Arsenal Edge Fulham As Gunners Keep Advantage At The Top

Arsenal Edge Fulham With Set-Piece Precision

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a hard-earned victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, decided by a sharp finish from Leandro Trossard. It was not a showcase of free-flowing football but rather an example of persistence and structure, with Mikel Arteta relying on depth and discipline to overcome resilient opposition.

Fulham Start Strong Before Arsenal Settle

Fulham opened with greater sharpness and intensity, forcing David Raya into two early saves. Harry Wilson drove at goal with intent and Josh King continued to display maturity beyond his years. His confidence in possession and desire to press high quickly drew applause from the home support.

Arsenal responded gradually, finding rhythm through sustained passing rather than explosiveness. Riccardo Calafiori finished off a slick move midway through the first half, only for the flag to rule it offside. Arteta had entered the match without captain Martin Odegaard, placing Eberechi Eze in midfield, and while the new arrival did not dominate proceedings, there was no noticeable dip in control.

Set-Piece Superiority Proves Decisive

Arsenal’s authority grew after the interval, pushing Fulham deeper inside their own half. Pressure from multiple corners eventually brought reward. In the 58th minute, centre-back Gabriel glanced on a Bukayo Saka delivery and Trossard reacted quickest at the back post to steer in from close range. The visitors nearly earned a second when Saka went down under contact in the box, although the penalty was overturned by VAR.

Set-pieces remain a reliable weapon for Arteta, supported by the quality of deliveries from Saka and Declan Rice. It is an area where Arsenal have consistently outperformed rivals and once again it tilted a tight encounter in their favour.

Squad Depth Offering New Solutions

Previous trips to Craven Cottage had derailed title ambitions, with Arsenal taking only one point from their previous two league visits. This time, composure trumped nerves. Eight summer arrivals have given Arteta flexibility in key areas and even when individuals underperform, others step up.

The win was Arsenal’s fifth in succession and extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to eight matches. With Manchester City and Liverpool still close behind, maintaining such consistency will be essential.