Arsenal swat aside Fulham as Pierre-Emerick Aumbameyang strikes again
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal bounced back from its mauling by Liverpool by easing past Fulham 4-1 in the Premier League to move to within two points of the Champions League qualification positions on Tuesday.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wrapped up a routine victory in the 84th minute with his 14th goal of the campaign, leaving him the league's top scorer and giving him as many in 21 games as Alexandre Lacazette managed in leading Arsenal last season.
Lacazette was also on target at Emirates Stadium, scoring between strikes by Granit Xhaka and substitute Aaron Ramsey.
Fulham was well-beaten but briefly just 2-1 down when substitute Aboubakar Kamara tapped in from close range in the 69th. Kamara was dropped to the bench against Arsenal after disobeying manager Claudio Ranieri's orders by taking a penalty — which he subsequently missed — in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday.
Arsenal was thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool on the same day in its heaviest loss since Unai Emery joined in the offseason. With the win over Fulham, fifth-placed Arsenal moved six points ahead of sixth-placed Manchester United, which plays Newcastle on Wednesday.
AP
Match preview
What time does it start?
Arsenal vs Fulham kicks off at 3pm (GMT)
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with the action via our live blog.
Player to watch…
Aleksandar Mitrovic: It would have been easier to name an Arsenal player but with the Gunners’ defence a clear weakness, they will need to be very wary of the danger Mitrovic brings. The Serbian striker saved his side on Saturday after slotting the ball under the keeper to win his side the three points. That was his first goal in seven games so he’ll be feeling confident travelling to Arsenal, making him even more of a threat.
Form guide…
- Arsenal: LDWLWD
- Fulham: WDDLLD
Odds…
- Arsenal to win: 33/100
- Fulham to win: 8/1
- Draw: 23/5
Prediction…
Arsenal 3-1 Fulham: Arsenal will be looking to please the fans after a very poor display against Liverpool and I feel they’ll come out firing. With the form Aubameyang is currently on, it’s going to be very difficult for the Fulham back line to keep him at bay.
20 minutes
Bernd Leno slides across the watered turf to collect a loose ball and Laurent Koscielny remonstrates with Aleksandar Mitrovic after the striker collides with his goalkeeper.
Leno makes nothing of the incidental contact, to his credit, and play continues.
21 minutes
Fulham can clearly threaten Arsenal.
Cyrus Christie has pace and power with the ball at his feet but his final pass is lacking as he moves into a forward area.
Ryan Sessegnon fires wide when one-on-one with Bernd Leno after finding a good early opening for Fulham.
23 minutes
Another miss by Ryan Sessegnon!
This might be even worse. Andre Schurrle gets his cross in a bit too easily when confronted by Ainsely Maitland-Niles but produces a delivery of real quality which bends along the six-yard line.
Sessegnon had moved into space at the far post unnumbered by Sead Kolasinac who had rather lost him, but completely fails to make contact with a swing of his left foot.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham (Granit Xhaka, 25 minutes)
How Fulham may rue those misses, as Arsenal lead!
Alex Iwobi gets his head up and seems somewhat shocked that Granit Xhaka had moved right through the centre of the Fulham defence to stand in space six yards out.
Iwobi's ball is cleverly clipped and Xhaka takes it down nicely, steadying himself and volleying past Sergio Rico to give Arsenal the opener against the run of play.
28 minutes
It is cruel on Fulham to be behind, but there were far too open as Xhaka moved into their area there.
Joe Bryan wins a corner looking to deliver a cross.
29 minutes
With the box loaded, Fulham play the corner short and back further to Bryan, who crosses to the edge of the box and Arsenal head away and push their opponents back into their own half.
Subsequently, a bouncing ball finds its way into Andre Schurrle's path but the German's effort is comfortably over the bar.
Granit Xhaka volleyed Arsenal into the lead against the run of play at the Emirates.
35 minutes
Granit Xhaka nearly has a surprise second and should score from close range, but Sergio Rico is on this occasion able to block the Swiss midfielder's effort.
A gorgeous back heel from Alex Iwobi in the build-up. Arsenal starting to purr.
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