EPL: Arsenal thrash Fulham to close gap on Chelsea

Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (C) scores the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Fulham at the Emirates Stadium in London. Photo: AFP caption

Arsenal bounced back from their thrashing by Liverpool to beat Fulham and move two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

The Gunners suffered their heaviest defeat of the season on Saturday when they lost 5 – 1 at Anfield , but goals from Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette , Aaron Ramsey and Pierre -Emerick Aubameyang helped them to only their second win in six games.

After Ryan Sessegnon had missed two good chances for Fulham , Xhaka put the hosts ahead , finishing past Sergio Rico after a good cross from the impressive Alex Iwobi .

Lacazette doubled the lead when he finished off Sead Kolasinac ’ s pull- back following a fine Arsenal passing move.
Aboubakar Kamara pulled one back from close range for Fulham , but Ramsey converted the Gunners ’ third after Aubameyang had hit the post.

Aubameyang ’ s deflected shot gave Arsenal their fourth and a deserved three points .
It had been a poor festive season for Arsenal as they only managed a 1 – 1 draw at Brighton on 26 December before their thrashing at Anfield .

The Gunners were again without Mesut Ozil , with the German still sidelined with the knee injury that kept him out of the Liverpool match , while Ramsey , out of contract in the summer and a transfer target for Bayern Munich, Inter Milan , Juventus , Paris St – Germain and Real Madrid , was only among the substitutes .

Nevertheless, the hosts took a 25 th -minute lead when Xhaka finished from Iwobi ’ s cross and they ended the first half strongly with chances for Matteo Guendouzi , Xhaka and Aubameyang .