Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Premier League title rivals Manchester City will have been blown away by the nature of the Gunners’ 3-0 obliteration of Fulham, speaking to talkSPORT (13 March, 11.20am).
Away to an intense, all-action Fulham side. A London derby, lest we forget. This was supposed to be a major test of Arsenal’s title-winning ambitions.
If so, it was a test the Gunners passed with flying colours; three points and three goals capping what Keown describes as maybe Arsenal’s most complete performance of the entire campaign.
Arsenal thrash Fulham at Craven Cottage
“What I saw yesterday was probably the most comprehensive Arsenal victory I’ve seen all season,” says Keown, part of Arsene Wenger’s iconic ‘Invincible’ side from 2003/04. “Against a very good Fulham team.
“I know (star midfielder) Joao Palhinha wasn’t available but Arsenal were so slick with their passing and movement. (Leandro) Trossard, his intelligence, he never gives the ball away. Three assists yesterday.
“These are derby games by the way. Your local rivals want to knock that smile off your face, but Fulham weren’t even in this game. It could have been six or seven by half-time! Fantastic.”
With Trossard pulling the strings from his false nine role, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard all found the net. And Keown believes there are shades of Pep Guardiola’s very best Manchester City side about the way Arsenal swept aside one of the division’s most well-drilled sides.
“It was really impressive,” he adds. “I think that will be the performance Man City will have looked at more than any other and thought ‘wow’. It must be reminding City of how they used to look five or six years ago.
“But they are the ones with the trophy. And Arsenal will have to go like this until the end of the season.”
Gunners clear at the top
The gap between Arsenal and City now stands at five points.
“Fulham are a very good team,” former Etihad ace Oleksandr Zinchenko smiles. “They’ve played well this season, especially at home. We knew that they are so dangerous so we obviously prepared quite well.
“I think our first-half performance was quite good – we controlled almost everything on and off the ball.
“It’s a very important three points, a clean sheet. A perfect day for Gooners. Let’s keep going.”
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