Reserves report- Arsenal 2 Fulham 0- Bischoff impresses
Summer signing Amaury Bischoff sent out a strong message to Arsene Wenger after a fine performance in the 2-0 win over Fulham Reserves at Underhill this evening. The Portuguese winger opened the scoring with a tremendous half-volley just before the break and then set up Rui Fonte for the second. Before the game, Neil Banfield suggested that we may have to wait until 2009 to see the best of Bischoff but he showed glimpses of his undoubted talent tonight.
Banfield made three changes from last time out. Luke Ayling came in at centre-back, whilst Henri Lansbury and Rui Fonte also returned to the side.
————————-Mannone————————
—-Hoyte (c)——-Rodgers—————Ayling—-Ogogo—–
—Bischoff——–Coquelin—————Lansbury–Merida——
—————–Simpson—————-Fonte—————–
subs: Szczesny, Emmanuel-Thomas, Frimpong, Sunu, Steer
The game started at a lively tempo although there were a lack of clear-cut chances for both sides early on. Arsenal attempted to make their mark on the game with their incisive passing and possession football but found the Fulham rearguard a tough nut to crack.
In fact, the Gunners had to wait 18 minutes for the first meaningful effort on goal. Rui Fonte hit a powerful drive from distance but it was parried by Fulham ‘keeper David Stockdale for a corner.
The visitors responded soon after with Matthew Saunders testing Mannone from just outside the box but his attempt was no match for the Italian stopper.
Arsenal were edging closer to taking the lead. Fonte saw his header cleared off the line, whilst Merida drilled an ambitious shot wide.
Then Abu Ogogo was involved in a sensational pass-and-move from left-back. The former Wimbledon youngster made a bursting run down the flank before feeding the ball into Lansbury who played a one-two with Jay Simpson. Simpson laid it back to Lansbury who in turn found Ogogo but Abu skewed his shot wide.
Simpson then hit a tame effort wide but just when you started to think that Arsenal were going to go into the break a goal down, Bischoff gave the lead with a fantastic effort. The former Werder Bremen man showed good initative to flick the ball over Danny Hoesen and then hit a tremendous half-volley over Stockdale and into the net with the outside of his boot.
Half time- Arsenal 1 Fulham 0
Arsenal made a small alteration at the start of the second-half, with Henri Lansbury switching to the left flank and Merida playing centrally alongside Coquelin.
Lansbury seemed to be revelling in his new role. He played a one-two with Fonte and then cut inside to test Stockdale with a fierce effort.
It was to prove to be his last contribution to the game as he was taken off soon after and replaced by Gilles Sunu. Frustration for Lansbury who had only just returned from suspension.
Sunu took up his position on the left but it was the man on the other flank who would grab the headlines once again. Bischoff played a great ball in to the box and Fonte showed good composure to chest the ball down and finish with aplomb for his third reserve goal of the season. 2-0 and, it would seem, job done.
On the hour mark, the Gunners made a double substitution. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came on for the tiring Luke Ayling whilst Emmanuel Frimpong replaced Coquelin. The second was a like-for-like change with Frimpong slotting into the holding-midfield role but Thomas’ arrival signalled a re-shuffle in defence. Abu Ogogo switched to his preferred position of right-back, Hoyte shifted to centre-back with Thomas operating at left-back.
It was Hoyte’s central-defensive partner Rodgers who would be the next to test Stockdale as the Edmonton-born youngster swivelled in the box and shot but he couldn’t get his effort past the ‘keeper.
Simpson then hit an effort inches wide and it seemed as if the win was sealed already. However, there were some nervy moments at the other end with Vito Mannone forced into a triple save after Frimpong dwelled on the ball by his own corner flag, whilst Abu Ogogo later had to clear the ball off the line.
Simpson should have capped a good team performance with a goal late on but saw his shot tipped onto the bar by Stockdale.
Full time- Arsenal 2 Fulham 0
JEORGE BIRD’S MAN OF THE MATCH- AMAURY BISCHOFF
Is getting his fitness back and was the key player scoring one and setting up the other.
