Fulham vs Arsenal: Instant Reaction

HE IS RISEN. A good Sunday

A big win to keep pace. Let’s react.

Headline: Arsenal getting healthy and ready for the run in

Thursday Arsenal looked a little thin and some worry about how Arsenal would cope with things started creeping in.

When the lineup came out pre-game all that was put to rest, this Arsenal team looked as strong as any since the World Cup and perhaps even stronger with a bench that was oozing with talent should they have been needed.

Arsenal have survived and stayed afloat with Gabriel Jesus but now that he is back I am giddy with the possibility that this team can do extraordinary things.

Arsenal have survived the Gabriel Jesus Injury

The run-in is still going to be tough but Arsenal are looking like they are getting healthy at the right time with their full firepower to take on the big matches that they have in front of them.

To this match now.

On paper, this looked like a tough one, on the road to a London rival who are in 7th place. In reality, it wasn’t with Fulham significantly above their expected numbers this season and it showed in the performance. I pointed this out in my pre-match thread and it is always good for a prediction to come to fruition.

Cannon Stats @CannonStats

A little Arsenal vs Fulham Thread. On paper this is a tough London Derby, away to the team in 7th place but I think this is a situation where the table is lying. Let's explore.

The game started a bit cagey with both teams pressing effectively and keeping things at an arm’s length from the goal. In the opening 15 minutes Arsenal had just 2 touches in the box and Fulham with 0. Both teams really did well to limit actions. Fulham were doing well to force Arsenal long but after that, Arseanl’s technical quality started showing through, first they had an own goal called back for offside after some delightful play with Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli and then really exerted pressure with successive corners that finally got the breakthrough.

For the rest of the half Arsenal played some of the best passing moves I have seen from them this season. Including some really wonderful play out from the back in the build-up to the second goal.

Arsenal just cut through Fulham with ease and regularity in this match.

The other really positive side in this match was the return of the opening goal for Arsenal. That was something that was badly needed and really helped so Arsenal didn’t have to overcommit to attack and limited Fulham’s ability to hit back quickly at them.

Fulham had 0 fast breaks and 0 big chances, they had just one decent chance that came off of a Ramsdale error but it was from a very tight angle and outside the box.

A great overall performance and one that makes me very excited for what this team as it gets healthy is capable of.

Stock Rising: Leandro Trossard