Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (2020-21 Premier League)

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{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%;" Assistant referees: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Daniel Cook 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sian Massey-Ellis Fourth official: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Kevin Friend VAR: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 David Coote

Assistant VAR:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stephen Child

Match report
Fulham opened the 2020-21 season and their return to the Premier League with a whimper by losing a rather one-sided contest three goals to nil against an impressive Arsenal team.

The opening few minutes saw the Whites nearly snatch an opening goal, when Ainsley Maitland-Niles' backpass was dangerously left to roll back to Bernd Leno by new Brazilian centre back Gabriel, which Aboubakar Kamara took advantage of but failed to take it round the onrushing goalkeeper.

However, shortly afterwards the visitors took the lead in the eighth minute via a scrappy goal during the first test of the Fulham defence. Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent in a cross to the edge of the box from the left wing, to which Granit Xhaka's first time shot headed towards Tim Ream, who failed to clear. The ball the fell kindly for debutant Willian, and Marek Rodák made a good reaction save from his effort, although there was little that could be done as the resulting rebound fell even more kindly for Alexandre Lacazette who finished with ease from close range. Willian later nearly got on the scoresheet with a well struck free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, but was thwarted by the post.

After the break, things only got worse for Fulham as the Gunners doubled their lead just four minutes into the second half. A corner kick on the right hand side found Gabriel, who was left completely unchallenged only a few yards out, and a miscued header which deflected off his shoulder was all that was needed to send the ball into the back of the net.

The match began to look further out of reach for Fulham as time progressed, and just before an hours play saw Arsenal's third and final goal. The Fulham defence were caught out of possession and position as Michael Hector lost out on the half way line. Willian then sprayed a long ball over to the left wing which found Aubameyang. He cut inside and sent a curling finish into the far top corner of Rodák's goal which virtually signalled the end of the match.