Kickoff (Cape Town)
24 August 2008
Ghana defender John Paintsil was delighted with his side's 1-0 win over Arsenal after their opening day loss against Hull City.
Fullham who threw away a first half lead to lose to the new Premiership boys held on against the Gunners after going in front courtesy Brede Hangeland's 21st minute effort.
I am absolutely delighted with not just the fact that we won but the manner we won
John Paintsil
It gave the Cottagers their first win of the new season and the perfect competitive home debut for the Ghanaian international who joined from West Ham.
"After the defeat at Hull we needed to come up with a good response and we did against one of the best sides in the League," Paintsil told kickoffGhana.com.
"I am absolutely delighted with not just the fact that we won but the manner we won."
Up next for Fullham will be Manchester United after the international break and the Ghanaian is hoping the triumph over the Gunners will boost confidence ahead of that.
Paintsil feels he handled his competitive home debut well but on watching the video of that game will discover he was lucky to have lasted the ninety minutes after a high challenge on Ivory Coast's Emmanuel Eboue on 16 minutes that referee Martin Atkinson completely missed.
In the Championship of England, Quincy Owusu Abeyie turned in another outstanding performance for Birmingham City. The Ghanaian was at the center of City's relentless attacking and crowned a good day at the office by setting up Gary O'Connor's second goal that killed off Barnsley.
In Scotland, Laryea Kingston shaved the post and went close once in Hearts' 2-1 win over St Miren before he was taken off after 84 minutes.
In France Black Stars defender John Mensah is still awaiting his Lyon debut. The Rock of Gibraltar was absent as Lyon won 2-0 against Grenoble. Andrea Dede Ayew set up Lorient's only goal in their 1-3 loss away to Valenciennes.
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