Arsenal stay top of the Premier League for another week after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham, secured by Leandro Trossard’s second-half strike from a corner.
It was far from a vintage display – the Gunners lacked their usual fluency – but their persistence and control ultimately told on a day when the hosts were restricted to little more than half-chances.
#### **First Half**
Arsenal controlled much of the first half at Craven Cottage but couldn’t make their dominance count in a subdued 45 minutes littered with loose passing and wasted opportunities.
From the outset, the Gunners tried to lure Fulham out by circulating the ball across the back line. Saliba and Gabriel saw plenty of possession, with Zubimendi dropping in to provide an extra outlet, but the hosts remained compact and disciplined, waiting to pounce on mistakes before countering with pace.
Twice, Gabriel’s misplaced passes gifted Fulham chances, with Jimenez and Wilson both going close. Zubimendi also had to block a Cairney volley from a corner to the edge of the box.
Up front, Gyokeres, without a goal in six games, battled gamely with Andersen, who later went off injured, while Trossard — often targeted by long diagonals — struggled to make inroads against Castagne. He did, however, set up Calafiori for a brilliant top-corner finish that was ruled out for offside. It was some strike.
Arsenal’s main threat came down Saka’s flank. The winger repeatedly beat Sessegnon and twice created good openings: first for Gyokeres, whose fierce strike was saved by Leno, then for Calafiori, who volleyed over. The Italian also saw another effort blocked after cutting inside onto his right foot.
After a flurry of Fulham injuries disrupted the rhythm, Rice went closest before the break, curling narrowly wide from distance after patient play. All in all, a frustrating half.
#### **Second Half**
Arsenal started the second half with intent, carving out two chances inside the opening four minutes. Trossard should have done better when picked out by Eze but dragged his shot wide, before Saka burst into the box and almost found Gyökeres, only for Berger and Castagne to scramble the ball clear.
Fulham responded with a pair of efforts from Wilson, both sailing over the bar, before Gyökeres went down in the area under pressure from Berger. Referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals, and a brief VAR check agreed.
The breakthrough finally came on 58 minutes – and, fittingly, from a set piece, Arsenal’s seventh corner of the afternoon. Saka’s delivery from the left was flicked on by Gabriel at the near post, and Trossard arrived at the back stick to bundle the ball in off his knee. It wasn’t the cleanest finish, but after a quiet display, the Belgian’s intervention was a timely one. ([GOAL 1-0](https://streamff.com/v/5d2bde2d))
Both sides made changes soon after the opener. Merino replaced Eze for Arsenal, while Fulham swapped King and Cairney for Kevin and former Gunner Emile Smith Rowe.
Saka remained at the heart of the action. He forced Leno into a low save after wriggling his way into the box from a central position, then went down under pressure from Kevin on the edge of the area. Anthony Taylor initially pointed to the spot, but replays showed the Fulham man got a touch on the ball before making contact. After a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned, much to Saka’s frustration.
The call seemed to knock Arsenal out of their rhythm, and the game drifted into a scrappy spell. Defensively, though, the visitors remained solid, with Gabriel bossing his duel against Jiménez and Saliba sweeping up beside him.
When a rare clear chance did arrive, Gyokeres muscled his way into the box only to blaze over when a calmer finish across Leno looked on. More substitutions followed – Wilson and Cuneca made way for Bassey and Traore, while Martinelli replaced Trossard – and the Brazilian was straight into the thick of it, seeing an overhead kick blocked amid brief VAR checks for handball and a potential foul on Gyokeres. Nothing doing.
Nine minutes of stoppage time were greeted by a huge roar from the home fans. Arsenal sat deep when necessary but didn’t give up on a killer second goal. Gyokeres spun and tested Leno, and the German then denied Martinelli on the rebound. Looking to waste time, Arteta sent on Norgaard for Gyokeres, who will no doubt be disappointed to go another game without a goal.
Thankfully, that’s just a footnote on another important win. After City’s win against Everton earlier this afternoon, the pressure was on to get the three points. It wasn’t pretty, but that’s what we’ve done. Good work.
**
Arsenal:** Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze (62), Trossard (81), Saka, Gyokeres (96)
**Subs:** Kepa, Lewis-Skelly, White, Mosquera, Norgaard (96), Nwaneri, Merino (62), Dowman, Martinelli (81)