October 18, (THEWILL) — Leandro Trossard instinctively cushioned the ball over the line with his thigh to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening.
The Belgian’s 58th-minute conversion from a corner kick marked the Gunners’ eighth dead-ball goal in eight English Premier League matches, extending their lead at the top of the table to three points over Manchester City.
The visitors struggled to create opportunities from open play throughout the contest. Fulham posed considerable danger, particularly through Josh King and Harry Wilson on their right flank, accumulating more shots in the opening 26 minutes than Arsenal had conceded in their previous league fixture.
Riccardo Calafiori’s adventurous forward run resulted in an offside goal, but genuine chances remained scarce until Gabriel Magalhães’s flick found Trossard eight yards from goal.
Bukayo Saka provided Arsenal’s most potent threat despite Ryan Sessegnon’s persistent attention.
The winger thought he had won a penalty when substitute Kevin challenged him near the area, but VAR confirmed the Fulham player had touched the ball first after referee Anthony Taylor initially pointed to the spot.
Arsenal’s defensive unit maintained its miserly form, conceding just three goals across the campaign.
William Saliba remained composed whilst Gabriel recovered from uncertain possession play to deliver the critical assist. Fulham pressed for an equaliser during nine minutes of stoppage time, forcing frantic clearances from the visitors.
Viktor Gyökeres squandered opportunities in the closing stages, but Arsenal held firm to collect three vital points.
Manager Mikel Arteta had urged his squad to concentrate on controllable factors, and his team responded with another victory built on set-piece proficiency and defensive solidity.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
