Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal showed no signs of nerves as they preserved their five point league at the top of the Premier League table, thanks to a hugely impressive victory over Fulham.
A Sunday afternoon London derby at Craven Cottage looked like a potential danger to the Gunners, against Marco Silva’s side with their sights set on Europa League football. But first half goals from centre back Gabriel, sensational striker Gabriel Martinelli and sipper Martin Odegaard took this game away from their hosts.
And it could have been more at the break as Arsenal totally dominated Fulham from the off. They had already had a goal ruled out by a very tight VAR decision when Gabriel headed home from a corner. One became two when the Gunners broke at pace and Leandro Trossard stood up a beautiful cross for Martinelli to nod home. And Odegaard made it 3-0 in first half injury time when he controlled a lofted pass on the right side of the penalty area, took out two defenders with a lovely second touch and then fired his shot beyond Bernd Leno and into the far corner.
It was more of the same in the second period as the Gunners passed the ball around superbly and probed the Cottagers’ defence; but the hosts finally had a crack at the visitors’ backline, midway through the second, half when Bobby Dec-Cordova Reid brought a fine save from Aaron Ramsdale and then Aleksandar Mitrovic crashed a heard against the crossbar.
To make it a near perfect day for Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance since picking up a knee injury at the World Cup, as the Gunners comfortably saw out the win.
It was a magnificent response by Arteta’s men after Manchester City had cut their lead to two points by beating Crystal Palace on Saturday, courtesy of an Erling Braut Haaland penalty. The Premier League 2023 betting odds have nudged back in the direction of the Emirates but it’s going to be a nail-biting couple of months.
A week is a long time in the Premier League
Isn’t it strange?
This time last week this SBOTOP writer was reporting, in some disbelief, how Jurgen Klopp’s newly rejuvenated Liverpool dismantled Manchester United with a 7-0 thrashing at Anfield. It was the best performance we’ve seen from the Mersey Reds this season and their fans were convincing themselves that a top for place was theirs for the taking.
Then, this week, step up Bournemouth and midfielder Philip Billing, who scored the goal which handed the Cherries a 1-0 win over Liverpool.
It was no fluke as Bournemouth should already have been ahead when Dango Quatarra sprung the offside trap and rounded Alisson, but he could only find the side netting when his touch took him too wide. The forward made amends soon enough, when he left Virgil Van Dijk for dead and squared for Billing to poke home the winner.
Last week Mo Salah was one of the Reds’ heroes when he bagged twice against Manchester United to become Liverpool’s top Premier League scorer of all time. This week, he had a golden opportunity to haul the visitors back into the game from the penalty spot, but he smashed his spot kick high, wide and not so handsome!
The victory took Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth out of the bottom three, while Liverpool drifted six points behind fourth placed Tottenham, who beat Nottingham Forest 3-1.
Meanwhile Manchester United, who recovered from the mauling at Anfield by beating Real Betis in the Europa Cup. And they had a chance to get back to winning ways in the league with a home game against Southampton. But they drew a blank in a goalless draw as Casemiro was sent off for a studs up challenge on Carlos Alcaraz.
Jack the Lad is alright for Leeds
Javi Gracia’s Leeds United picked up a valuable point in a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to high flying Brighton. The Whites came from behind twice thanks to an all action performance from winger Jack Harrison, who put in more than his fair share of Premier League 2023 highlights. World cup winner Alexis MacAllister headed Roberto De Zerbi’s team ahead on 33 minutes, but Harrison teed up Patrick Bamford to unleash a spectacular shot past Jason Steele with the help of a deflection off Adam Webster.
Harrison scored at the wrong end on the hour, when Solly March put him under pressure; but he put things right when he cut in from the left and curled a beauty beyond Steele and into the far corner.
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