Fulham go down at home 0-1 to narrow Arsenal loss
Fulham were narrowly beaten by league leaders Arsenal at Craven Cottage, with a Leandro Trossard header early in the second-half proving the difference.
Despite missing several key players due to injury, Marco Silva’s side looked more dangerous than their opponents for large spells of the game, and will feel disappointed to come away empty handed.
It was an electric atmosphere inside the Cottage and Fulham more than matched the tempo, starting fast against the table toppers.
Raúl Jiménez – returning from injury after being forced off away at Aston Villa a month ago – took just ten minutes to create problems. It was a defence-splitting pass from Harry Wilson to play the Mexico international in, and the shot had to be deflected wide.
From the resulting corner, Alex Iwobi found Tom Cairney, but the skipper’s first-time volley was blocked. Wilson then found a sight at goal when Sander Berge provided the ball through, but the Wales international’s curling effort went just beyond the far post.
Arsenal thought they had taken the lead when Trossard lofted the ball to Riccardo Calafiori, but the striker had strayed offside moments before his emphatic finish.
Wilson continued to be the Fulham dangerman after the break, first cutting inside and firing off target, and then volleying over when Iwobi found him in the middle.
But, despite being under the cosh for most of the game, the opener came for the visitors on the hour mark when Trossard tucked away a corner at the back post.
Leno prevented further damage, producing a fine save to divert Bukayo Saka’s effort away from goal when the forward had weaved through the Fulham defence.
The Gunners would have had the perfect chance to double their lead when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, but VAR correctly ruled that substitute Kevin had played the ball when challenging Saka on the edge of the box.
Fulham pushed right until the end, with most of the nine additional minutes taking place in the final third, but eventually ran out of time to find an equaliser.
