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Fulham logo
Premier League | Gameweek 1
Sep 12, 2020 at 12.30pm UK
Craven Cottage
Arsenal logo

Fulham
0 - 3
Arsenal


Hector (26'), Cairney (61')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Lacazette (8'), Magalhaes (49'), Aubameyang (57')
Aubameyang (39'), Bellerin (55')

Debutants star as Arsenal ease past newly-promoted Fulham on opening day

Debutants star as Arsenal ease past newly-promoted Fulham on opening day
© Reuters
Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel and Pierre Emerick Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were the scorers as the Gunners dominated.

Arsenal's debutants starred as they kicked off their Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over recently-promoted Fulham.

Willian finished his first match since the move across London from Chelsea with three assists, while Gabriel headed home Arsenal's second to start his own Gunners career in ideal fashion.

Fulham's return to the top-flight got off to a difficult start when Alexandre Lacazette capitalised on a loose ball in the eighth minute to give the Gunners an encouraging beginning to the new season.

Gabriel's header after half time strengthened Arsenal's grip on the game and was quickly followed up by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's curled strike which secured all three points.

Arsenal passion was in evidence before the kick off when Eddie Nketiah and Dani Ceballos clashed in the warm up, a late challenge led to the two squaring up and needing to be separated.

When the game kicked off the pair took their seats at opposite ends of the substitutes' bench.

Fulham did not have to wait long for their first chance in the Premier League when Aboubakar Kamara almost capitalised on an Arsenal mistake at the back, but Bernd Leno was able to gather the ball.

The recently-promoted side also had the first shot on target of the match, with Denis Odoi running down the right before taking a shot, but his effort was a relatively straightforward take for Leno.

Moments later Arsenal scored their first goal of the season following a scramble in the Fulham box, Lacazette reacted quickest to tap the ball past Marek Rodak and open his account for the season.

Fulham v Arsenal – Premier League – Craven Cottage
Arsenal's Willian (centre left) shakes hands with manager Mikel Arteta as he is substituted after an impressive debut against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

A ball over the top was not dealt with by the Fulham defence, Aubameyang crossed the ball in before Granit Xhaka scuffed a shot, Rodak made a save but the ball fell into the path of Lacazette.

In the 26th minute, Willian came close to adding a goal on his Arsenal debut, his straight free-kick went over the wall, but hit the woodwork.

Fulham started the second half sluggishly and were punished for it in the 48th minute when Gabriel rose above Michael Hector to meet a Willian corner to head home on his first match in an Arsenal shirt.

Kamara had an opportunity after Tom Cairney's free-kick was cleared to the 25-year-old, but his strike from the edge of the box skimmed wide of the goal.

The home side were then caught almost immediately on the break and captain Aubameyang capitalised from a Willian crossfield ball before he weaved through the defence then curled the ball past Rodak to all but secure the three points for the Gunners just before the hour mark.

Despite the late introduction of last season's Championship golden boot winner Aleksandar Mitrovic from the bench, Fulham were unable to claim any consolation as the game finished 3-0.

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1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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