Cottagers crushed by four-star Gunners

09 May 2010 18:32
Arsenal secured third place in the Premier League after sweeping aside Europa League finalists Fulham 4-0 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.[LNB] The Gunners saw their title hopes ended by successive away defeats to Tottenham and then Wigan, but avoided another slip-up which could have allowed their arch rivals to steal the final automatic qualification place in next season's Champions League.[LNB]The Arsenal squad set off on a lap of appreciation after the final whistle of another season which promised so much, yet again failed to deliver a trophy as manager Arsene Wenger was left to reflect on just which summer transfer targets he can bring in to finally turn potential into silverware.[LNB]The Fulham fans, meanwhile, will be hoping their amazing European adventure brings a fairytale finish against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg on Wednesday night.[LNB]It was a low-key opening, before under-fire Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski failed to collect a deep ball into the penalty area, which was hacked clear as Stefano Okaka looked to pounce.[LNB]Robin van Persie's five-month injury absence was seen as a major factor in Arsenal failing to last the distance.[LNB]The Dutchman's curling free-kick from the right had Mark Schwarzer backpedalling to tip the ball away.[LNB]Fabianski drew some ironic applause from the Gunners faithful after, at the second attempt, he held onto a deep free-kick into the Arsenal six-yard box.[LNB]It was, though, Schwarzer who would be embarrassed with an error on 21 minutes.[LNB]The Australian failed to control a backpass from Chris Baird, which gifted the ball to an alert Andrey Arshavin.[LNB]The Russian dashed to the goal-line, dribbled around the keeper and - with Van Persie screaming for a tap-in - promptly slotted the ball in off John Pantsil at the near post.[LNB]It was soon 2-0.[LNB]Theo Walcott - hoping to be in the England World Cup squad - beat the offside trap to latch onto Bacary Sagna's pass and dart into the right side of the penalty area.[LNB]He squared for van Persie, whose low drive cannoned off Schwarzer's legs and onto the bar, before the Dutchman blasted in the rebound.[LNB]Arsenal made sure of victory ahead of half-time when, on 37 minutes, Emmanuel Eboue flicked on Walcott's low cross into the six-yard box, which - with van Persie lurking - Baird stabbed into his own net.[LNB]Walcott should have made it four when played in by another clever backheel from Eboue, but dragged his angled shot wide from 12 yards.[LNB]At the other end, Okaka got ahead of Sol Campbell and into the Arsenal penalty box, but the ball would not fall for him as Fabianski cleared.[LNB]Fulham made a change at the start of the second half, as David Elm replaced Bjorn Helge Riise.[LNB]The Swedish striker almost had an instant impact as his low, 18-yard drive came back off the base of the post, but the offside flag was up.[LNB]Van Persie went close when Eboue's cross picked him out in the Fulham six-yard box.[LNB]Schwarzer redeemed himself with a smart reaction save, before the Arsenal striker then stabbed the rebound against the woodwork.[LNB]There was a worrying moment for Fulham when Pantsil - who had just recovered from a serious knee injury - needed treatment after pulling up when kicking the ball clear.[LNB]Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was taking no chances, and brought on Stephen Kelly after 56 minutes.[LNB]Arsenal also had to make a change when Swiss international Johan Djourou - who had not played all season because of his knee problem - replaced Mikael Silvestre, the veteran defender, out of contract this summer, possibly making his last appearance for Arsenal.[LNB]Fulham had a penalty claim waved away by referee Mike Jones when Campbell appeared to haul down Clint Dempsey as the ball was lofted into the Arsenal box.[LNB]The American took his protests too far, and was shown a yellow card, before he was replaced by Fredrik Stoor.[LNB]At the other end, Eboue was booked for diving after a sliding challenge from Kelly in the left corner of the box.[LNB]Fabianski darted out of his area to close down Elm, but handled and also went into the referee's notebook.[LNB]With six minutes left, substitute Carlos Vela made it 4-0 when he chipped Schwarzer after collecting Samir Nasri's throughball.

Source: Team_Talk