ARSENAL 2 FULHAM 1
by Ricky Butler at The Emirates
TWO moments of magic from in-form Samir Nasri sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League on Saturday afternoon but it was another worrying home performance from Arsene Wenger's side.
After a bright opening, during which they could have scored three times, the Gunners struggled to break down a determined Fulham and were only spared further home disappointment by the quick feet of Nasri.
The Frenchman skipped past the challenges of Matthew Briggs, Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland to smash the ball beyond Mark Schwartzer for a superb 14th minute opener, before grabbing an even better second fifteen minutes from time.
Racing into a pass from substitute Robin van Persie, he wrong-footed John Pansil, rounded the Fulham goalkeeper and pirouetted with the grace of ballet dancer to clip the ball home from the tightest of angles.
But even then the Gunners very nearly blew it. Defender Johan Djourou headed narrowly past his own post, van Persie was forced to clear a header from Zolton Gera off his own goal-line before Lukasz Fabianski kept out another effort from the Hungarian as the hosts suffered a nervous end to what should have been a comfortable afternoon.
The Gunners began with a swagger in their step and they were soon into their slick, passing rhythm. Schwartzer showed exactly why Wenger had pursued him last summer with a fine reaction save to deny the lively Andrey Arshavin inside three minutes while Nasri then poked the ball wide after more clever play from the Russian.
But once in front, Arsenal seemed to be weighed down with tension and they could have fallen behind before the break. The equaliser arrived just past the half hour when the defensive frailties that have blighted their season returned with avengence. Centre backs Laurent Koscienly and Sebastien Squiallci clashed heads as they both went for the same ball and, with the former staggering around in a concussed state, Clint Dempsey threaded a neat pass for Diomansy Kamara to calmly slot beyond Fabianski.
Then, in the final minute of the half, Dickson Etuhu sent the Senegalese striker clear of an awful Arsenal offside trap but the Polish keeper, who has had his fair share of critics, was out quickly to block with his feet.
A goal for Mark Hughes' side right on the stroke of half time might well have knocked the stuffing out of the Gunners but instead they came out for the second half looking to regain their earlier control.
Tomas Rosicky, only in the starting XI due to the absence of skipper Cesc Fabregas, volleyed just wide while Schwartzer then denied Arshavin at the near post after the little Russian had shown neat control inside the Fulham area.
The introduction of substitutes Theo Walcott and van Persie showed Wenger was determined not to drop more points at the once fortress-like Emirates, but just as they looked to have run out of ideas Nasri and his dancing feet came to the rescue.
Hughes was in a philosophical mood at the end. he said: "That is what happens when you play the big sides. They have individuals who can win the game when they are not functioning at their best."
Meanwhile Wenger was relieved to have ended a run of two consecutive home defeats in the Premier League. "We showed quality and resilience. I believe we are capable of going on to win the title but it will be down to consistency. I know we have the desire and spirit to fight all the way for it.," he said.
When questioned about his sides defensive weaknesses, the Frenchman replied. "It's true we looked vulnerable in the air, but I expected us to suffer at corners and in the end we held on."
So maybe not the performance of potential champions, but in a season where none of big names are showing any sort of consistency, it is a win that could prove crucial in the final analysis.
ARSENAL; Fabianski 7, Sagna 6, Koscienly 6 (Djourou 33 mins 7), Squillaci 6, Clichy 6, Wilshere 6 (Walcott 73 mins 6), NASRI 9, Song 7, Rosicky 6 (van Persie 64 mins 7), Chamakh 6, Arshavin 8. Subs not used; Szcezeny, Denilson, Gibbs, Bendtner.
FULHAM; Schwartzer 8, Pansil 5, Hughes 6, Hangeland 7, Briggs 4 (Baird 28 mins 6), Davies 7, Murphy 7 (Johnson(E) 88 mins 5), Etuhu 7, Dempsey 8, Gera 7, Kamara 6 (Johnson(A) 73 mins 6). Subs not used; Stockdale, Kelly, Duff, Greening.
REFEREE; C. Foy 7
ATTENDANCE; 60,049.
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