It wasn’t as stunning as last season but Fulham still badly wounded Arsenal’s title challenge at a windswept and rainy Craven Cottage this afternoon. The Gunners were badly shaken by conceding an excellent opener to the evergreen Raul Jimenez in the eleventh minute and, although Mikel Arteta’s men dominated both possession and territory, they had strikingly little to show for it until William Saliba converted a knock down from Kai Havertz to score Arsenal’s 23rd goal from a corner since the start of last term. The visitors thought they had won it with a late Bukayo Saka header, but that goal was ruled out by the VAR when Gabriel Martinelli was adjudged offside in the build-up.
Fulham fought gallantly from the first whistle but this was a modified version of Marco Silva’s most adventurous approach. With the aim of the game to frustrate Arsenal’s free flowing football, it was more of an afternoon for the likes of Sander Berge, brilliant in central midfield, and Sasa Lukic to shine rather than Emile Smith Rowe, who had little opportunity to show off his silky skills against his former employers. Smith Rowe did sneak in between the Arsenal defence once in the first period, but his control let him down as he looked to run clean through on David Raya.
Any worries that the home side would struggle to match Arsenal’s intensity, having had 24 hours less recovery time than their opponents in midweek, were unfounded. Their endeavour and desire were typified by the way in which Robinson relentlessly pursued Saka down the left flank, with Fulham’s skipper coming out on top in one of the contest’s most watchable duels. The Whites enjoyed early joy along the opposite wing with the goal arriving when Kenny Tete played a perfect pass in front of Raul Jimenez and the Mexican measured a magnificent finish beyond Raya’s despairing dive from the right angle of the penalty area.
It was all hands to the pump for the remainder of the first half. Declan Rice darted beyond the Fulham defence only to shoot wide and Bernd Leno was assertive in dealing with Arsenal’s set piece threat, punching clear one of the more dangerous corners, before the German smothered a Saka shot shortly before half time. The England winger fizzed a threatening cross just beyond Rice’s outstretched foot right at the end of the first period, but Calvin Bassey and Issa Diop deserved great credit for keeping Havertz, operating as the focal point of the visitors’ attack, very quiet.
Fulham were forced onto the defensive after Arsenal’s equaliser – which survived a VAR check for offside against Saliba after the centre back had snuck past Adama Traore to get the telling touch – with Leno making a smart save from Leandro Trossard. Havertz drove disappointingly wide from a promising position before Leno gathered a low effort from Rice as the home side appeared to be penned back deep inside their own territory.
A rare counter-attack saw substitute Andreas Pereira saunter onto a superb lofted pass from Sander Berge, but Raya was quick to narrow the angle and saved with his feet. Fulham did well to restrict the away side’s clearest opportunities to set plays until Martinelli’s deep cross was headed home by Saka – sparking delirious celebrations in front of the travelling supporters in the Putney End. They proved premature as Fulham battled for another point that showed Silva’s side are far from a pushover on the banks of the Thames.
**FULHAM (4-2-3-1):** Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Berge, Lukic (Cuenca 90+2); Traore (Wilson 60), Iwobi, Smith Rowe (Pereira 60); Jimenez (Muniz 80). **Subs (not used):** Benda, Castagne, R. Sessegnon, King, Godo.
**BOOKED:** Lukic, Bassey, Jimenez, A. Robinson.
**GOAL:** Jimenez (11).
**ARSENAL (4-3-3):** Raya; Partey, Timber, Kiwior, Saliba; Jorginho (Merino 74), Rice, Odegaard (Nwaneri 79); Saka, Trossard (Martinelli 60), Havertz (Jesus 74). **Subs (not used):** Neto, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Heaven, Sterling.
**BOOKED:** Martinelli, Rice.
**GOAL:** Saliba (52).
**REFEREE:** Chris Kavanagh (Greater Manchester).
**ATTENDANCE:** 26,954.