Arsenal (1) 2 - 0 (0) Fulham
Highbury, Sunday 26th December 2004
FA Premiership
Arsenal:
Almunia
Lauren Campbell Toure Clichy
Ljungberg (Flamini 76) Vieira Cesc Pires
Bergkamp (van Persie 78) Henry
Arsenal started well and almost scored on 11 minutes when Pires
robbed Volz and forced a save from van der Saar. Seconds later we were
ahead. Freddie passed to Henry with his back to goal in the box. He
took the ball past Pearce to the left before cutting back as the
defender lunged to block a shot that didn't come, then passed it
into the far side of the goal. The goal equalled Ian Wright's
128 league goals for the club, and keeps Henry on course for
beating Wrighty's overall record before long.
Arsenal dominated the rest of the half but their shots, from
Henry, Pires and Bergkamp, were blocked.
The visitors started the second half better but Arsenal were
still the more threatening. Toure nearly put a Bergkamp free kick
away, then Bergkamp fed Pires with a strong and deliberate chest-down
on the edge of the box, but the keeper beat the shot away.
Fulham had a couple of very good chances. First Collins John
did well to set himself up for an angled shot from their right
but he dragged it just beyond the far post. Then Radzinski got
clear on Almunia and tried to lob the keeper from just inside the box,
but Almunia had done well not to commit himself and was able to
stretch up and pluck the ball out of the air.
Henry flicked the ball through for Pires to take it to the goal line,
and when Bobby cut it back to him he clipped it against the woodwork.
Straight after that, van der Saar had to make a save with his legs from
Bergkamp.
The all-important second goal came with 20 minutes to go. Cesc started
the move passing wide right for Freddie. His low pass through the box
was dummied by Bergkamp to allow it to come through to Pires. He kept
his cool and dragged the ball further to the left to get away from
his marker, and he hit it over van der Saar as the keeper came out to
try to block. A well deserved 10th goal of the season for Pires,
who was truly back to match-winning form.
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