quick change of direction, he sent Jimenez for refreshments against his will. His attempt to adjust his body, and keep up with Saka, ended with him comically falling to the ground.
Our Starboy wasn’t done there… he took the ball to the byline, and squared it to Gyokeres, who tapped the ball in from close range. It was a lovely goal. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
Saka had his explosive pace back, and was dribbling freely, like he’s finally shaken off that Achilles injury, and is on his way back to his best. We’ve missed him in the team, and I think some people underestimated just how much. I am NOT among those people.
We were all over The Cottagers, like wet on water… and the current the Gunners created, made it unsafe for Fulham to swim in.
In the 30th minute, we had a goal chalked off for offside, after a VAR check… which was a real shame, because it was a great header by Calafiori, and we absolutely deserved a second goal.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long for our lead to be doubled. The 40th minute to be precise.
The ball was played up to Gyokeres, who was on his own in enemy territory… He didn’t panic, held up the ball superbly… spotted Saka’s intelligent run, and played him in on goal.
Saka, the personification of composure… stroked the ball past Leno, at his near post. A brilliant finish, and a fitting end to Gyokeres’ great hold-up play. 2-0 to The Arsenal!!
That’s a goal, and an assist each, for both Gyokeres, and Saka. They seem to be forming an understanding at just the right time, and long may it continue.
I couldn’t believe I felt relaxed, as we’d previously had narrow 1-0 leads in other games, that felt like it could be snatched away at any time. It had never felt like that today, due to how well we’d been playing, and how dangerous our attack looked. It wasn’t “If” we score, but “When” we score. I’d missed that feeling… and I welcomed it back, and embraced it warmly, like a long lost relative.
We kept playing our attacking football, and continued to push for more goals, and The Cottagers continued struggling to cope with it.
In the fourth minute of injury time, the ball was played through to Trossard on the left, and he played an exquisite chipped pass to Gyokeres in the box, who headed the ball home. It was another great move. 3-0 to The Arsenal!!
The third goal felt like the devastating blow, in this decisive derby. The referee blew his whistle for half-time, and the players went off to an ovation… coupled with roars, and cheers. The noise was deafening… and a welcoming sound, to inspire the team further… and show appreciation.
With a three goal lead, and the second leg of the Champions League semi-final looming, Arteta smartly made some substitutions… to rest players.
Madueke replaced Saka, at half-time… Zubimendi came on for Rice in the 64th minute, and Gabriel Jesus replaced Gyokeres.
There was no change to our dominance, we controlled every area of the pitch… and though Fulham probably wanted the game to be over, there was no let-up in sight.
Max Dowman came on for Eze in the 78th minute, and Mosquera replaced Ben White in the 83rd minute.
We had other chances to increase our lead, and probably should’ve won the game 5-0… but the match ended 3-0, and that was more than good enough.
It was a complete performance from The Arsenal, a statement win… a win that sent a message to Mancheatster City, and the rest of the football world.
A magnificent centre-forward display from Gyokeres. He fought, used his strength, chased lost causes, held the ball up… and in addition to that, he got 2 goals, and an assist. He really was sensational, and fully deserves all the plaudits.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was excellent in midfield… considering he hadn’t played a lot of football, and hadn’t hit the heights from last season. He didn’t hide though… he constantly made himself available… he tackled, he was assured on the ball, his passing accuracy was brilliant, and he ran at the opposition.
I genuinely believe he’s given Arteta a selection headache, ahead of the game against Atletico, and I’m so happy for him, because he came in for A LOT of unfair criticism.
A resurgent Bukayo Saka, caused havoc to the Fulham defence. He ran them ragged in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. He’s another player that had come in for unfair criticism, especially as he’s been plagued with injuries this season.
He made a lot of people eat humble pie, with a side of their own words… and wash it down with a tall glass of false narratives, and duped statistical data.
They were ready to crown City champions, after they beat us at the Etihad, and now we’re 6 points clear, at the top of the league. We’re fighting to the very end!! We’ll cope with the pressure, and we STILL believe we’re going to win the title!!
Should Lewis-Skelly start in midfield, against Atletico Madrid?
Do you think we should exercise caution against Atletico Madrid, or should we go for the jugular, straight from the start?
Would you start Madueke, or Saka, against Atletico Madrid?
Let me know in the comments as usual. COYG!!
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