Leandro Trossard’s well-taken second-half goal earned Arsenal a narrow win over a determined Fulham, moving the Gunners three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
With captain Martin Ødegaard unavailable, Mikel Arteta handed Eberechi Eze a start as he sought to make use of his squad’s attacking depth.
But it was Fulham who began brighter, with Harry Wilson and teenager Josh King both testing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya early on.
Arsenal gradually took control, and Riccardo Calafiori saw a neat finish ruled out for offside before half-time.
After the break, the visitors pressed harder, pinning Fulham deep in their own half.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Gabriel glanced on Bukayo Saka’s corner, and Trossard reacted quickest to finish from close range.
Saka later appeared to win a penalty, but VAR overturned the decision after review.
The victory puts Arsenal three points ahead of Manchester City — who briefly topped the table after beating Everton — while Liverpool trail four points behind in third.
This win marked Arsenal’s first league victory at Fulham in three seasons, and it came at a crucial moment in their title pursuit.
Arteta’s side showed resilience and adaptability, with summer signing Eze filling in for Ødegaard without disrupting the team’s rhythm.
Once again, Arsenal’s set-piece strength proved decisive — a feature that continues to serve them well through the precision of Saka and Declan Rice’s deliveries.
The Gunners are now unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions and appear to have developed a more composed edge compared to past seasons.
Despite the defeat, 18-year-old Josh King was a bright spark for Marco Silva’s side.
Confident and composed, he caused problems for Arsenal’s back line and drew a fine save from Raya after a lively run.
Having recently made his England Under-21 debut, King’s rapid progress has been one of the highlights of Fulham’s campaign — even if his efforts weren’t enough to stop Arsenal from taking all three points.
