Fulham 0 v Arsenal 3 (Lacazette 8. Gabriel 49 assist Willian, Aubameyang 57 assist Willian) played Saturday 12 September 2020 at Craven Cottage, attendance nil. Yellows: Fulham Hector, Cairney; Arsenal Aubameyang, Bellerin.
The F.A. Premier League (FAPL) 2020-2021 season kicked-off with the first Premier London derbies (PLDs) match of our season at Craven Cottage where Arsenal duly dispatched EFL Championship play-off winners Fulham by three goals to nil. It was the Arsenal new boys who impressed with ex-Chelsea Brazilian star Willian’s (Willian Borges Da Silva in full) shot came back to Alexandre Lacazette to score the first. It was Willian’s corner which gave his compatriot the Gunners’ new defender dos Santos Magalhaes (let’s respectfully call him Gabriel like everyone else) his debutant goal, albeit off his shoulder but that is legal now. The best goal was the third coming from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a great shot from the left-hand corner of the box after an equally good cross-field pass from Willian again. A chance for the Arsenal Captain to prematurely celebrate his reported £55 million over three years new contract. Let’s hope he does not go the way of other over-paid team-mates. As for the Cottagers, well they did little in attack or defence to suggest they have other than a long hard season ahead of them.
Next PLDs match is on Saturday 19 September when Arsenal feature again, this time at home to West Ham United. Last season it was the last PLDs match before “Covid-19 lockdown” played on 7 March 2020 with a 1-0 home win. In 2018-19 the Gunners won 3-1; in 2017-18 it was 4-1; and in 2016-17 3-0. Omens are therefore not good for the Hammers who started their season with a 0-2 home defeat at the hands, or feet, of Newcastle United. Betting reflects this with Betfair Sportsbook currently offering odds of 1/2 for Arsenal to win. But this is football and you never know until the final whistle.
Remember “Face, Hands, Space”, and until next time enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.