Robin Van Persie's excellent second half finish secured the points for Arsenal but it was keeper Vito Mannone who was the real hero of Arsenal's victory.The Italian keeper produced a succession of outstanding saves throughout the game to deny Fulham the goal their sustained pressure deserved.
But with Andrew Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey all denied by Mannone, the home side were undone by a moment of rare quality from Van Persie.
FULHAM 0 ARSENAL 1 (Van Persie 52)
PLAYER MARKING:
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 8; Pantsil 6, Hangeland 7, Hughes 6, Konchesky 6; Duff 6 (Gera 9, 6), Murphy 8, Etuhu 7 (Greening 83), Dempsey 6; Zamora 7, Johnson 7. Subs (not used): Zuberbuhler, Baird, Kamara, Riise, Smalling, Greening.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Mannone 9; Sagna 6, Vermaelen 6, Gallas 7, Clichy 6; Diaby 5 , Song 6, Fabregas 6; Bendtner 6, Van Persie 7 (Eboue 83, 6), Arshavin 6 (Rosicky 69, 6). Subs (not used): Szcesny, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs.
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v Basel (Home), Europa League, 01/10 2005 BST
- Arsenal v Olympiakos (Home), Champions League, 29/09 1945 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Vito Mannone (Arsenal) - The young keeper has looked shaky in his two previous outings as Manuel Almunia's understudy, but he looked a different player as he produced a string of confident saves to deny Fulham. Pick of the bunch was the excellent close range reaction stop that prevented Bobby Zamora heading an 80th minute equaliser.
