Arsenal thrashes Fulham in Premier League opener

Newcomers Gabriel and Willian enjoyed fine debuts for Arsenal, which made light work of its short trip across London to Craven Cottage. Lacazette scored the season’s opening goal in the eighth minute after poor defending by the home side. Brazilian defender Gabriel, who came from Ligue 1 side Lille, made it 2-0 in the 49th minute with a close-range header.

Captain Aubameyang put the icing on the cake with a superb shot into the top corner in the 57th minute, but missed a pair of gilt-edged chances in the closing stages to inflict even more damage on the host. Right-back Denis Odoi forced a save from Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno early on but that was as good as it got for Fulham, whose opening-day performance suggests that staying in the top-flight could be a tall order.

Lacazette was left with the simple task of poking the ball in from close range after a comedy of errors by Fulham, which enjoyed a slice of good fortune when Willian hit the post with a 22nd-minute free-kick. Gabriel made it 2-0 with a thumping header off a Willian corner.

The Brazilian attacker, donning the Arsenal jersey for the first time since his summer move from Chelsea, then racked up his second assist of the day when he set up Aubameyang. Willian’s delightful pass from midfield found Aubameyang on the left flank and the striker cut inside to curl a rasping shot past Marek Rodak, who was left clutching thin air.

RESULTS: Premier League: Fulham 0 lost to Arsenal 3.

Ligue 1: Bordeaux 0 drew with Lyon 0; Lens 1 beat Paris Saint Germain 0.