Arsenal reclaimed their position at the top of the Premier League table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory Fulham vs Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening. Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal from another trademark Arsenal corner proved decisive in a match that tested the visitors’ title credentials.
The Belgian forward’s 58th-minute strike—his first league goal of the season—came at a crucial moment after Manchester City had briefly displaced Arsenal at the summit earlier in the day with their 2-0 victory over Everton. The Gunners now hold a commanding three-point advantage over the defending champions, with Liverpool able to close the gap to just one point if they defeat Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
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The Decisive Moment
Arsenal’s breakthrough arrived in familiar fashion—from a set piece. Bukayo Saka delivered an inviting corner from the right flank, Gabriel Magalhães rose at the near post to flick the ball on with a perfectly timed header, and Trossard was ideally positioned at the far post to bundle the ball home with his knee.
The goal represented Arsenal’s 50th from a corner since the start of the 2022-23 season—a staggering statistic considering no other Premier League side has scored more than 34 in that timeframe. It also marked the Gunners’ seventh goal from corners this season alone, more than any other top-flight team.
“We generate so many set-pieces, so you have to start from there,” explained manager Mikel Arteta after the match. “We have to understand them and against these low blocks, when they don’t really want to drop and commit that many players there, [set pieces are] another opportunity to put the players that we want in the position that we want, with the role that we want, and we need to exploit that”.
Fulham’s Resistance and Arsenal’s Struggles
The match proved far from straightforward for Arsenal. Fulham vs Arsenal, playing in front of their home supporters, created the better opportunities in a competitive first half. Harry Wilson went close twice with efforts that narrowly missed David Raya’s goal, while Josh King forced the Spanish goalkeeper into an acrobatic save with a dangerous cross-shot.
Arsenal thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute when Riccardo Calafiori swept a magnificent curling effort into the top corner, but the Italian defender’s celebration was cut short by an offside flag following a VAR review.
Viktor Gyökeres endured another frustrating evening in his search for a first Arsenal goal. The Swedish striker, signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer for a reported £73 million, was denied twice by his compatriot Bernd Leno and also blazed over from close range in the second half. His goal drought now extends to seven matches for club and country.
Arteta remained supportive of his struggling forward: “He was very close again today. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal. We try to give him support and the love, and it will come”.
Controversial VAR Decision
The match’s most contentious moment arrived midway through the second half when Saka appeared to have won a penalty after being challenged by substitute Kevin inside the Fulham penalty area. Referee Anthony Taylor immediately pointed to the spot, but a VAR review showed Kevin had made contact with the ball before bringing down the Arsenal winger.
Taylor was summoned to the pitch-side monitor and promptly overturned his original decision—a lifeline for the hosts but a source of frustration on the Arsenal bench.
“I was getting animated because it was taking so long,” Arteta explained. “I asked Anthony ‘why it was taking so long’. It was nothing to do with the process, it was just that the screen wasn’t working. It probably wasn’t a penalty so they made the right decision in the end, and I was just animated because of the process”.
Historic Defensive Achievement
Beyond the attacking prowess displayed from set pieces, Arsenal’s defensive performance achieved a remarkable milestone. The Gunners became the first team since November 2003 to prevent opposition teams from registering a single shot on target in consecutive Premier League matches.
Remarkably, the last time this feat was accomplished came during Arsenal’s legendary “Invincibles” season of 2003-04, with the second match in that sequence also coming against Fulham. The symmetry was not lost on Arsenal supporters who are daring to dream of a first league title since that historic campaign.
Arsenal’s defensive record this season has been nothing short of exceptional. They have now kept five clean sheets in eight league matches while conceding just three goals—a defensive start that projects to just 14 goals conceded over a full 38-game season.
Gabriel and William Saliba have formed one of the Premier League’s most formidable defensive partnerships, while David Raya has continued his excellent form between the posts. The Spanish goalkeeper made crucial first-half saves from Raúl Jiménez and Wilson to preserve Arsenal’s clean sheet.
Managerial Perspectives
Arteta was delighted with his team’s mentality in overcoming a difficult opponent at a venue where Arsenal have struggled in recent seasons. The Gunners had taken just one point from their previous two visits to Craven Cottage, including a damaging 2-1 defeat last December that dented their title aspirations.
“The recent history wasn’t in our favour and we wanted to change that, like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home,” said Arteta. “And this is another step to having that mindset and that ability to win these kind of matches against a really good opposition, and a really difficult place to come”.
“When the context is 0-0, and the game gets longer and longer it becomes more difficult, but we showed a lot of maturity. We kept knocking on the door in various ways, and in the end we found a way, with the set-piece to do it but we deserved it”.
For Fulham manager Marco Silva, the defeat marked a third consecutive loss and left his side just three points above the relegation zone—an uncomfortable position given their ambitions this season.
Silva admitted frustration at his team’s inability to stop Arsenal’s set-piece threat despite extensive preparation. “Arsenal are in a great moment and they are a tough side to play against, but until they scored, there was nothing really special from them,” he said.
“Offensive set-pieces are hard to stop. The frustration for us is that we felt we were well prepared, and we showed in the game that we were, but you have to be focused for 95 or 100 minutes and in that one moment we let them in. Gabriel jumps so high, it’s impossible to stop him. It’s very difficult to control”.
Title Race Implications
This victory sends a powerful message to Arsenal’s title rivals. By immediately responding to Manchester City’s earlier win, the Gunners demonstrated the resilience and mental fortitude required to sustain a championship challenge across a grueling 38-game campaign.
Arsenal took just one point from away fixtures at Newcastle and Fulham, and at home to West Ham last season. This time around they have claimed all nine points from those fixtures—a dramatic improvement that could prove decisive come May.
The statistics paint a picture of a team built for success. Arsenal have now won six of their opening eight league matches while maintaining the division’s best defensive record. They have also achieved the unique distinction of having 10 different goalscorers in the Premier League this season—more than any other team.
Trossard’s match-winner highlighted Arsenal’s squad depth and tactical versatility. With Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Noni Madueke all sidelined through injury, different players have stepped up to contribute crucial goals.
Looking Ahead
Arsenal now turn their attention to European competition with a UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday before hosting Crystal Palace next weekend in the Premier League.
The victory at Fulham vs Arsenal winning streak to five matches across all competitions and their unbeaten run to eight games. With momentum building and confidence growing, Arteta’s side are beginning to look like genuine title contenders.
For Fulham, the challenge is to arrest their alarming slide down the table. Three consecutive defeats have quickly transformed their season, and they face a difficult trip to Newcastle United next Saturday as they look to reignite their campaign.
Match Statistics
- Final Score: Fulham vs Arsenal 0-1
- Goal: Leandro Trossard (58′)
- Venue: Craven Cottage
- Attendance: Capacity crowd
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
Arsenal’s Key Stats:
- 50th goal from a corner since start of 2022-23 season
- Fifth clean sheet in eight Premier League matches
- First team since November 2003 to prevent shots on target in consecutive games
- 19 points from eight matches, three clear at the top
The narrow victory may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing performance, but it demonstrated the championship-winning qualities that Arsenal have developed under Arteta. As Trossard himself noted: “If you defend well, then you only need one goal so we need to keep going like that”.
With a three-point cushion at the summit and momentum on their side, Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a league title is showing tangible signs of ending. However, the true test lies ahead as the fixture congestion intensifies and the physical and mental demands of competing on multiple fronts take their toll.
For now, though, Arsenal can savor their return to the top of the Premier League table and look forward to the challenges ahead with renewed confidence and belief.
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