Arsenal beat Fulham to stay top of the Premier League
Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 in a gritty Premier League clash at Craven Cottage, with Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal sealing the victory. The Gunners now sit on 19 points at the top of the table, while Fulham remain 14th with eight points.
Mikel Arteta’s side fielded a strong starting lineup featuring Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Calafiori in defense, with Rice, Eze, and Zubimendi in midfield, and Saka, Trossard, and Gyokeres leading the attack.
Slow first half as Arsenal struggle to break Fulham down
Arsenal’s first chance came when Trossard advanced to the edge of the box but fired over. Fulham responded through Harry Wilson, who sent two efforts narrowly wide of the target.
Calafiori thought he had scored, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Goalkeeper David Raya made a key save to deny a deflected cross from creeping in, while Gyokeres and Calafiori both missed opportunities created by Saka’s brilliant wing play.
Fulham suffered an early blow when Andersen was forced off injured, replaced by Issa Diop. Despite Rice’s late long-range attempt, the first half ended goalless.
Trossard delivers decisive goal as Arsenal beat Fulham
Arsenal increased their pressure after the restart. Trossard first went close with a near-post effort before finally breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute. From Saka’s corner, Gabriel flicked the ball on, and Trossard was perfectly placed to guide it home from close range.
Fulham tried to respond quickly through Iwobi and Wilson, but their shots flew over the bar. Injuries continued to hurt Marco Silva’s side, with Cairney forced off and replaced by Smith-Roy.
VAR drama struck in the 65th minute when Arsenal were awarded a penalty for a foul on Saka. However, after reviewing the footage, the referee reversed the decision, confirming that Kevin had cleanly won the ball.
Gyokeres later missed a golden chance to double Arsenal’s lead, blasting over with only Leno to beat. The Fulham goalkeeper made further saves to deny both Gyokeres and Martinelli late on.
Stats highlight Arsenal’s depth and defensive strength
According to Squawka, Arsenal became the first Premier League club this season to have 10 different scorers after Trossard’s goal.
Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães continues to stand out, having contributed to 20 Premier League goals since joining in 2020 — with 18 goals and two assists, including tonight’s key header that led to the winner.
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