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.
53 minutes
Alex Iwobi jinks and jives his way past a pair of Fulham defenders down the left wing and has an excellent opportunity to cross, but his lofted ball is not well-directed and evades all in Arsenal red-and-white.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham (Alexandre Lacazette, 55 minutes)
Lovely goal!
Alex Iwobi finds a reverse pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who in turn passes the ball betwixt the legs of a Fulham defender on to Sead Kolasinac.
Kolasinac could probably score himself but unselfishly cuts back for Alexandre Lacazette, who takes a touch, picks his spot and doubles Arsenal's lead.
57 minutes
Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaces Cyrus Christie for the visitors in the wake of the goal.
Again Lacazette finds a chance opening up for him, but Sergio Rico saves with his legs on this occasion. This could turn into a rout if Fulham aren't careful.
60 minutes
Fulham use their final two substitutions together.
Ibrahima Cisse and Andre Schurrle are replaced by Aboubakar Kamara and Jean Michael Seri.
Quick fire changes, but can they change the game.
62 minutes
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heads towards goal and Sergio Rico does well to bravely get down low and beat the effort away among a number of legs.
64 minutes
Alexandre Lacazette collapses after a collision in the Fulham area. Jean Michael Seri clearly took the ball but caught his former Ligue 1 foe awkwardly with his arm and Lacazette is in a bit of pain.
Once the ball is knocked out play, Lacazette gets to his feet and decides he'll continue without treatment and doesn't look any worse for wear, so perhaps not, as the case may be.
67 minutes
A corner is overhit to the far post and collected by Joe Bryan, who combines nicely with Tim Ream down the left.
Ream looks to clip the ball on to return it to Bryan, but Bryan is about a foot beyond the Arsenal defence as Ream passes and is flagged offside.
68 minutes
Big chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic!
He heads straight at Bernd Leno from close range after a lovely cross into the box.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (Aboubakar Kamara, 69 minutes)
Back in it!
Jean Michael Seri and Lucas Torreira battle in the Arsenal half and Seri emerges with it. Arsenal are convinced the Ivorian committed a foul, but Graham Scott waves play on and Fulham have men over.
Seri finds Ryan Sessegnon moving down the left and the youngster slots a delicious pass to the far post, perfectly finding the gap between defence and goalkeeper, where Aboubakar Kamara is waiting to apply the simplest of finishing touches.
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