It's Full Steam Ahead Down By The Thames

As comfortable an afternoon as any team going for the Premier League could have wished for, as Arsenal brushed Fulham aside in a dominant first half performance that compares to the best that we've seen from any side all season.

Three goals by half time, and it could have been more; frankly, if it had been 6 Fulham could not really have complained. Given their total dominance over the opposition in the first half, Arsenal had earned the right to take it easy in the second - the need for more goals to keep up with Manchester City's goal difference notwithstanding - and this they did; keeping Fulham at arms' length (not always comfortably, but you always felt that Arsenal had plenty more in the locker should they have chosen to use it).

Such a contrast to last weekend's nerve-wracked afternoon. Which begs the question: which sort of win do YOU prefer? The dramatic claw back from two down and last minute winner, or the stroll in the park? There are, of course, pros and cons to both. Nothing brings a team together - along with its supporters - than fighting back in the face of adversity. On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for a nice relaxing afternoon. 

I remember the good old days back at Highbury 20 years ago when we used to sit back in our seats expecting to be regally entertained, as we'd chat and laugh our way through another three or 4 goal romp (I can also remember telling my friend Jill to enjoy those times, as it couldn't possibly get any better - but might well get worse. It did get worse, of course, and for quite some time, but days like this are reminiscent of those heady afternoons watching the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira and Pires take the literal piss out of the opposition. Jill sits near me in the new ground too, and we often talk about whether those days may come back. Maybe they have - but Arsenal have won nothing yet!).

A quick recap on the salient points from the game: firstly, it was a surprise and relief to see that Leandro Trossard had recovered so quickly from his injury last weekend. With Jesus and ESR still out, and Nketiah also injured, Arsenal were getting down to the bare bones in attack with Reiss Nelson - and no, I'm not losing sight of the ecstasy he gave us last week, but starting him would have demanded a whole lot more of him than a 20-minute cameo did.

The rest of the XI was as expected, but it gave me shivers to see that Gabriel Jesus was back on the bench. Although it's remarkable that Arsenal lost him after 14 PL matches, when they were 5 points clear at the top of the table, yet still find themselves 5 points clear 12/13 matches later. But we can't say that we haven't missed him. Eddie stood in manfully for a while - and he has clearly learned a lot from training with him - but it's been an absolute masterstroke by Edu and Arteta to have drafted in Trossard to take up the slack when the Eddie Effect began to wear off. It won't be long before Arteta has selection headaches up front; but on the other hand he shouldn't pass up the opportunity to give Starboy the occasional break.

And here's the thing; a combination of illness and injury on Thursday had made matters tricky in Lisbon. But Arsenal are suddenly much stronger than they were just a few days ago. Not, I hasten to add, do I believe that they have the squad depth to compete in both the PL and UCL next season. But they're on their way. Flowers for Edu and Mikel...

Fulham pressed quite high early on, but simply couldn't keep it up. It seemed to only be a matter of time, and even when Robinson's own goal was chalked off for offside it was really only a prelude to what was to come. 

Trossard was running the show up top. Interesting that since he has started dovetailing with Martinelli, his presence has helped elevate the latter's performances. But there was plenty to admire behind the front line. Gabriel and Saliba were in full control of Mitrovic (and also showing off their passing skills). In the heart of the midfield, Thomas Partey was again magnificent. Saka was torturing poor Robinson on the right. And Odegaard - in particular - kept the engine running; aided and abetted by Xhaka and auxiliary central midfielder Zinchenko. A Palhinha-less Fulham were left chasing shadows.

The first goal appeared to be a simple header from a corner. But one could see how Arsenal had worked on a precise routine to deal with the way Fulham defend corners; taking advantage of their zonal marking in a devastating way. And for the second one had to feel sorry for Robinson, who didn't know which of Martinelli, Saka and Odegaard to mark; such was the penalty box movement. Beautiful.

2-0 felt OK. But the third on the stroke of half-time - which came about as a result of Partey's brilliant interception of a Fulham throw in - killed the game stone dead. Not for the first time a switch to Trossard on the left cut Fulham apart, and he somehow located Odegaard in the box. The Norwegian killed Fulham off clinically.

There's nothing much to report on in the second half from an Arsenal point of view. They had to withstand something of a barrage for a while, as Fulham unsurprisingly came out fired up by Silva's half-time criticism. But it was short-lived. And the most notable piece of action in the half was the return of Jesus.

I feel that it was game state that gave Arteta the opportunity to introduce him. But he looked sharp from the off, fitted in seamlessly, and could/should have had a goal. This bodes well for the rest of the season; although he needs to be eased back slowly of course. If Arteta has him fully up and running for the crucial matches from mid-April onwards, that may be enough.

A slight disappointment for me was that we didn't see ESR. I'd have hoped to see a few more minutes put into his legs. If he doesn't get some time on Thursday, I think that we can start to get a little concerned. He adds something a little different when he's firing on all cylinders, and could be yet another useful string to Arteta's bow.

And so we move on. Still 5 points clear, and now just 11 matches to go. Hopefully, by the time City play again - against Liverpool, it's worth noting - it'll be 8 points. And Arsenal are at home to Leeds that afternoon.

First things first. The return leg against Sporting, with the tie poised at 2-2, is on Thursday. And then shot-shy Crystal Palace on Sunday. Just keep going, lads. 

Before I go, just a quick word on LinekerGate. This is a very nuanced issue, and on the whole I agree with most people that he is entitled to express a carefully considered opinion on Social Media. However... his idea of 'carefully considered' is not necessarily everybody's. 

As a Jew myself, I take issue with his two most controversial recent posts, which have been a) denouncing as 'awful' the death of a promising young Palestinian footballer at the hands of Israeli forces a few months ago. With disregard for the fact that the young man was also a terrorist who was 'neutralised' on Israeli territory whilst carrying out an armed attack intended to kill unarmed Israeli civilians. No context to the tweet, and no apology afterwards. 

And then b) the tweet that caused the BBC to intervene. Whilst I've had a good friend, whose father is a Holocaust survivor (and still going strong, I should add), disagree strongly with me as to the context of the words that Lineker used - and who am I to try to contextualise that brave (and remarkably forgiving) man's lived experience, and that of his family? - I feel that comparing UK Government policy and the words used by the Home Secretary to justify it - reprehensible as many feel it is in this day and age - to that of 1930s Germany is inflammatory. As well as severely diminishing what happened in Europe in the late 1930s and early 1940s. We all need education on that, but Lineker's tweet would have been taken at face value by many. 

I actually broadly agree with him. On the policy; but not on his choice of words. Anyway, we live and learn - even as Society becomes more and more polarised. 

Let's concentrate on The Arsenal, then. COYG!