The French forward opened the scoring at Craven Cottage as the Premier League new boys got spanked 3-0 by Mikel Arteta’s men as the world’s most glamorous league kicked off the 2020-21 campaign in style.
Bukayo Saka started on the bench for Arsenal, but Fulham’s Josh Oghenetega Onomah ensured there was an Anglo-Nigerian youngster on the pitch, with the 23-year-old impressive for the home side.
London’s oldest professional club started brightly enough on their return to the top-flight.
But an Arsenal side inspired by Alexandre Lacazette and former Chelsea ace Willian proved too much to handle for the Lily Whites on a bright London afternoon.
Lacazette opened the scoring after just nine minutes, after good work from Willian, to become the first player to score the opening goal of a Premier League season on more than one occasion.
He also netted the opener against Leicester City during the 2017-18 campaign.
Willian hit the post with a free-kick, and Arsenal missed a couple of other chances to extend their lead, but it wasn’t until the second half that the Gunners really turned their extra burners on.
Shortly after the restart, defender Gabriel Magalhães got himself a debut goal. The new arrival from Lille headed in the visitors’ second from a Willian corner kick.
The Brazilian winger then capped a stunning debut for the Gunners with another assist for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to score the Gunners third, off a swift counter-attacking move.
Arsenal had several other opportunities to make it an even more comfortable afternoon, but Aubameyang and substitute Pepe failed to capitalize in front of the goal.
Gunners’ boss Arteta will, however, be pleased with three goals and three points to start the new season.
The Premier League is back.
