{"id":1344,"date":"2020-09-12T19:24:37","date_gmt":"2020-09-12T18:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=1344"},"modified":"2020-09-19T07:02:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-19T06:02:38","slug":"tabletoppers-do-everything-asked-of-them-as-new-boys-shine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=1344","title":{"rendered":"Tabletoppers Do Everything Asked Of Them As New Boys Shine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel celebrates scoring against Fulham (Photo by Clive Rose \/ POOL \/ AFP)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been waking up on the opening day of the season as an active Gooner for 62 years and that feeling of butterflies mingling with anticipation has visited me every single year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was no different today and those butterflies intensified\nwith a look at the team. Elneny and Gabriel were surprise inclusions and\nWillian made it a brace of Brazilian debutants. My late trip to the garden\ncentre for Mrs TTG\u2019s latest garden project only added to the anxiety. Would I\nget stuck in traffic or be delayed by road works? I saw a Gooner travelling\ncompanion at the centre, even more stressed because he lives further away, and\nhis wife had a bigger shopping list! I made it back in time!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Denied the enjoyment of the delightful walk through Bishop\u2019s\nPark I was delighted that the season kicked off in bright sunshine; almost\nperfect conditions for football. We then almost replicated what we did the last\ntime we played Fulham on the opening day by presenting Fulham with a stupid\nearly goal, an AMN pass putting Gabriel under pressure and Leno calmly\nrectifying the problem at Kamara\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fulham started well and Arsenal scarcely featured until the\n9th<\/sup> minute when Aubameyang set up Willian whose blocked shot was\nturned in by Lacazette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As goals tend to it changed the shape of the game. Arteta\u2019s\ninnovative switching between a defensive five into a fluid shape with AMN\ngetting forward and Tierney sliding out wide was a source of attacking joy. If\nour holding midfield lacks dynamism the energy and neatness of Willian gave us interesting\noptions going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willian and Lacazette combined to set up Elneny and after\nhis shot was blocked Xhaka blasted wildly over. After 26 minutes Lacazette was\nfouled on the edge of the box and from the free-kick Willian whipped in a\nvicious low curler which beat the keeper and ricocheted off the right -hand post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as the commentator mentioned how secure the Arsenal\ndefence was Odoi escaped down the right and whipped in a low cross, but the\nreferee blew for a push. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tierney then produced a delightful ball for Aubameyang, but\nhe was dispossessed perhaps reflecting on a yellow card he had received for\npushing Odoi on the touchline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The half ended with a dangerous looking free-kick followed\nby a corner but we dealt with the danger well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Half-time Fulham 0 Arsenal 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second half was barely under way when we saw a\nmesmerising bit of control by Rob Holding of all people who set up Lacazette whose\neffort was blocked. From the ensuing corner Willian whipped over an inviting cross\nwhich fellow Brazilian debutant Gabriel headed firmly in. A dream start for\nGabriel who was excellent throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fulham 0 Arsenal 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few minutes later we saw a goal similar in quality to\nRamsey\u2019s in the equivalent fixture two years ago. A flowing move involved Bellerin,\nAMN and Lacazette and a very intelligent advantage by referee Kavanagh allowed\nWillian to pick out Aubameyang with a wonderful crossfield ball and our\nsuperstar striker reminded everyone what a superstar he is with a great strike\ncurled into the far corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fulham 0 Arsenal 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great team goal embellished by a beautiful individual\nstrike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was clear even to a pessimistic watcher like me that we\nwere starting to overrun and outclass Fulham who looked every inch a rookie\nPremier League side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We saw a series of exciting passing moves with both\nwing-backs bombing on and neat interplay between our forward players. A superb\npass by Tierney set up Aubameyang who crossed for Lacazette but the blocked\nshot- a good save by the keeper \u2013 was offside. Bellerin, increasingly prominent\nfound Auba whose effort was headed off the line by Hector, although a\ndiscerning observer might feel Mr. Hector was lucky still to be on the pitch after\nconstant heavy challenges from a man on a yellow card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pepe had replaced Willian who had a very effective game with\ntwo assists and a big hand in the first goal , Xhaka who had a knock earlier (\nafter a heavy challenge from Hector) was replaced by Ceballos who then produced\nwhat my grandson refers to as \u2018 ultimate tekkers \u2018 with a nutmeg, drawback and\nbackheel to set up another great moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lacazette was subbed for Eddie Nketiah meaning that the two subs\n(he and Ceballos) who had appeared to have a difference of opinion in the\nwarm-up were on together. Laca was very warmly greeted by his manager\nsuggesting that he is very much a part of Mikel\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game ended with us totally dominant and able to move to the\ntop of the table. A wonderful start and everything we could have hoped for from\nour first match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In interview Arteta was as impressive as ever. He could\nscarcely impress me more in terms of the clarity of his vision and the effectiveness\nof his communication and his signings Gabriel and Willian had assured debuts.\nHis tactics are fluid, intelligent and it is clear for the first time in ages\nthat the players know exactly what is expected of them. Gabriel was hugely\ndominant, calm with the ball at his feet and looked a very solid addition. Willian\nworked his socks off and had a huge effect on the match. He is incisive,\ncreative and full of flair. I also liked Elneny who played his role to\nperfection and Holding who was a rock. Had I been asked to nominate a man of\nthe match though it would have been Kieran Tierney who I thought was excellent\ndefensively and played some sublime passes forward. He oozes commitment,\nquality and level- headedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, a super start and the feelgood factor at our club is\nbuilding inexorably. Let us without being greedy, hope we can find the midfield\nadditions that might make this a really special season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been waking up on the opening day of the season as an active Gooner for 62 years and that feeling of butterflies mingling with anticipation has visited me every single year. It was no different today and those butterflies intensified with a look at the team. Elneny and Gabriel were surprise inclusions and Willian […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1344"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1344"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1350,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1344\/revisions\/1350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}