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.
75 minutes
Aaron Ramsey will be Arsenal's second change. He replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
76 minutes
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is, surprisingly, the first player to be booked with just 15 minutes left in the game at the Emirates.
The Manchester United loanee goes in physically on Granit Xhaka and Graham Scott goes to his pocket with little hesitation.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Fulham (Aaron Ramsey, 79 minutes)
That should seal it!
In the month where his future could be decided, Aaron Ramsey has a goal.
The ball ricochets Ramsey's way after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strikes the post, and Ramsey controls it nicely before slicing his volley into the top corner.
82 minutes
Should have been four!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is freed and is one-on-one with Sergio Rico, but the Spanish goalkeeper is out quickly, spreads himself and manages to get something in the way.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Fulham (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 83 minutes)
It is four, and of course Aubameyang gets on the scoresheet!
A corner isn't fully cleared by Fulham and breaks for Sokratis in the 'D' on the edge of the box.
The Greek defender gets his head up and spots Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bizarrely left all alone lurking on the right.
Aubayemang's shot takes a heavy deflection off of Tim Ream and loops over Sergio Rico into the far top corner.
It will go down as Aubameyang's goal, and the Gabonese striker can't stop scoring.
Just before that goal, Arsenal made their final change, and it is a Premier League debut for Bukayo Saka, just 17.
He replaces fellow academy graduate Alex Iwobi. Saka is immensely promising, one of a number of prodigious talents beginning to emerge from a strong teenage crop at Arsenal.
89 minutes
A lovely passing movement from Arsenal again sees Ainsley Maitland-Niles charging onto a through pass but he has been tracked superbly all the way by Ryan Sessegnon, who slides in to prevent Maitland-Niles unleashing a shot.
Excellent work from Sessegnon.
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