There was a switch during the game with Cazorla and Gnabry moving to opposite sides. Greater tactical minds than myself may be able to explain the reason for this change. Serge Gnabry was able to unleash a few shots cutting onto his stronger right foot even if most of them were blazed over the bar. Given that Gnabry is more creative than outlet, I wonder if a switch to the left would get more out of him, especially as Cazorla can come inside on his left equally as well as his right. Lukas Podolski came on with 20 minutes to go and looked like he had a point to prove. He got on the ball a lot, had some long range shots, one that smacked off the post via the keepers and even went in for a 50/50 tackle on the touchline.

On Monday it was Jack Wilshere who produced the goods to get Arsenal all three points at Villa park, today it was Santi Cazorla’s turn to find the goals when it mattered.

Arsenal had started sharply from the kick off, Wilshere and Özil especially looked dangerous in the early exchanges but Fulham defended well and we ended up playing in front of them for long stretches.

I have said this already far too many times earlier on in the season but without forward movement off the ball we lack the ability to get in behind. We try to compensate with an extra creative player but it results in more one-twos around the penalty box and a narrow team can stick out a leg and stop the final pass. But I am not complaining, we have played this way for most of the season and our position in the table isn’t too shabby is it?

Fulham may have found a way through themselves at points in the first half when they counter attacked us when our attacks broke down.

Early in the second half Santi Cazorla stepped up to open the scoring. Cutting inside from the left he played a pass into Giroud who flicked into Wilshere’s path in the penalty area, his cut back found Cazorla who slid in to apply the finish.

A few minutes later Cazorla arrived at the edge of the penalty area to pick up a poor clearance from the Fulham defence and his left footed shot dribbled past the keeper. 2-0 and game over.

With the absence of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey we will need Santi’s goal input of last season. His season has been somewhat interrupted with injury and the usual inconsistency that often follows long term injury, but hopefully we will start seeing the Santi of last campaign on a regular basis. We will need him at his best.

Some of his skill in tight spaces is actually quite astonishing at times. One time in particular he dragged the ball past two players before being taken down outside of the Fulham penalty area.

There was a switch during the game with Cazorla and Gnabry moving to opposite sides. Greater tactical minds than myself may be able to explain the reason for this change. Serge Gnabry was able to unleash a few shots cutting onto his stronger right foot even if most of them were blazed over the bar. Given that Gnabry is more creative than an outlet, I wonder if a switch to the left would get more out of him, especially as Cazorla can come inside on his left equally as well as his right.

Lukas Podolski came on with 20 minutes to go and looked like he had a point to prove. He got on the ball a lot, had some long range shots, one that smacked off the post via the keepers and even went in for a 50/50 tackle on the touchline. I can’t help but feel that Podolski’s days are numbered but if he can continue to get minutes and make that type of contribution then you never know, he could turn things around in the eyes of the manager.

2-0 it finished, a score line that surely has to be our most common this season without looking at the results. But it is another three points that keeps up top of the league. Manchester City won another home game and Chelsea will play a Manchester United side without their two best players. Typical really, it would be nice if we could get that kind of luck in a big game for a change.

On Friday we have Coventry in the FA Cup, so it will be a chance for some first team players to get rested for squad players and players returning from injury.