Key stats
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in five of their eight games, no team has done this more in the Premier League this season
- Fulham failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premier League since facing Crystal Palace in February 2025
- Bukayo Saka won five fouls against Fulham today, the most by an Arsenal player in a Premier League match this season
Highlights
Analysis
Most of Arsenal's attacking threat came through Bukayo Saka down the right.
Arsenal were dominant throughout the game and deserved to take all three points.
Match report
With Manchester City laying down the title race gauntlet earlier in the day, Mikel Arteta’s men sought to swiftly re-establish their place at the summit in west London.
The Cottagers looked to halt their ascent, with early chances falling to Tom Cairney and Harry Wilson in a promising start by the hosts.
Riccardo Calafiori thought he had fired the Gunners in front with a ferocious left-footed strike at the other end, but the Italian’s effort was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal were struggling to make themselves feel at home in the Cottage as Wilson fired wide, before David Raya parried Josh King’s awkward cross-shot over at the last moment.
The visitors ended the half strongly though, with Bernd Leno denying Viktor Gyökeres from a tight angle, while Calafiori was not too far away with another speculative attempt.
Marco Silva would have been content with the first-half showing from his team, but was dealt a blow shortly before HT when Joachim Andersen was withdrawn injured.
Wilson was presented with another opportunity after the restart when he volleyed over from Alex Iwobi’s cross, but it was crucially Arteta's side who struck first through Leandro Trossard.
The PL’s set-piece specialists found the breakthrough from a corner, as Gabriel flicked on Bukayo Saka’s delivery into the box, and Trossard finished at the far post.
No team has had more different goalscorers - excluding own-goals - in the PL this season, with Trossard becoming the 10th to score for the Gunners.
Drama then ensued when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, penalising Kevin for a lunge on Saka in the box, but the Brazilian earned a reprieve when the call was overturned.
Arsenal held on with relative ease to continue their fine run on the road, suffering only one defeat in their last 18 PL away games (W10, D7).
The message has now been sent to reigning champions Liverpool, who can move back to within a point of Arteta’s side with victory over Manchester United tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Fulham have now won just one of their previous 15 PL H2Hs (D4, L10), and sit 14th after suffering a third consecutive league defeat for the first time since December 2023.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Post-match comments
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in his press conference:
"The recent history wasn't in our favour and we wanted to change that, like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home.
"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."
Arsenal goalscorer Leandro Trossard to BBC Sport:
"Very pleased with that. It was a tough game for us, especially in the first half, the quality on our side wasn't there.
"We picked it up in the second half. We created some more chances and we're really happy with the win."