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Here’s a fine stat from Sky Sports that goes a long way to explaining Arsenal’s title challenge at the moment. Fulham didn’t have a shot on target tonight; West Ham didn’t either just before the international break. So that’s the first time since 2003-04 that Arsenal have gone consecutive games without facing a single attempt at goal. That is of course the last season they won the title. An omen, perhaps?
Nobody will be making big claims about that Arsenal performance. But when your defence is rock solid, one scrappy goal from a set piece is more than enough. Arsenal go back to the top, having been briefly deposed by Manchester City earlier in the day, their hard-earned reward for a gutsy victory. Their lead is now a healthy three points, though Liverpool can cut into that with a win over Manchester United at Anfield tomorrow. But the form guide suggests that’s anything but certain; no wonder Arsenal walk off looking very happy with their evening’s work. Meanwhile Fulham don’t appear devastated, even if Marco Silva is in the referee’s ear about some perceived slight or other; when it all comes down, they’ll be pleased with the way they forced Arsenal to dig deep for their win. That knowledge should serve them well as they fight to climb the table.
FULL TIME: Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
One-nil to the Arsenal.
90 min +9: Saka keeps the ball in the corner. This is done.
90 min +8: Saka, just as he’s being named man of the match on Sky, clips a pass down the right for Zubimendi, who bursts into the box and earns a corner. Arsenal won’t rush to take it.
90 min +7: Jimenez drives down the right, reaches the byline, and swivels to cut back. But none of his team-mates have kept up with play. On the touchline, Marco Silva is beyond furious with his players.
90 min +6: Gyokeres makes way for Norgaard, who makes his Premier League debut for Arsenal.
90 min +4: Gyokeres spins into the box down the right, letting Saka’s pass roll around him. He smacks goalwards. Leno parries. Martinelli tries to poke the rebound home, but the keeper stands firm again. Fulham deal with the resulting corner.
90 min +2: Traore and Iwobi take turns to dribble down the right. Both make just enough space to shoot … but both decline the opportunity, and the latter eventually runs the ball out for a goal kick.
90 min: Fulham go up the other end through Traore, whose first run of the game leads to a corner. Merino batters it clear. There will be nine additional minutes.
89 min: The ball comes off Zubimendi for a goal kick … but Arsenal are awarded a corner. It’s probably best for all involved that nothing comes of the resulting set piece.
87 min: Sessegnon needlessly shoves Saka in the back to release the pressure on Arsenal. Saka takes his sweet time to get back up, working the clock like a pro. Meanwhile Arsenal fan Charles Antaki writes: “I’m ready to believe that Gyokeres has hundreds of goals in his locker, all ready to explode on the scene and drive Arsenal to triumph. Very ready. Ready as you like. But something keeps getting in the way.”
86 min: Smith-Rowe sends the lively Kevin into space down the left. Kevin wins a rare Fulham corner. He’ll take it himself … and it’s cleared by Calafiori.
85 min: Arsenal are in control of this. They haven’t conceded an attempt on target since going ahead.
84 min: Zubimendi sends a diagonal towards Timber on the right. Timber reaches the byline, pauses, and dinks a ball back into the mixer. Martinelli tries an overhead kick. He connects spectacularly, but Bassey blocks and clears. VAR checks there’s no handball … and also that Diop didn’t unfairly wrestle Gyokeres to the ground on the goalline. All good news for Fulham.
82 min: Fulham make a double change, replacing Cuenca and Wilson with Bassey and Traore.
81 min: Arsenal replace their goalscoring hero Trossard with Martinelli.
80 min: Jimenez drops deep, and quarterbacks a pass down the inside-left channel, hoping to release Wilson. But Gabriel is too wily and too strong. Wilson flaps around in annoyance. Arsenal counter, and Gyokeres bursts into the box from the left, only to wang a dismal effort over the bar.
78 min: Kevin’s sheer persistence is enough to get the better of both Timber and Merino down the left, and Zubimendi is forced to skittle him to the ground. The resulting free kick leads to some head tennis in the Arsenal box, and there’s only one team likely to win that particular game. The visitors clear.
77 min: Wilson has the opportunity to attack down the left, but there’s nobody in the middle to support and he’s forced to turn tail, eventually shipping possession with a poor backwards pass intended for Berge. Merino steps in to intercept.
75 min: … and when something does happen, Kevin crossing from the left, Gabriel tussles with Jimenez and clears with authority. Fulham want a penalty, but there’s no way they’re getting one. A hard but fair challenge, which VAR rubber-stamps.
74 min: That reprieve has given Fulham an energy boost. They’re first to most things now, although Arsenal don’t give anyone anything for free, and are holding their defensive shape. Not much going on in their final third.
72 min: Now Iwobi pops up on the right, but nobody in white attacks the decent low cross he sends in.
71 min: Iwobi slides a pass down the inside-left channel for Sessegnon, who can’t control. Had he done so, he was through on goal. Mind you, had he done so, the flag would have popped up for offside. Goal kick.
70 min: That’s got the crowd going again. The home faithful had been somewhat subdued since Arsenal took the lead. No longer.
VAR: No penalty
69 min: The ref announces that Kevin played the ball. No pen. Saka with head in hands, but that is surely a wrong decision made right.
68 min: It takes a while to power up the monitor, but eventually a picture pops up. Anthony Taylor takes a long look. Players and staff surround the referee. This is taking an age.
67 min: Referee Anthony Taylor is sent over to the VAR monitor. This will surely be overturned.
66 min: VAR is having a good old look at this. Kevin certainly touched the ball while lunging in. Does he get enough of the ball? Has his knee also caught Saka?
Penalty for Arsenal!
65 min: Saka jinks in from the right. He’s heading the wrong way, but enters the box. Kevin lunges. Saka goes over, and the ref points to the spot. That looks a bit harsh, because Kevin got a stud or two on the ball. Over to VAR.
64 min: Saka dribbles daintily down the inside-left channel, getting past Diop easily and making just enough space for a shot. Leno blocks.
63 min: Fulham make a double change, replacing Cairney – limping, so it’s presumably not the shoulder – and King with Smith-Rowe and Kevin.
62 min: Cairney goes down again, that shoulder still giving him gyp. Looks like he’ll be replaced by Arsenal old boy Smith-Rowe. Before that change can be made, Arsenal make a swap, replacing Eze – strangely underwhelming today – for Merino.
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