Arsenal Celebrates Arteta Century With 2-1 Win Against Fulham

It was a grandstand, old-fashioned finish, with Arsenal probing and poking in search of a late, much-needed winner. The Emirates Stadium was roaring in support. Twice, substitute Eddie Nketiah was released inside the penalty box, twice the number fourteen failed to find the net, but Arsenal’s pressure was building, the red shirts pouring forward. Hanging on for dear life, Fulham was stretched thin.

But there was no stopping Arsenal, even if Fulham’s defeat ultimately was self-inflicted. It was the impeccable Leno, ex-Arsenal, who finally yielded, flapping at the ball. Gabriel, culpable for Aleksander Mitrovic’s equalizer, obliged and clinched the 85th-minute winner with a simple tap-in, 2-1.

It was a scruffy goal but there was a strange old, endearing chaos to Arsenal in those final minutes of the match. Injury time was a rollercoaster, much like the entire second half. Gabriel charged forward, clashing heads with Bobby Decordova-Reid, almost injuring himself. Coach Mikel Arteta shored up the defense with Rob Holding and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Martinelli cramped up. Yet the stadium was bouncing, the supporters embracing another three points. The PA played ‘Tequila by The Champs’ to celebrate.

It was at times laboured, but Arsenal had much to fete indeed: after four matches and four wins, Arsenal remains unbeaten and top of the league. There was no better way for Arteta to celebrate a century of matches in the Premier League as a coach, a major milestone only three other Spanish coaches have reached – Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benitez and Roberto Martinez. It was his 53rd win, just one fewer than Arsene Wenger in his first 100 matches.

This Arsenal is very much one in the image of Arteta. Last summer Arsenal outspent every other club, paying £140 million to bring Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares to North London. In the last window, the London club spent £119,75 million on Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Brazilian youngster Marquinhos.

This considerable spending has allowed Arteta to build a team that at last looks competitive. The Spaniard was without Zinchenko and Thomas Partey against the cross-town rival. They nursed a sprained left knee and right thigh injury respectively, but it mattered little, not even when an absolutely unforgivable blunder from defender Gabriel allowed Mitrovic to hand Fulham the lead in the 56th minute. It was the silliest of goals to concede in an overly slow attempt to play it out from the back.

But Arsenal responded within minutes, Odegaard equalizing with a deflected attempt. Once again, the Norwegian was of great value to the London club. Odegaard has often been at the right place at the right time, a continuation of his stellar capacity to create opportunities for the team. Since his arrival from Real Madrid, first on loan, the Norwegian’s influence has been incontrovertible. At 23 and as new club captain, he was perhaps Arsenal’s most impressive player against Fulham, more so than marquee signing Gabriel Jesus, who failed to add to his tally of two goals and three assists.

Instead, his fellow Brazilian and namesake went from zero to hero, grabbing Arsenal’s second to wrap up an excellent comeback win. There was character and composure, even in those frantic final minutes. Arteta jumped around with a big smile. North London was in party mode. This could be the start of a special season for Arsenal.