Fulham Vs Arsenal

Craven Cottage
Saturday, March 04, 2006, 3pm

At a time when we are currently fighting with almost 6 teams for a Champions league qualification our away day form and performance were just not supporting our cause. It was high time that Arsenal dumped its away day woes and seriously start taking points on the road.

And that we began with Fulham first, at Craven Cottage.

The Gunners thrashed Fulham 4-0 and grabbed the 3 vital points we have so rarely been able to gather on the road. Led by Henry, we put up an inspired effort against a Fulham side that had an impressive defensive record at home. A brace by Henry did the most for us while Adebayor scored his second goal for Arsenal and Fabregas too got on the score sheet after an impressive performance in his first Spain call up in a friendly against Ivory Coast.

We were without Pires while Cesc and Reyes started on the bench. Also Bergkamp and Ljungberg were back in the squad.

We managed to get hold on the game right from the start which was a positive sign. In the 13th minute Eboye sent a low cross for Henry who could have scored if he hadn’t applied a touch as heavy as he did. We were playing like the way we have rarely played away from home this season, making movements with which the Fulham defence could just not cope up with. But the crucial goal could only arrive in the 31st minute. Henry collected Diaby's pass on the left and went passed his marker and from a very acute angle sent a fierce shot into the top of the net. Another piece of individual brilliance from our captain. We had a one goal lead which we doubled just after 4 minutes. This time Ljungberg feeding Adebayor on the left. Freddie fed Adebayor with a clever pass on the left who sidefooted into the far corner. By now The Gunners had ragged through the Fulham defense. The situation became so worse that Zat Knight and Volz almost came to blows as they were leaving the pitch at half-time.

We were as sharp and likely to score anytime after the break as we were in the first-half. Henry after having had moved to the left sent a cross across the Fulham goal with none to send it into the net. Then we had four corners one after the other yielding nothing. Soon Adebayor missed a sitter. Henry fed him a pass and when he should have had hit it first time he dallied and shot wide only for an opportunity to go waste.Warner saved a shot from Hleb and then he made another fine save when Freddie's shot took a deflection from Adebayor. But it was not long that he was to be beaten again. Ljungberg fed Henry on the left who after racing through placed a shot at the left-hand post of Warner to score Arsenals third of the day. He was substituted by Reyes later but he had done his job for the day. Then with just 4 minutes remaining Flamini managed to get to the byline only to cut back to Fabregas who after having had come on for Hleb didn’t failed to manage to put the ball into the net for Arsenals fourth of the day and wrapped up Arsenals best away win of the season.

A very important victory for us from all aspects. Domestically, this win was much needed as we just can’t afford to lose anymore and would certainly come as a boost for the team as a whole. Also with the second-leg match with Real on Wednesday at the backdrop of our minds; this victory should allow us to face Real with renewed confidence at Highbury.

We could take a lot of positives from the game. We were sharp, offensive and ready to go front. The way we played seemed to suggest that at last we have rediscovered our long lost away form. But hopefully it should carry to all the games remaining in the season.

Next up Real at THOF!