Arsenal produce five-star show at Fulham

Arsenal gained their ninth consecutive win with a braces from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and a stunning team goal finished by Aaron Ramsey, to give them a 5-1 win at Fulham.

The Gunners had not enjoyed much success on their travels against fellow London teams in recent times, but they were full value for the win, particularly as in the second half when they ran Fulham ragged.

Arsenal took the lead in the 28th minute, exploiting the space down the Fulham right flank. Alex Iwobi run riot down the left all afternoon as Fulham failed to address their obvious weakness. He held the ball up sensibly and played in Nacho Monreal on the overlap. Monreal crossed low for Lacazette, who controlled the ball superbly, span away from Tim Ream, and fired home.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Fulham v Arsenal

Seconds later, Iwobi was sent scuttling clear down the left again and combined with Danny Welbeck, and when the cross came over Henrikh Mkhitaryan slid in, but the keeper just managed to deny him.

Mkhitaryan saw a rising shot go over and Iwobi contimued to cause plenty of problems in the first period. He appeared to have the left flank to himself and Denis Odoi, on the right of the back three, was left exposed time and again.

But somewhat against the run of play, Fulham levelled.

The Gunners spurned a few chances to extend their advantage and were punished just before the break when a mistake by Nacho Monreal allowed Andre Schurrle to equalise, chipping the ball over Bernd Leno. It was an excellent finish from the German and it was no surprise to see Luciano Vietto as the provider – he has more assists than anyone in the Premier League this season with four.

Fulham did not learn their lesson, failing to plug the gap down the Arsenal left and the Gunners took full advantage four minutes after the interval. Just seconds after Bellerin’s thumping shot was turned away by a great save from Marcus Bettinelli, Arsenal went in front again.

And Lacazette was the man who did the damage, punishing the Cottagers for some lacklustre defending. He latched on to a knockdown from Welbeck 20 yards from goal and hit the ball first-time on the half-volley into the bottom corner.

Fulham had their moments and Schrulle combined with Cyrus Christie but his superb cross should have been headed home by Aboubakar Kamar, but the striker, who replaced Ream, failed to get a clean connection with his head.

Arsenal had to make a change when Welbeck was left hobbling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came on after 62 minutes, and he was instrumental in Arsenal’s stunning third goal.

The tide turned against Fulham as Arsenal started to enjoy themselves in the sunshine.

Ramsey, who came on from Iwobi after 67 minutes, may well have not been on the bench at all, with his wife expecting twins at any time.

But he started the move, which was typical tikka-taka Arsenal. They moved the ball swiftly with Mkhitaryan setting Aubameyang free and while his cross was not the best, a brilliant back-heel from Bellerin allowed Ramsey to finish of a superb team goal that looked something out of a computer game.

Fulham’s heads went down and Mkhitaryan’s cross shortly after caused panic, but it was eventually cleared.

With their discipline lost as they attempted to get back in the game, Aubameyang gave the Gunners a fourth with 11 minutes remaining. With his back to goal, he turned, and on his weaker foot, fired across goal to the bottom corner. It was no more than Arsenal deserved.

And Aubameyang wasn’t done. With injury-time looming, the striker produced another classy finish firing across Betinelli for a fifth, setting the seal on a win which puts the Gunners above Tottenham on goal difference.

Fulham have never started a Premier League season as poorly as this and one win leaves them mired near the foot of the table.