Arsenal maintained its unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Fulham, courtesy of goals from captain Martin Odegaard and defender Gabriel Magalhaes at the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts started with Gabriel Jesus in attack, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli supporting on the wings. The visitors had Aleksandar Mitrovic up front, while Neeskens Kebano and Bobby Reid were on the flanks.
Arsenal came into the game seeking to maintain their winning start to the season. However, the Gunners met a resilient Fulham side, who gave nothing away with a strong first half performance.
The Gunners created a few chances after the break through Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus, but goalkeeper Bernd Leno did well to keep the visitors in the game.
However, Fulham scored the opening goal moments later when Arsenal defender Magalhaes was caught on the ball in his own box. The Brazilian’s error allowed Mitrovic to put the visitors ahead in the 56th minute against the run of play, beating Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to score his fourth goal of the season.
The goal humbled all the Arsenal fans in the stadium and it seemed to be another familiar story for the Gunners, as they were caught with their pants down.
Arsenal coach brought on striker Eddie Nketiah in place of Kieran Tierney as his team searched for a goal. Moments later after an excellent run by Saka through the midfield, his pass found Odegaard who threw a few step-overs before firing the ball into the net via a deflection to equalise for the Gunners.
The home side had found a way back into the game and continued to push forward for the winner.
In a turn-of-events, the Gunners went ahead when goalkeeper Leno could not keep hold of Martinelli’s corner under pressure from several Arsenal players. The ball fell to defender Magalhaes, who tapped the ball into the net from a few yards out to give Arsenal the lead.
Magalhaes atoned for an earlier error by scoring a late winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1, maintaining its 100% start to the season and leaving manager Mikel Arteta in a state of overwhelming emotion.
“It’s a big boost and obviously to win like this as well,” Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta said after the match. “It’s really nice when you feel that adversity during the match after being in control of the match and being on top of it and hoping it was just a matter of time.”
“We made a big mistake and they punished us,” Arteta added. “But how we reacted against adversity, the connection again with the supporters, the atmosphere that we created, the way we went about it, the mentality that we showed.”
“The way Gabby (Magalhaes) played after he made that mistake and the way that the team believed we could win the match. We went for it and we managed to do it. Overall, I’m really pleased with the performance.”
Arsenal host Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, while high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion visit Fulham at Craven Cottage on Tuesday in the Premier League.
Saturday’s Premier League results
Southampton 0-1 Manchester United
Brentford 1-1 Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Leeds United
Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City
Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth
Manchester City 4-2 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham.
