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A wet miserable grey day in London saw the sun come out just in time for the players to enter the field of play and tonight those players included Cygan in for Senderos, Bergkamp for Pires and Reyes for Ljungberg. But before I report on the game itself a word of abuse to all those thoughtless arseholes in and in front of row 20 in the West Lower who arrived late. No less than twenty-three of the tossers arrived after kick off in time to obstruct the view of myself and all around me, the last one actually got to his seat at 8.07 without so much as an apology. I don’t want to impersonate a jack-in-the-box for the first 15 minutes of a game; I come to watch for football not your fat head or big arse. If you’re already late at least have the courtesy to wait for a break in play before disrupting an entire row. Better still get to the fecking ground in time in future!
We should have scored almost instantly when Reyes put Ash away down the left with a delightful line ball and Cole’s perfect cross was not met in time by Henry, who had arrived a fraction late. A slight lack of anticipation I felt. Fulham’s first attack saw referee Clattenburg allow the first of much arm wrestling as Cesc was shoved over for Fulham to be awarded a corner. A clear penalty by Knight on Henry for hauling him down saw Ralph step up for the spot kick. He styled his penalty on Scholes’ Cup Final disaster and an easy save for Warner was the result. Despite the fact the keeper moved a yard off his line before the kick was taken - this was a poor penalty. Henry set up Cesc for a great drive that was well saved for a corner by Warner. Cygan wasted a good headed-chance at the far post by hitting the side netting. Hleb was looking nifty; Gilberto was giving the ball away in midfield, Arsenal for the most part were on top.
Knight shoved Cesc over but there was no penalty given this time. Reyes to Bergkamp as the keeper saved at feet, Dennis’ lost yard is beginning to look more like two lost yards this season. Henry was through but we over-egged the passing, we never used one pass when six were possible at this stage, and screams of ‘fer fecks sake shoot’ could be heard quite often. One such ‘too many passes’ attack broke down and Fulham broke left, Jensen received the final ball, was given the freedom of Highbury and took his chance well as he curled one neatly over Lehmann into the top corner. 0-1 Fulham, rather against the run of play but at least they’d played more positively than their neighbours did against us.
Boa Morte took out Fabregas and earned a yellow card, the first of seven bookings on the night in a game that was far from dirty and never vicious. A fine run and cross by Reyes, who was on song for most of the evening. Kolo found Cesc who at least was prepared to have a pop rather than walk it in, but his long-range effort was saved. A long shot from Reyes was also saved. We were pressing but Fulham always had an eye open for the fast counter. A half clearance following a Fulham corner saw Volz hit a fine shot that was tipped over by Jens. An incredible solo from Reyes saw him work his way all the way through only to shoot over when he looked like opening our account. Our equaliser soon came though, a foul on Reyes wide left, a Dennis free kick and a glancing header by Cygan. It was a bit like Smith’s goal at Anfield in ’89 but somewhat less significant. Still very welcome though. 1-1.
Henry should have scored with a header from a great cross by Ralph but at least we got a corner, for all the good they are to us. Henry fired this corner in well and it was header over for another corner. Reyes who seems to get tripped every time he gets the ball was booked for giving some back. Fulham countered and carved us open allowing McBride to shoot over, thankfully. Malbranque also had a limp shot on the turn go well wide. At the other end Dennis felt he was shoved over, so did I. He got nothing and ran back past the lino a little too close and ‘accidentally’ knocked his flag out of the poor man’s hand. Being a bit of an areswipe the lino called over Clattenburg who booked Dennis, who then gave the thumbs up to the assistant ref in front of the West Stand. His name was either B Baker or M Cairns but it doesn’t matter which, because they were both crap. The lino who did the line in front of the East stand waved his flag like a loony even when the ref was better placed to see what happened.
Dennis was through, despite his speed and was grabbed hold of by Rehman who should have seen a red but was awarded a yellow card. A bottle job by Clattenburg. A piss-poor cross followed from the free kick. Kolo to Jose to Dennis but the keeper saved. Half time – it could have been four-two but was just one-one.
Thierry’s sox were up over his knees as the second half started with a great diagonal cross from Ash, which Dennis hit first time low across the face of goal. Reyes found Hleb who seemed to snatch a bit at his shot that went wide. McBride had another shot, as once again we gave away possession in midfield, was Cesc on this occasion. Denis and Thierry broke and won a corner which, surprise surprise, came to nothing. Reyes hit a diagonal ball left to right over to Thierry who controlled the high ball well before driving it low past the keeper for a 2-1 lead. Cole tripped someone and the freekick saw yet another opposition free header saved by Jens. Zonal marking is crap, has always been crap and always will be crap. I have yet to see a zone score a goal but unmarked players often do and more often at Highbury than many other places.
Cole took out Boa Morte for a yellow card, I thought it was a good tackle but thought he might have been booked for his earlier foul. Our play was good, our moves swift and decisive and Fulham made a game of it but Clattenburg was being very fussy. Another purposeful move as Thierry and Cesc tried some one-twos. Flowing stuff now from Arsenal. Another Reyes run another save. Collins John on for McBride. Another Reyes solo nearly set up Dennis. Lauren in hard on Boa Morte for a yellow card. Henry set up Dennis and the keeper scrambled it away. Dennis to Henry with a cross-field pass and his shot was not far away. Flamini on for Reyes with 13 minutes to go.
Kolo, having a fine season to date, headed clear a dangerous looking move. Hleb gave Gilberto the chance to shoot just wide. Flamini got a card for his first tackle. Soon after this he robbed Boa Morte and then found Henry in space who took it on and clipped it over the keeper. 3-1 Arsenal. A low shot from Dennis and a great save by Warner for a corner. Gilberto had a good drive held. With four minutes added time Dennis hit one in and Kolo got in front of his man for a touch which Cygan hooked home to make it 4-1. It could and should have been more.
Two goals for Cygan shock horror exclusive. Good to see so many new chants for Pascal even if they were somewhat tongue in cheek like ‘Walking in a Cygan wonderland’.
With 16 fouls from Arsenal and 5 bookings you’re having a laugh Clattenburg – what the feck are you going to do if you ever get a dirty game?