Football Live

Saturday January 19, 2008 Finished Craven Cottage

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Fulham

Arsenal

  • Adebayor 19’, 38’
  • Rosicky 81’
  1. Arsenal cruise past Fulham

    Arsenal cruise past Fulham

    Arsenal kept pace with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Fulham
    • Arsenal
    • 90+4' Bullard's free-kick finds Kuqi unmarked at the back post, but he can't direct his volley on goal. Adebayor frees Eduardo at the other end, but Fulham clear. And that's it! Arsenal win without really having to break sweat.
    • 90+3' Can Fulham snatch a late equaliser? They have a free-kick on the right-hand side. Jimmy Bullard will take it.
    • 90+1' Hleb looks for Adebayor in the box, but Fulham's defenders conspire to cut it out.
    • 89' Fulham's men are still scrapping away commendably, but it's all in vain. They have a real battle on their hands if they want to avoid ending up in the Championship next season.
    • 87' The Fulham fans are drifting out of the ground, and you can't blame them. Arsenal have been utterly superior this afternoon.
    • 84' Hleb goes down in the box under a challenge by Dempsey, but the ref says play on.
    • 81' GOAL! 3-0 Arsenal! Eduardo speeds down the left, plays the ball into the box and Rosicky throws himself at the ball to send a fine volley past Niemi!
    • 80' Dempsey with a poked effort from the edge of the box, but it goes just over!
    • 79' Bullard with a free-kick from 25 yards, but it goes well over.
    • 78' Lovely football from Arsenal! Hleb jinks into the box on the right, plays it back to Rosicky, he threads it through to Fabregas and his poked shot rolls just wide! Shefki Kuqi replaces Alexey Smertin for Fulham.
    • 74' Niemi is back on his feet, sporting a very unsightly swollen nose, and the game re-starts.
    • 71' Adebayor chases a through-ball and Niemi just gets there ahead of him! He's taken a foot to the face for his troubles. That looked painful.
    • 70' Dempsey v Gallas down the inside-left channel, and Gallas concedes a corner. It's cleared to the edge of the area, Davies puts it back into the box and Dempsey heads it home! But he - and two team-mates - are clearly offside and it won't count.
    • 69' Bullard drives his corner to the back post, and Stefanovic gets his head to it but can't keep it down.
    • 68' Hang on a second! Bullard finds himself in acres of space on the right, and his cross is put behind for a corner!
    • 67' Fulham have certainly upped their efforts in this second half, but they look no closer to making a break-through.
    • 66' Fulham with a free-kick towards the Arsenal goal, Sagna heads it clear from the edge of the area.
    • 63' Fabregas with the corner into the box, but it's headed away by Stefanovic.
    • 62' Adebayor is inside the Fulham box, but his shot is blocked by Dejan Stefanovic and goes behind for a corner.
    • 61' Fulham make a substitution, and David Healy comes on for Seol Ki-Hyeon.
    • 58' Eduardo concedes a free-kick for a trip on Volz.
    • 57' Bocanegra finds Davies inside the Arsenal box on the left, but he's offside.
    • 56' Adebayor releases Hleb on the right, and his cross is put behind for an Arsenal corner. Eduardo's delivery isn't the best, and Fulham clear their lines.
    • 55' Fulham are being urged forward by their fans, but they're not having much luck. Seol in particular is having an afternoon to forget.
    • 52' A moment of concern for the Gunners. Senderos clashes heads with Dempsey and his nose is bleeding heavily.
    • 49' Arsenal hit the post! Great skill from Eduardo on the left - he wriggles free from three Fulham defenders and pulls the ball back to Tomas Rosicky, but the Czech Republic international's left-footed shot hits the woodwork and goes behind!
    • 48' Chance for Arsenal! Fabregas swings the corner in from the left and Eduardo sends a downward header just wide of the far post!
    • 47' And Bullard is straight into the action with a foul on Sagna. Fabregas's free-kick from the right is flicked on by Sagna and goes out for a corner off Davies.
    • 46' Referee Peter Walton gets the second half underway. Will we see any signs of resistance from Roy Hodgson's men? He's made a change at half-time: fan's favourite Jimmy Bullard, still making his comeback from a long-term knee injury, comes on for Steven Davis.
    • 45+1' It's half-time, and a more comfortable two-goal lead you couldn't wish to see. Fulham simply haven't been in the game.
    • 45' There will be one minute of injury time.
    • 44' Fabregas tries to dink the ball through to Adebayor, but the Togolese isn't expecting it and the ball is gathered in by Niemi.
    • 42' Much better from Fulham! Davis finds Davies on the left, he cuts the ball back to the edge of the area, and Murphy's side-footed effort goes over the bar!
    • 40' "Are you Tottenham in disguise?" is the chant from the Arsenal fans, which is a little unfair. At least Spurs can be relied upon to score goals at home.
    • 38' GOAL! 2-0 Arsenal! It's Adebayor again! Flamini finds Hleb on the right, and his cross is headed firmly past a statuesque Niemi! Arsenal are in complete command of this game.
    • 36' The ball falls to Murphy on the edge of the Arsenal box... but he trips over it. Fulham go forward again, but a Stephen Davis Zidane-style roulette baffles even his team-mates and Arsenal resume ownership of the ball.
    • 35' Not much to smile about from a Fulham perspective. Unless you happen to be a particularly masochistic breed of fan who enjoys watching your team being out-classed by a clearly superior opponent that doesn't even have to move out of first gear.
    • 34' Clichy chases down a Fulham back-pass and Niemi clears it just in time!
    • 33' Hleb looks for Fabregas with a diagonal through-ball but Volz reads it and shepherds the ball back to his goal-keeper.
    • 31' Dempsey is caught offside.
    • 30' Cheeky nutmeg from Clichy on Seol, and Arsenal are on the move again.
    • 29' Fulham are sitting very deep here, and that might be asking for trouble. Arsenal are stringing passes around them at will, until Fabregas's touch catches Eduardo on his heels and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
    • 27' Fabregas lofts a pass to Adebayor at the back post but from a tight angle his improvised back-heel flick loops into the air and into the arms of Niemi.
    • 26' Fulham break and Murphy looks to feed Dempsey but Flamini blocks the pass. The Fulham players appeal for hand-ball but play continues.
    • 25' Murphy's pass towards Seol is too long and goes out for a goal kick.
    • 24' Bocanegra challenges Sagna wide on the Arsenal right and the ball runs behind. Sagna wants a corner, but the ref says goal kick.
    • 23' Arsene Wenger's men are looking increasingly assured in this game after a fairly slow start.
    • 22' Clichy with a cross from the left, Fabregas with the flick-on, but it bounces out for a goal kick.
    • 20' Murphy tries to hit back with a half-volley from the edge of the box but he scuffs it a few yards wide of Almunia's right-hand post.
    • 19' GOAL! 1-0 Arsenal! Clichy crosses from the left and Adebayor climbs above the Fulham defence to plant a header past Antti Niemi from six yards!
    • 16' Arsenal popping the ball around inside the Fulham half. Adebayor lays it off to Fabregas on the edge of the box but he snatches at his volley and sends it well wide.
    • 15' Seol looks for Dempsey with a left-footed pass from the right, but there's too much curl on the ball and it rolls through to the Arsenal 'keeper.
    • 14' Carlos Bocanegra in space on the left for Fulham, and he wins a corner off Sagna. Simon Davies whips it in, but it's an easy take for Almunia.
    • 12' Aaron Hughes with a long ball forward for Fulham, but there's no-one there and it bounces through to Almunia.
    • 11' Emmanuel Adebayor on the left for Arsenal. He beats his man and plays a left-footed cross towards the back post but Fulham clear.
    • 10' Sight of goal for Arsenal! Aliaksandr Hleb tees up Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard drags his right-footed shot wide.
    • 9' Arsenal are starting to settle into their passing rhythm now.
    • 8' Murphy finds Ki-Hyeon in space on the right and he cuts into the area but can't keep the ball under control. A cross from the right by Moritz Volz is headed clear to the edge of the box, but Murphy doesn't really connect with his half-volley and it flies harmlessly wide.
    • 6' Danny Murphy looks to thread a through-ball towards Clint Dempsey, but Sagna reads the danger. A scrappy start to this game.
    • 5' Eduardo is penalised for a foul near Fulham's right-hand corner flag.
    • 4' Free-kick to Arsenal mid-way inside their own half after a foul from behind on Gael Clichy by Seol Ki-Hyeon.
    • 3' Bacary Sagna puts the ball behind for a corner on the Fulham left. But it's an easy take for Manuel Almunia, who continues to keep Jens Lehmann out of the side.
    • 2' Mathieu Flamini is penalised for high feet after a pretty rash challenge on the half-way line.
    • 1' And they're off! Eduardo wins a free-kick after being bundled to the ground by Aaron Hughes.
    • - The teams take to the field, Fulham in their home strip of white shirts, black shorts and white socks, Arsenal in red shirts with white sleeves, white shorts and red socks. Looks like Roy Hodgson has opted for a compact 4-5-1 with his team selection today.
    • - It's a cloudy afternoon in West London.
    • - Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
    • - Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy; Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky; Adebayor, Eduardo
    • - Fulham: Niemi; Volz, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra; Ki-Hyeon, Smertin, Davis, Murphy, Davies; Dempsey
    • - ARSENAL TEAM NEWS: Arsene Wenger must plot his way around the absences of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, who - along with Alexandre Song - are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Tomas Rosicky returns after a virus, but Robin van Persie (thigh) and Johan Djourou (groin) are both out.
    • - FULHAM TEAM NEWS: Plenty of injury worries for the Cottagers, with Philippe Christanval (knee), Elliot Omozusi (ankle), Ian Pearce (calf) and Brian McBride (knee) doubtful, and Kasey Keller (arm), Lee Cook (knee) and Hameur Bouazza (shoulder) all out. Left-back Paul Konchesky is suspended, and striker Diomansy Kamara is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. New signing Brede Hangeland, recently signed from FC Copenhagen, may be given a debut.
    • - Hello and welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE coverage of Fulham v Arsenal from Craven Cottage in London. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is still looking for his first win in charge, while Arsene Wenger's men are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham last weekend. Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT, so join us then.

  • Team Stats

    Fulham Stats Arsenal
    40% Possession 60%
    7 Shots 13
    0 Shots on target 3
    0 Saves 0
    4 Corners 3
    10 Fouls 13
    5 Offsides 3
    0 Yellow cards 1
    0 Red cards 0
    30 Tackles 19
    261 Accurate passes 457
    33 Bad passes 83

  • Player Stats

    G =
    Goals
    S =
    Shots
    SoT =
    Shot on Target
    F =
    Fouls
    FW =
    Fouls Won
    O =
    Offsides
    A =
    Assists
    AP =
    Accurate Passes
    BP =
    Bad Passes
    T =
    Tackles
    • Fulham
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      29 Antti Niemi 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 9 0 0
      6 Dejan Stefanovic 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 1 2
      3 Carlos Bocanegra 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 25 12 2
      2 Moritz Volz 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 34 0 5
      18 Aaron Hughes 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0
      10 Steven Davis 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 18 2 0
      8 Alexei Smertin 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 30 4 3
      27 Danny Murphy 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 33 3 3
      25 Simon Davies 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 8 2
      7 Ki-Hyeon Seol 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 20 1 4
      23 Clint Dempsey 0 2 0 5 1 3 0 19 1 4
      14 Shefki Kuqi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
      12 Tony Warner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      9 David Healy 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 0 3
      34 Chris Baird 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      21 Jimmy Bullard 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 20 1 2
    • Arsenal
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      24 Manuel Almunia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 0
      10 William Gallas 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 49 0 1
      22 Gaël Clichy 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 51 18 2
      3 Bacary Sagna 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 38 1 1
      6 Philippe Senderos 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 37 2 2
      4 Francesc Fabregas 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 64 8 1
      16 Mathieu Flamini 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 68 14 2
      13 Alexander Hleb 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 53 11 3
      7 Tomas Rosicky 1 3 1 0 3 0 0 40 14 2
      25 Emmanuel Adebayor 2 4 2 1 0 1 0 28 7 0
      9 Eduardo da Silva 0 1 0 3 2 2 1 22 7 5
      19 Gilberto Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      2 Vasiriki Abou Diaby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      1 Jens Lehmann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      31 Justin Hoyte 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      26 Nicklas Bendtner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

  • Summary

    • 81' GOAL! 3-0 Arsenal! Eduardo speeds down the left, plays the ball into the box and Rosicky throws himself at the ball to send a fine volley past Niemi!
    • 70' Dempsey v Gallas down the inside-left channel, and Gallas concedes a corner. It's cleared to the edge of the area, Davies puts it back into the box and Dempsey heads it home! But he - and two team-mates - are clearly offside and it won't count.
    • 49' Arsenal hit the post! Great skill from Eduardo on the left - he wriggles free from three Fulham defenders and pulls the ball back to Tomas Rosicky, but the Czech Republic international's left-footed shot hits the woodwork and goes behind!
    • 48' Chance for Arsenal! Fabregas swings the corner in from the left and Eduardo sends a downward header just wide of the far post!
    • 38' GOAL! 2-0 Arsenal! It's Adebayor again! Flamini finds Hleb on the right, and his cross is headed firmly past a statuesque Niemi! Arsenal are in complete command of this game.
    • 19' GOAL! 1-0 Arsenal! Clichy crosses from the left and Adebayor climbs above the Fulham defence to plant a header past Antti Niemi from six yards!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Fulham

    Manager: Roy Hodgson

    Captain: Dejan Stefanovic

    On the Field

    • Niemi
    • Volz
    • Hughes
    • Stefanovic
    • Bocanegra
    • Smertin Substitution Out (78′)
    • Davis Substitution Out (45′)
    • Murphy
    • Ki-Hyeon Substitution Out (61′)
    • Davies
    • Dempsey

    Subs

    • Kuqi Substitution In (78′)
    • Healy Substitution In (61′)
    • Bullard Substitution In (45′)
    • Baird
    • Warner

    Injured

    • Pearce
    • Keller
    • Cook
    • McBride
    • Bouazza

    Suspended

    • Konchesky

  • Arsenal

    Manager: Arsene Wenger

    Captain: William Gallas

    On the Field

    • Almunia
    • Sagna
    • Senderos
    • Gallas
    • Clichy
    • Hleb
    • Fabregas
    • Flamini
    • Rosicky Goal
    • Eduardo
    • Adebayor Goals×2

    Subs

    • Lehmann
    • Gilberto Silva
    • Hoyte
    • Diaby
    • Bendtner

    Injured

    • van Persie
    • Djourou

    Suspended

    None