Hangerland goal hands Gunners first defeat of season
Saturday, 23 Aug 2008 21:16
Robin van Persie was guilty of wasting a host of free-kicks for the Gunners.
Arsenal have suffered a shock 1-0 loss to
Fulham to Craven Cottage.
Roy Hodgson's men won the London derby thanks to Brede Hangerland's first goal for the club.
The Cottagers started with summer signing but £10.2 million striker Andrew Johnson was still missing through injury, while Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure and Robin van Persie started for the visitors.
As in last week's opener against West Bromwich Albion, the Gunners made an explosive start with Emmanuel Adebayor firing a shot wide from distance while van Persie shot wide from seven yards out.
And Hodgson's side punished their opponents' lack of composure in front of goal by taking a shock lead on 21 minutes when Hangerland stabbed in Jimmy Bullard's corner.
The visitors continued to create golden chances to score with Adebayor rattling the post with a header from Bacary Sagna's cross, while Theo Walcott whacked a shot over from 20 yards.
But Arsene Wenger's men were unable to open up Fulham's midfield in the latter stages of the half and looked to be missing Cesc Fabregas.
Fulham's midfield continued to shine in the second half with Seol Ki-hyeon's low cross hooked wide by the lively Bobby Zamora.
Minutes later, Zamora teed up winger Simon Davies who lashed a shot inches wide from the edge of the area.
A frustrated Wenger hauled off Theo Walcott and put on Nicklas Bendtner in search of an equaliser. Their best chance fell to van Persie who struck a low shot from the edge of the box which went agonisingly wide.
Arsenal, unable to break the deadlock in the final minutes, went down to their first defeat to the Cottagers since 2006.