Source: Team_Talk
Mannone inspires Gunners to victory
The Dutchman grabbed the pre-match headlines when weighing into the diving debate by admitting he does sometimes exaggerate his reaction to fouls.[LNB]However, there was nothing false about his finish, as van Persie latched onto a defence-splitting pass from captain Cesc Fabregas to net what proved to be the winning goal on 52 minutes.[LNB]Arsenal, though, had rookie stopper Mannone to thank for securing the points with a string of fine saves as Fulham were left frustrated.[LNB]With Chelsea having lost at Wigan, Arsene Wenger's men - beaten at both Manchester United and Manchester City - had a chance to close the gap at the top of the Premier League.[LNB]The Gunners started positively, with Bacary Sagna sending over a deep cross from the right which defender Thomas Vermaelen - their leading scorer so far - headed wide.[LNB]However, Mannone was soon called into action when Clint Dempsey created space for a shot at the edge of the Arsenal penalty area.[LNB]Fulham were forced into an early change after just nine minutes when Damien Duff hobbled off, replaced by Zoltan Gera.[LNB]The home side continued to knock the ball about well - and almost snatched the lead on 15 minutes.[LNB]Gera whipped the ball over, and Andrew Johnson's bullet header was brilliantly palmed away by Mannone - who also somehow kept out the rebound from Dempsey at point-blank range.[LNB]Fabregas fired just over after good work from van Persie, who combined with Fabregas to play in Arshavin, but the Russian was always stretching as his 10-yard effort flew high into the stands.[LNB]Nicklas Bendtner tested Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer with a low drive from the edge of the area.[LNB]There was little respite for the visitors, though, as Fulham were soon back on the offensive, quickly closing down any space.[LNB]Gera flashed a shot across goal, which Mannone got a hand to, after being played in on the right by Johnson.[LNB]Fulham looked to continue where they had left off following the restart, as Bobby Zamora flashed a 20-yard drive wide.[LNB]Arsenal, though, showed more determination, with Arshavin creating problems down the left.[LNB]Then, out of nothing, the visitors snatched the lead on 52 minutes, after Paul Konchesky's upfield pass was cut out and fed to Fabregas.[LNB]The Spain midfielder waited, before chipping an exquisite pass which split the centre-backs on the edge of the area, where van Persie arrived on queue to kill the ball with his left foot, before guiding a fine low strike into the far corner with his right.[LNB]After such a positive opening, Craven Cottage was stunned as the atmosphere fell flat.[LNB]It was almost 2-0 when Bendtner flashed the ball across goal, which Schwarzer beat away.[LNB]Fulham then broke quickly through Zamora down the right, and his centre was glanced goalwards by Johnson - only for Mannone to produce another stunning save at full stretch before again denying Dempsey at the far post.[LNB]Just past the hour, Bendtner charged forwards to the edge of the Fulham box, but scuffed his shot.[LNB]Fulham came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Dempsey's drive deflected off Sagna and onto the post.[LNB]Then, Gallas produced a brilliant block to deny Zamora.[LNB]On 77 minutes, Mannone did well to turn away another effort from Johnson before the inspired Italian then kept out Zamora's downward header.[LNB]Bendtner had a couple of half-chances late on, and although Wenger was less than impressed by the five minutes of injury-time, during which substitute Emmanuel Eboue flashed wide when clean through, the Gunners boss was more than happy with the result when the final whistle eventually came.[LNB][LNB][LNB]
