Rate it!

0 votes

Home keeper Jens Lehmann, so often the hero for the North Londoners, suffered what must surely be his worst ever start to a season.

Less than 60 seconds were on the clock when he was too casual with a Gael Clichy backpass and Healy - who along with Northern Ireland colleagues Steven Davis and Chris Baird, as well as Hameur Bouazza and Paul Konchesky, was making his debut - was lurking and pounced to tap in from all of eight yards out.

Arsenal dominated proceedings thereafter and eventualy forced their equaliser from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute.

Kolo Toure's mazy run into the box ended when he was bodychecked by Carlos Bocanegra, and van Persie blasted the subsequent spot-kick into the roof of the net.

Fulham hearts were broken in injury time as Hleb latched onto a ball over the top, beat Carlos Bocanegra one way and then the other before firing across Tony Warner to cap off a virtuoso performance for the Belarussian and snatch all three points for his team.

After all the talk about who would fill Thierry Henry's boots, and the high profile acquisition of Eduardo da Silva, it was a surprise to see Hleb deployed as Arsene Wenger's new weapon up front.

Hleb, playing in his new role as the link between the midfield and Robin van Persie up front, caused nothing but problems for the Fulham back line, dropping deep to collect the ball and then running at defenders, freeing up space for Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas to join the attack.

The best chances fell to Rosicky, as three times the Czech international shot from distance, only to be repeatedly denied by Fulham keeper Tony Warner's heroics.

Warner, in for Antti Niemi who was injured in the warm-up, anticipated the Arsenal forwards runs expertly, swooping to collect at the feet of any Gunners player who found themselves through on goal on several occasions.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Warner equal to everything the Arsenal forwards threw at him.

The Gunners were showing the same problems as last season, namely breaking through opponents with ease but then not producing the final shot until the dramatic final seven minutes.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport