Arsenal 4 Fullham 1: If the noise that greeted Thierry Henry's goals here was loud, wait for the reception that greets his next one. By scoring twice to help Arsenal to an emphatic victory over Fulham the Frenchman moved to within one strike of equalling Ian Wright's club record.
Henry's quiet start to the season was all but forgotten as he ensured that Arsenal came from behind to win. They dominated and much of their attacking was terrific, with José Antonio Reyes and Dennis Bergkamp excellent and Cesc Fábregas also catching the eye. This was just the response Arsenal needed to their game at Chelsea.
Arsène Wenger had used his programme notes to reflect at length on his team's 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. The manager noted that Arsenal's attacking had not been sharp enough but his team selection here suggested he was also concerned about the defending. There was not even a place on the bench for Philippe Senderos after his latest struggle against Didier Drogba, as Pascal Cygan came in.
The removal of Senderos did not lead to the eradication of errors. Cygan had a couple of worrying moments before Kolo Touré made a mess of a clearance and enabled Fulham to take the lead. Touré's failure to boot away a Tomasz Radzinski cross was poor but Claus Jensen still needed to show brilliant awareness and technique as he curled a shot over Jens Lehmann.
That came totally against the run of play. Arsenal were being denied not only by a lack of killer instinct but also by Tony Warner. The goalkeeper, on loan from Cardiff, tipped over well from Fábregas as the midfielder made one of several advances from midfield and had by then saved a seventh-minute penalty.
There was no question Zat Knight tripped Henry as the striker sprinted on to an Alexander Hleb pass and Lauren took the kick because Henry prefers not to if he has been fouled. Warner, off his line, guessed correctly and saved.
When Cygan headed in a Bergkamp free-kick to equalise, Warner had no chance, let down by awful marking. That might have been expected to galvanise Arsenal but in fact Fulham should have regained the lead when, with Cygan caught out, Brian McBride fired over.
McBride was close to sliding in a Radzinski cross early in the second half as Fulham broke dangerously but Arsenal were soon ahead. A delicious chip by Reyes found Henry, who took one touch before scoring with a low shot.
Fulham refused to be cowed and Lehmann needed to make a terrific save to prevent McBride from heading an almost instant equaliser, but Arsenal were running the game and Henry secured the win by beating Warner from a Mathieu Flamini pass before Cygan scored again from close range off a Bergkamp cross.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Cole, Hleb (Clichy 83), Silva, Fabregas, Reyes (Flamini 77), Bergkamp, Henry. Subs Not Used: Pires, Van Persie, Almunia. Booked: Reyes, Bergkamp, Cole, Lauren, Flamini. Goals: Cygan 32, Henry 53, 82, Cygan 90.
FULHAM: Warner, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Niclas Jensen, Claus Jensen, Diop, Boa Morte, Malbranque, McBride (John 64), Radzinski. Subs Not Used: Helguson, Elrich, Batista, Leacock. Booked: Boa Morte, Rehman. Goals: Claus Jensen 22.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
