Arsenal earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage this evening, a result that sends them four points clear of Liverpool and three ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League table. The win further strengthens Arsenal’s position at the top and continues their impressive form this season.
Fulham have traditionally been a difficult opponent for Arsenal, particularly at home, but this campaign demands that the Gunners overcome teams they have struggled against in previous seasons if they are to maintain a genuine title challenge. The players seemed fully aware of that requirement, and despite the recent international break, many of them looked sharp and determined from the start.
Arsenal began the match with confidence, controlling possession and applying constant pressure on the Fulham defence. The Cottagers held their shape well and resisted the early attacks, yet Arsenal’s movement and intensity eventually forced a moment of controversy when they were awarded a penalty. After a review, however, the decision was overturned, leaving the visitors frustrated but still encouraged by their dominance.
That moment served as proof that Arsenal were playing the right way and simply needed to remain patient. Their forward line continued to threaten, while the midfield worked tirelessly to regain possession and control the tempo. Despite these efforts, the first half ended goalless, with Fulham defending resolutely and looking increasingly confident of securing at least a draw on their home ground.
Trossard’s Impact and a Vital Win
The second half required Arsenal to demonstrate their determination and title-winning mentality, and they responded in exactly the right way. Leandro Trossard provided the crucial breakthrough, finishing clinically to give his side the lead they had been working for. The Belgian has once again shown that he could become a decisive player for Arsenal this season if given consistent opportunities.
Fulham did not give up after conceding, pushing forward in search of an equaliser, but Arsenal’s defence remained organised and composed. The Gunners even looked the more likely to score again as the game progressed. Ultimately, they secured a valuable three points and another clean sheet, which will further boost their confidence heading into the next round of fixtures.
I cannot think of any midfielder who is so balanced (in any league) like Declan. He really played well
He was excellent.
A good away win. The highly-cautious play was required, because Marco Silva’s Fulham is a very strong team at their own turf
Magalhaes almost ruined Arteta’s plan by making two misplaced passes in our area, but he redeemed himself in the second half of the game by assisting Trossard. I think he should be the MOTM
Was definitely a penalty, but good effort to close it out. So good to have depth in the squad. Look forward to having King Kai back.
Technically not a pen if the defender touched the ball first, but why it took them so long to come to that is ridiculous.
Yes, but replays post-game show he clearly took Saka’s knee out first with his knee, and went through him to get ball. So wasn’t ball first after all, and also not clear and obvious error.
Thought I saw same thing as well, got through the player to get the ball. I’m yet to see a premier League referee stick to his onfield decision! We won though that’s what matters the most.
Sorry but as Wenger used to say…. I did not see it 😂
Frank Lampard once said even his three year old daughter at home saw it, clear as day the defender hit Saka first before he got the slightest touch of the ball
He caught Saka with his knee first, so foul before contact on the ball, so in my opinion a penalty, just like the game against Newcastle. VAR looking for the excuse not to award a penalty or goal, Palace v Bournemouth, perfect example, Sarr is a very quick player, the ball went away slightly, but his pace would have had him on goal, shocking decision
Asking this just to understand the rules,if the def first makes contact with the attacker and then touches the ball,does it still count as no foul,asking because it looks as if the defender’s knee firmly pushed Saka’s knee before touching the ball.
Best defence in the world, clean sheet away. Arsenal not scoring enough is a big concern for me, Arteta needs to sort that one out. I thought that was why we brought Gyokores, to get goals against low block. Honestly we will struggle against teams that master set piece defence.
Football these days is your squad has starters and finishers. To me starting Eze and taking him off at 62 minutes is a mess. I want him on from 62 minutes until the final whistle.
If you fed it into a computer which way round gets the most goals, assists and game impact from Eze, I’m sure I’m massively right.
Question is, if you got to choose the starters, who in the team would you rather have playing that crucial 10 role other than Eze for the first 60 minutes, given Odegaard and Havertz are out? Merino? Nwaneri? Trossard? Dowman?
It was a god result because we have just come back from an international waste of space. A bit of a laboured performance and too careful, in some ways. Got out of jail with another set piece. Our lack of open play goals will bite us in the Arsenal, if Arteta can not sort it. It is a big problem, so far not affecting TOO much but you CAN NOT win the league relying on set pieces. Our midfield doesn’t look right, its not functioning as it should. I do think.(and its my opinion) we could/should (probably) had two penalties. The one on Gyokores was a foul anywhere else on the field but it was one of them close calls. Saka for me got hit on the thigh with the defenders leg, before he did win the ball but again a tight call. Maybe both were a penalty but also maybe, they were in that grey area. Still, it didn’t change the result. We have to improve but I hope we will.
Agree on both international waste of space and the Saka penalty. Clearly Knee took Saka’s knee first, then went through him to get ball. So contact first, and not clear and obvious error.
Saka’s pen not one IMO
Gyokores one was for me ,if he had gone down at the first touch it was would have been stone wall,but he was honest for a second then dived .
I was agreeing with you until you said he dived, as he clearly stumbled with his momentum after trying to stay on his feet.
Correct.. no dive and would have been a penalty if he had gone down
He is still learning the league and I thought did a pretty good job again and will come good
Saka on and off for me same as Trossard…both trying. celevr tricks and would be interesting to see how many times they lost the ball
Fulham have beaten us consistently recently so it’s a great 3 points away from home !
it´s always Trossard !! Eze was poor imo. Victor works his
socks off . Gabriel was shaky in the first half.. the team is
a bit nervous, but 3 points in the bag .and no injuries ..
beat AM on tuesday and we are in 7th.heaven.
On reflection Eze could have been better sitting a bit deeper than the ahead of the ball positions.
No arguing with the three points. Can we play much worse? I’ll put it down to “the international waste of space”. Timber, Trossard, Eze, Gyokeres and Zubamendi were average. Did Merino get a touch after he came on?
I think a lot of tired legs… pointless Internationals and more to come next month again!
For me this could easily have been a good game for Merino to playbupfront and Gyokeres off thr bench and he has a lot of miles in his legs plus played twice for Sweden
But overall always seemed in control and never really got out of 2nd gear.
Be good to see Dowman or Nwaneri last 10 mins but we need the 2 goal cushion
3 bogey teams to us in the past 2 seasons has been beaten this season. Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham. Long may it continue.
This is a sign that we might just make a difference this season.
Unto Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the Emirates. I hope we get a win.
I’ll be there. My Daddy’s business Partner is treating us to dinner in the ground. Means I get to drink all the free cocktails others don’t want.
Atmosphere will be great. But team might be much changed.
Oh, great. You will have much fun especially if Arsenal end up winning.
I doubt there will be much rotation. Perhaps just a few changes.
Atletico is a big team.
Liverpool beat them, and Liverpool are rubbish now. 😆
When Liverpool were brilliant this time last year, their midfield press and turnover was superb, that very thing they are rubbish at as 2025 progresses. They fluked the title last year.
I’ve yet to watch a game from down in the pleb area’s.
Moon Girl,
No one flukes the League Title, it’s over 10 months. And any team at the top of the league by the end of it deserve the title.
I think you’re being disrespectful to Liverpool to be fair.
And you actually contradict yourself, because earlier in your post you were praising their midfield, and then go on to say they were lucky. Which is it?.
Those creating and scoring goals get the headlines and make the show reels, but Liverpools greatest strength last season their title was built on was their magnificent press and turnover. This was at its height in the first half of last season, not as good in 2025. With Key injuries to gravenbach and Mcallister last season, Liverpool would not have won the title. Neither injured this season, but their form not the same, also some players nolonger there were also great at pressing and harrying.
Whatever team it is, the way football works, without that press, harryin, duels won and turnover, your fancy dan creators and goal scorers don’t see enough of the ball.
The fluke part is straightforward, Man City and Arsenal didn’t apply enough pressure on Pool in the chase due to injuries, nor did Liverpool suffer those key injuries.
Moon Girl,
The last part of your post where you comment on the fluke part as you call it. The fact that Man City or Arsenal didn’t put enough pressure on Liverpool in the chase due to injury’s, still doesn’t make Liverpool’s title win a fluke. At the end of the day, they did their job, and City and Arsenal didn’t do theirs.
Injury’s certainly played a part yes. But I still maintain your being very disrespectful to Liverpool.
Any team that wins the league, do it over 10 months, so that’s no fluke in my book.
And just to add I’m English. And like Herr Drier and Ken1945, I to would like to know what the “Pleb” area is to.
I believe I speak for all three of us when I say we’re not having a go at you. We all just want to know the answer to the question. Nothing more. 👍
Moon Girl, what is the pleb area’s ?
“what is”
You mean what ARE pleb area’s.
I appreciate you might be German, but your English Grammer is terrible.
And you need to work on your spelling.
MG, I’m English.
So what ARE the pleb area’s ?
Now you are just being pedantic and argumentative as usual. Me and Derek were trying to talk proper football here.
I’m busy now, teaching lessons in online Sunday School shortly.
I am not being pedantic, I’m asking you a question about an area I’ve never known or heard about !
You can always answer my question later when you have finished your teaching lessons.
The plebs are the poor or the lower classes. As Moon Girl’s daddy sits where the non plebs hang out and where they get free cocktails there is an assumption that you are on reduced social or financial circumstances
SueP, I would say that her daddy’s business partner sits in the Diamond Club at the Emirates if she drinks cocktails when she goes to a game.
If your teaching English, then please use the language properly.
It’s not me and Derek, it’s Derek and I.
I’m sure there are many fans who want to know where the “plebs” areas are situated…. and, just to clarify I’m also an Englishman living in Scotland.
Gyokeres has a heavy first touch. He needs to work on that and get better on how he controls the ball. The fast paced high pressure premier league seems to be affecting him.
I’m glad that we are winning though. But we still need more goals to strengthen our hold on the 1st position.
Good solid all round performance, if not a spectacular performance.
We got the win and three points and that was what the manager and players set out to do.
As for the penalties, the Saka one was nailed on, simply because it’s plain to see that the defender made contact with Saka before the ball – but I’m told that these incidents even themselves out over the season.
By my reckoning, we’re already owed two penalties – today’s and the Newcastle one – and that’s before even a quarter of the season has gone.
Thought the referee had a good game, despite that Saka penalty decision.
Gyokeres is a real handful out there and I’m sure the goals will come.
What a test we will have next weekend against Palace!!
Agree on the ref and penalty Ken. Straight up VAR error. It’s 100% clear he took Saka’s knee with his knee first, before getting contact with the ball, then went through Saka for full ball contact. Ref was right in the first place, if nothing else no clear and obvious error by ref, but for me clear and obvious VAR error. Could have been consequential.
For me VAR should have a time limit. If its not ‘clear and obvious ‘ after 30 seconds they must be told to stop.
It would be interesting to have stats also to see how many decisions VAR gets right…not on the day but after review by independent body. .. I can’t see any benefit myself based on the silly rules for when they zab and cannot be used and each VAR can judge differently which is just wrong
Saka was taken down, but I believe that was not a penalty, things happen so fast in the playground that u cannot control such occurrences, fair play.
the penalties incidents again show the inconsistency in referee decisions in similar previous offences(curiously mostly in our disfavor)
Webb clearly explained that getting the ball but following through and wiping the player out is a penalty offence, the saliba headclash vs Brighton but apparently not when it’s an Arsenal player who’s fouled, Saka today and Gyokeres vs Newcastle. In both situations the player would have still gotten the ball after defender made contact if they weren’t taken out.
Secondly by denying us a penalty for the Gyokeres foul today, they are penalising honest players who try to stay on their feet and encouraging a diving culture. If Gyokeres drops dead when 1st touched that’s a stonewall penalty, you know Salah or B.silva or Bruno would have dived like they were shot immediately after contact.
And Gabriel Jesus would dive without even any contact
Ken, I really think the premier league officiating needs help, the on field referee did get it right initially but was influenced by the very people who had the time and access of replays.
This is outrageous, if you ask me.
The crazy thing is, Gunsmoke, that VAR was introduced to help the on field referee, but that technology seems to be being used to undermine them.
If it takes over four minutes to decide the referee got it wrong, then it was not a clear and obvious error.
I’ve written another article regarding officials and VAR that I hope will be produced next week.
With VAR, overall, the decision making appears to be better. However, controversies will remain as humans still have to make the decisions based on their interpretations of the rules, and assessments of the particular situation.
The on-field referee is not required to go with the recommendation of the VAR and can stick with their original decision. The VAR is there to help not undermine.
When I first saw the Saka penalty incident I thought it was a penalty, but on seeing the replay I changed my mind. If that had been given against us I would be fuming.
How on earth a penalty wasn’t given when a Fulham player put his arm around the neck of Gyokeres and hauled him down late in the second half I’ll never know.
Three points keeps us top of the PL. Let’s keep it going.
Just watching the Liverpool/Mandela U game now.
Amadu got a yellow card but got to the ball first before falling his opponent.
So where is the consistency if our penalty was rescinded because the Fulham player got the ball first before falling Saka?
All we ask for is CONSISTENCY
On the bright side we have come through a really difficult 8 matches top of the league. Some people aren’t registering the massive improvement in terms of pts collected we have done in these fixtures compared to past seasons.
23/24 – 10 pts
24/25- 9 pts
25/26 – 16 pts(Leeds excluded)
our last 3 matches alone we had 5 DEFEATS and 1 draw in the last 2 seasons, this seasons 3 Wins
Five defeats in just three matches. That’s Amorim level form.
But your not including Liverpool and Man City
In the same fixtures last season we got 4 points
This season ….now 1
okay so overall this season we are 7 pts better than the last and 6 pts better than 23/24 season which we got 89pts. That massive considering it’s in a pool of 7 games so only 21 pts.
Good win but the performance was not great.
Eze is better as 10 LW I keep saying.
Nwaneri should be involved.
Foul on saka was no pen
But saka was brilliant today, man of d match.
Gyokeres hmm I’ll hold ma thought now
A good win for Arsenal. Two incidents that could have been penalties. In the Saka incident the defender’s knee caught Saka before he got the ball. Gyokeres was clearly tripped and tried to stay on his feet.
Had Arsenal avoided and won that solitary defeat v Liverpool, the points gap would now read 10. Almost a one horse race from October onwards. City & Chelsea not tested well yet.
Question for all:
When is Gyoal going to get service like Mateta, straight crosses for him to run on and shoot?
AFC just mess around with the ball for days, lob a cross into a crowded box or pulls the ball back and crosses behind him, nothing quick and transitional and fired across the box low and hard.
Get him a few like that and he will finish them.
Completely agree. !
I told those viewing the match with me that VAR will not give us the penalty because, Arsenal is involved. When it comes to arsenal, VAR always refused to interpret the rule. The defender’s knee hit Saka first before touching the ball. For me, I wasn’t surprised. Even the Gyokeres situation was a clear penalty.
Gyokeres is doing a good job by constantly putting on pressure to defenses. His goals will definitely come.
Winning Fulham away is another proof that we have improved. It remains Aston Villa, Everton and Bournemouth. These teams with Newcastle including have been our stumbling blocks over the past three seasons.
I was happy seeing Norgaard making his debut. I wish Arteta would give more playing time to every injury free play to avoid rustiness. Even Kepa can be giving few minutes.
Congratulations to our players.
Not a convincing win at all. Another lucky corner goal in a game we were looking set to draw. What happens when the luck runs out? Can we win trophies depending on corners? Why do our wingers always stay out wide? Trossard should start camping in the box now or at least positioning himself inside coz beating his man is proving very difficult for him. Anyway, the positives I noticed were another excellent performance from Calafiori and Rice.. Saka was lively too.
Thing is, the way teams play against Arsenal is different to the way they play against Palace. Typically, teams set up in defensive blocks against us,even City did it. Sometimes you find as many six players defending the box.
Like you said, the box is usually crowded. The defenders will be facing the ball and that means they are likely to clear any cross. Against City, we kept playing cross after cross but it made no difference because they just cleared them.
Now go and look at the crosses Mateta scores from. There’s usually no crowd. If teams offered us the kind of space Palace get,we’d be scoring 3+ goals every time like we did in 2024.
Low crosses won’t work because they’ll just be cleared. Lofted crosses won’t work because Gyokeres isn’t good in the air; it’s something we can only use when Havertz/Merino is up top. Through balls and cut backs remain our best bet. Gyokeres just needs to get his positioning right to be on the end of these cut backs.
Reply to Aaron.
Just took a look at the table and u see arsenal has 15 goals scored 3 conceded which translates to a +12 goal agg from 8 matches played which is not bad, but why do I feel worried about us scoring just 1 or 2 goals in matches? It just feels we are are not doing enough upfront and our defence is the true hero in our performances. There needs to be better and consistent supply to Gyokeres, Haaland scored again because he gets constant supply from his surrounding team mates , our players do not seem to trust Gyokeres enough and I’m beginning to feel frustrated for him.
Should have had at least 2 penalties but as usual were denied, as an arsenal fan I’m getting used to it even numb to it, I just know we 9.5 out of 10 we won’t be getting a fair decision from the VAR.
Upwards and onwards.
This narrative that chances are not being created for Gyokeres is just not true. Off the top of my head I remember two shots he had,both chances created by Saka. Even the one you allude could have been a penalty was a chance created for him.
Haaland is a physical beast and it’s unfair to compare anyone to him. Many times he just bullies or outruns defenders aided by sublime touches which puts him in many 1v1 situations with the goalkeeper. Gyokeres just doesn’t have that physical,tactical and technical prowess.
We’ve also had a difficult start to the season. We are winning by 1 goal against teams like Fulham & Newcastle which we’ve dropped points to in recent years. If you’re worried about Arsenal,then the other 19 teams should be more worried because none is doing better than us.
We are NOT playing for Gyokores. His “chances” are few and far between. He makes striker runs and they are ignored far too often. The ball is fired upto him from the goalkeeper or the odd longball and he is isolated. We do not use him properly.
He is feeding on scraps.
Reggie, how would you play ti his strengths and would that undo the results we’ve seen so far this season?
Eze was poor v Fulham. Lad step up! Get accustomed fast to playing twice a week which he was not used to at Palace. Use your opportunities well before Ode returns. After City Chelsea and Arsenal wins, Liverpool under pressure to respond. If today Utd go 1 nil up in the first few minutes, we’ll see Pool fans silenced, Slot arguing with the 4th ref.
I think he’s just more comfortable operating on the left wing/midfield. He looks a bit lost on the right where Odegaard operates.
Yea thatz right. A 10 like eze,neymar,hazard are more effective on wing where there is more freedom than the middle
Also eze had rice and zubi with him, odegard in the mix would have made his life much better and that brings me to why is arteta not playing nwaneri ??
If he can deploy ode,eze and rice partnership so if ode gets injured then it follows that a similiar player like nwaneri should replace him but instead arteta is playing zubi who is not adventurous with the ball
Truth is we are not playing well at the moment and our defense are the true hero like someone said before. And until our injured players are back I don’t think we’ll improve coz arteta is a stubborn idiot,
he won’t drop zubi for nwaneri and I expected him to move eze to LW and let merino come in for zubi or rice . apart from the goal trossard was terrible
Finally zubi is not a partey upgrade, they are not even in the same class. Partey was a maestro and zubi is a major signing that I feel they got wrong , zubi is good dm yes but a poor cm . We already have dm in rice and noorgard
@Tea the only idiot here is you…how will you call someone that is obviously doing well in life more than you an idiot… Is there no better way to make your point without sound so stupid… At the end of your comment the point you made does not even make sense.
Merino in for trossard rather*
The result pleased me, but nothing much else to be honest. While set pieces have there place and are very good ways to score, I wouldn’t like to think that we’re becoming known as the set piece kings. A title I don’t take any pride in whatsoever.
The performance was professional at best, but we need to start scoring more from open play. That said scoring is scoring in any way that comes I suppose.
But with it being the first game back after the Internationals, its a good 3 points to bank.
Derek
We should be like a well tune Ferrari by the time Crystal Palace comes to the Emirates, the Eagles are on fire. 😀
Gunsmoke,
I hope your right. 🤞
As an Arsenal fan , it feels great to be top of the Premier league, especially with the team looking to create some breathing room at the top.
While the three consecutive years runner up is performing so well, with the best defense and only one loss so far, we are still getting in sync, and fans optimistic of what to come.
Is it just me or is VG playing all power and no finesse? Every time he’s been close to goal he just tries to smash it through the laces, instead of trying to find the corner.
That’s how he plays. Worked well enough in Portugal, but he will have to make some adjustments now.
Yeah me too