Arsenal delivered three points and a solid performance in their return to Premier League action against Fulham.
Gabriel Martinelli was back to his best in an electric display that gives Mikel Arteta real optimism over the Brazilian winger’s ability to hurt Real Madrid in the upcoming Champions League clash.
Mikel Merino continued his excellent form in front of goal by landing the opening goal and Arteta praised a ‘beautiful’ moment for Bukayo Saka as the winger scored seven minutes into his injury comeback.
Andrea Berta was seen at the Emirates Stadium for the first time as he watched his new side claim the three points and former Arsenal star Theo Walcott was also in attendance and let slip some changing room secrets from his time in North London.
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Theo Walcott reveals former team mate Arsenal players would ‘wind up’
Speaking to the club’s official Website on their ‘Live from N5’ show, Walcott revealed how former team mate Mathieu Flamini used to be the subject of a running ‘wind up’ amongst his former team mates.
Walcott stated: “I used to always remember Flamini, if you were having dinner with him, if you wanted to pass him the salt, you couldn’t give it to his hand.
“So all the players used to wind him up, he was very superstitious… I think it was a thing, it was for Flamini anyway, he didn’t want it passed to his hand directly. You had to put it down.”
Flamini was in attendance at the Emirates for the Fulham game and was quick to point out to Walcott the reason behind his superstition.
Flamini explained: “This is from my Italian ancestors, I’m very superstitious and like you don’t pass the salt. You put it on the table and you pick it up… it’s bad luck, it’s like a black cat.”
Mathieu Flamini remembered for Arsenal brace in North London Derby
Flamini won the FA Cup three times in his Arsenal career and played 246 times for the club over two spells having left for AC Milan in 2008 before returning once again in 2013.
It was during his second spell that perhaps his finest moment for the Gunners occurred in September 2015 when the French midfielder scored a rare brace in the North London Derby.
It gave Arsene Wenger’s side a memorable cup win at White Hart Lane and his second goal in particular was a stunning volley on the run from outside the penalty area.
Having only scored 13 times for the Gunners in his whole career, Flamini certainly picked the right opponents to have a rare flurry against.
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