Arsenal have beaten Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage this afternoon, thanks largely to a Lukas Podolski double.

The Gunners took an early lead through Olivier Giroud, who collected a loose ball and poked the ball beyond David Stockdale on 13 minutes.

A quick double-save from Wojciech Sczcesny moments later denied Fulham an instant equaliser, first through John Arne Riise and then Damien Duff.

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The hosts began to get back into it as the game headed towards half time, but were undone on the counter attack, as Podolski reacted quickest to smash in from the edge of the box after Stockdale had denied Theo Walcott.

Adel Taarabt and Dimitar Berbatov started to get more involved for Fulham after the break, but just as they looked to be heading for a goal of their own, Arsenal made it 3-0.

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Podolski was on hand to get his second, picking up the ball just inside the box and firing past Stockdale into the corner.

The Cottagers did manage a late consolation, with Darren Bent reacting quickest to tap in his first goal for the club.

The hosts continued to push forward late into the game, but the damage had already been done and it was Arsenal who took an important three points today.