Trossard strike sends Arsenal three points clear after hard-fought win at Fulham

Arsenal opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League after edging past Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage, thanks to Leandro Trossard’s decisive second-half finish, Sport360NG reports.

Mikel Arteta’s side were made to work for the win, especially with captain Martin Ødegaard missing through injury. The Arsenal boss handed Eberechi Eze his first league start since joining the club, hoping to add creativity to his attack.

But it was the hosts who began with greater intent. Harry Wilson forced David Raya into an early save before 18-year-old Josh King, impressive once again, saw his curling effort tipped over by the Spanish goalkeeper.

Arsenal gradually found their rhythm, and Riccardo Calafiori thought he had given them the lead midway through the first half, only for his well-taken strike to be ruled out for offside.

After the interval, the visitors increased the tempo and dominated possession, pushing Fulham deep into their own half. The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute when Gabriel glanced on Bukayo Saka’s corner, and Trossard reacted quickest at the back post to tuck home.

Saka later believed he had earned a penalty after going down in the box, but the referee’s initial decision was overturned following a VAR review.

The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions and moved them clear of Manchester City, who briefly topped the table after defeating Everton earlier on Saturday. Liverpool, four points behind, host Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsenal Analysis: Set-Piece Strength and Squad Depth Shine Through

After failing to win on their last two visits to Craven Cottage, Arsenal’s persistence finally paid off. Arteta’s men have shown greater resilience this season, adapting well to setbacks and finding multiple routes to victory.

The Gunners’ summer business appears to be paying dividends, with new arrivals adding much-needed depth and flexibility. Even without Ødegaard, Eze’s inclusion ensured Arsenal’s attacking fluency didn’t drop significantly, a sign of growing balance within the squad.

Once again, Arsenal’s mastery from set-pieces proved crucial. Their well-drilled corner routines, led by Saka and Declan Rice, continue to provide a reliable source of goals, a hallmark of Arteta’s evolving side.

Having navigated a tricky opening stretch of the campaign, Arsenal now look well poised to sustain their momentum at the top of the table.

Fulham Analysis: Teen Star King Continues to Impress Despite Defeat

Despite the loss, Fulham can take encouragement from another lively display by teenage forward Josh King. The 18-year-old looked fearless throughout the first half, troubling Arsenal’s defence with his close control and willingness to take players on.

His confidence was evident when he forced Raya into a fine save after a solo run and cross, further underlining why Marco Silva has shown such faith in him this season.

King, fresh from making his England Under-21 debut earlier in the week, continues to be one of the bright spots in Fulham’s campaign, even if Silva’s side were ultimately undone by a moment of set-piece sharpness from their visitors.