GUNNERS time! Edge of the seat stuff...and, pretty!

[Karl]

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

By Ian Hughes




Hleb came up with an unlikely winner to rescue Arsenal


Arsenal left it late to snatch victory over Fulham after they had fallen behind as a result of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's horrendous error.


With only 50 seconds gone, Lehmann made an awful mess of clearing Gael Clichy's backpass and Healy tapped in.

Lehmann then had to watch his opposite number Tony Warner produce countless fine saves to keep Arsenal at bay.
But Robin van Persie smashed home a penalty on 84 minutes before Alexander Hleb slotted in a last-gasp winner.

Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Interview: Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez



It had looked to be Fulham's afternoon for so long before the late strikes as Warner - a last-minute replacement for Antti Niemi, who picked up an injury in the warm-up - was outstanding.

In the first half, he made fine stops from two low Tomas Rosicky shots, which had the keeper scrambling across goal, and saved his best to deny Hleb and Rosicky when both were clean through.

And as the first period drew to a close, Warner came rushing out of his goal to use his legs expertly to prevent Cesc Fabregas putting the final touch to a superb Hleb through-ball.

Later, Hleb felt he should have had a penalty when Chris Baird appeared to trip him but his appeals were waved away.

Fulham, too, had a shout for a penalty when Steve Davis fell in the box - although replays showed he clipped his own foot rather than any part of Fabregas.

Earlier, Fulham might have made it 2-0 from open play when another error from Lehmann led to the ball squirming out of his grasp. It landed at the feet of Healy but the German managed to scramble the ball clear.

By contrast, Warner could do no wrong and he made another outstanding stop immediately after the break when Rosicky raced clear.

And Arsenal might have been punished seconds afterwards when Simon Davies found himself free in the box but he could only direct a fizzing shot straight at Lehmann.

Still, Fulham - complete with five new faces in their line-up - were on course to clinch a big scalp on their travels and match the total of away victories they had achieved in the previous two seasons, especially as Warner refused to be beaten, this time throwing himself at the feet of Robin Van Persie.

And it appeared to be the same old story for Arsenal as Rosicky missed another chance, this time Zat Knight providing the block.

Then Van Persie whistled a free-kick wide of the post as Fulham survived another assault on their goal.

On came Theo Walcott and, later, Nicklas Bendtner as Arsenal swapped their attacking options.

But you could not help thinking that the one option no longer available to them - Thierry Henry - was just what they were crying out for.

However, a surging run from Kolo Toure was stopped illegally by Carlos Bocanegra and Van Persie belted in the spot-kick to give Arsenal hope.

Remarkably, six minutes later, Hleb twisted and turned in the box before angling a low drive into the bottom corner to hand Arsenal what had looked an unlikely result.




Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"We were strong mentally and physically - this team is resilient. It was a test because we made it difficult for ourselves in the first minute.

"Jens Lehmann is the happiest person in the dressing room now as the team hasn't had to pay for his mistake. "Fulham played well but we wanted it so much we managed to win the game."


Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez:
"We feel very hard done by. I felt we were good value for our lead. "We told David Healy that Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann can be erratic under pressure and he chased him down and did well to get his goal.
"I was disappointed by the way Arsenal's equaliser came - they had three claims for penalties and then their fourth appeal for a penalty was given."

[Karl]

...qualification of "pretty"...

"Pretty" it was excepting for Lehman's crazy give away, Kolo Toure's almost scoring a defender's goal and like last season, the huge number of chances that went begging!

[Karl]

Arsenal late show undoes Fulham

Arsenal late show undoes Fulham

(AFP) Sunday 12 August 2007

Alexander Hleb ensured Arsenal began Premiership life without Thierry Henry in winning fashion as his dramatic late goal sealed a 2-1 victory over London rivals Fulham on Sunday.

The Belarussian pounced seconds into injury-time to a cap a remarkable late fightback from Arsene Wenger's side, who had looked set for a shock defeat after Jens Lehmann's early blunder had gifted David Healy a debut goal. But Robin van Persie cancelled out Healy's strike with an 84rd minute penalty, and the hosts' intense pressure was rewarded when Hleb collected Cesc Fabregas's delicate chipped pass and smashed into the bottom corner.

It was cruel on Fulham and their goalkeeper, Tony Warner, in particular. The 34-year-old had been drafted into Lawrie Sanchez's starting line-up moments before kick-off after first-choice Antti Niemi injured himself in the warm-up, and he made a string of spectacular saves to keep Arsenal at bay.

Warner certainly enjoyed a better day than Lehmann. In the 53rd second, the German made a hash of dealing with Gael Clichy's gentle back-pass, attempting a clever reverse pass instead of clearing the ball. Lehmann slipped at the crucial moment and scuffed straight to Healy, and the ball bounced in off the forward's shin and rolled into the Gunners' net.

Falling behind at the Emirates Stadium is hardly a new experience for Arsenal. No team won more points from losing positions last season, but then they could at least count on the steadying influence of old heads such as Henry and Freddie Ljungberg.

There was a frantic quality to much of Arsenal's football, although they still created a welter of chances. In the 13th minute, Tomas Rosicky flashed a volley wide of the right-hand post following fine work by Bacary Sagna, while Hleb's low drive moments later was well blocked by a sprawling Zat Knight.

Even when Arsenal did break through, they found Warner in inspired form. The former Liverpool goalkeeper tipped aside Rosicky's 35th minute daisy-cutter, somehow blocked Hleb's shot from close range and then dived bravely at Fabregas's feet just as the Spaniard was set to equalise.

Fulham were hanging on grimly, although the quicksilver runs of Healy and Simon Davies ensured Arsenal were never entirely comfortable. The visitors howled for a penalty after Davies collapsed under Fabregas' challenge shortly before half-time, but replays suggested Phil Dowd, the referee, was right to wave play on.

That did not stop Sanchez complaining vociferously on the touchline, although the Fulham manager should have been grateful that Dowd had taken an equally dismissive view of Arsenal's own penalty claims in the 20th minute, when Hleb was scythed down by Chris Baird.

Drama at the finish
The second period started at a similarly break-neck pace, with Warner immediately denying Rosicky with a plunging save, although Arsenal's increasing desperation left their defence riddled with holes.

Fulham could have made the points secure when Healy's right-wing cross sparked havoc, but Steven Davis - yet another debutant - could only blast the loose ball straight at Lehmann. It was a costly miss. With seven minutes remaining, Kolo Toure's surge into the area was checked by Carlos Bocanegra and Van Persie slammed his spot-kick high into the top corner.
Arsenal would have been grateful for a point, but they snatched all three with seconds remaining when Hleb finally snaked a shot past the despairing Warner. Arsenal were triumphant, but hardly convincing.