Arsenal go top thanks to Nasri double

Arsenal went top of the Premiership table with a 2-1 win over Fulham at the Emirates. Two Nasri goals ensured Arsenal all 3 points although they were far from their best in the first half with Koscielny going off injured. Arsenal kept their usual lineup as Rosicky kept his place in the side as captain for the injured Fabregas. Djourou came on earlier than he thought he would have after Koscielny was stretchered off half way through the second half. In the Fulham lineup youngster Matthew Briggs came in for the injured Mexican international Salcido but his game did not last long as Baird came on for him on only 28 minutes to deal with the posing threats that Samir Nasri was causing. Schwarzer who was heavily linked with Arsenal during the summer started in goal. Fulham's goal came from Kamara but Wengar thought it should not have stood because of Koscielny's head injury.

Arshavin had a fantastic early chance to give the Gunners the lead as Wilshere's freekick was nodded on into the path of the Russian but Schwarzer made a brilliant point blank save to keep him out.

Arsenal had made a lively start to the game and Nasri had a chance after Arshavin poked the ball through to him but he stabbed his shot wide of the oncoming Fulham goalkeeper and the post.

Then Arsenal took a deserved lead with a moment of brilliance from Samir Nasri, who is showing fantastic form for the Gunners, scored again. Arshavin the man again supplying the ball into the Frenchman who dummied his way past two defenders before smashing the ball home.

Nasri was playing brilliantly and got the beating of Briggs down the right hand side. He got to the byline where he supplied a cross into the box. The ball came off Etuhu and nearly into his own net but for Schwarzer who saved the ball on the line.

Arsenal were playing some brilliant football and Rosicky was put down the line by Nasri who put in a cross to Song. Despite him having no defenders around him he somehow put his effort wide.

Then against the run of play Fulham grabbed an equaliser through Diomansy Kamara. Arsenal were light at the back as Squillaci had clashed heads with Koscielny who was dazed and Fulham took advantage of that. Dempsey slotting the ball through to Kamara who fired the ball past Fabianski.

Kamara could then have had his second of the game and put Fulham infront. He beat the offside trap and raced away from Squillaci and Djourou towards the goal but Fabianski made the save to keep the score at 1-1.

The score at half time was 1-1.

The first decent chance of the second half fell to Rosicky after Song chipped the ball into him on the volley but he drilled his shot wide and remains searching for his first goal in 11 months.

Arsenal were now pressuring for the lead and Arshavin came close when he attempted to do a Nasri, dancing past two players before smashing an effort towards goal but it was kept out by Schwarzer.

Fulham were now getting forward and a deep free kick was headed towards Gera by Hangeland who tried the spectacular over head kick but it unsurprisingly went wide of the goal.

Then Arsenal took the lead as another piece of magic from Samir Nasri gave him his second goal of the game. He tricked his way past two defenders again and then rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net to give Arsenal control of the game.

Fulham were desperately trying to get another equaliser but it would not come. First Etuhu fired wide in a scrambled attempt and then Fabianski made a good save from Gera's looping effort.

The final scored ended Arsenal 2-1 Fulham.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny(33), Squillaci, Clichy, Arshavin, Rosicky(63), Nasri, Wilshere, Song, Chamakh.
Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Djourou(33), Denilson, Walcott, Van Persie(63), Bendtner.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs(28), Gera, Dempsey, Etuhu, Murphy(88), Davies, Kamara(73).
Subs: Stockdale, Baird(28), Kelly, Duff, Greening, A. Johnson(73),E. Johnson(88).

My man of the match: Samir Nasri

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 60,049