Arsenal reclaimed their position at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham, thanks to Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal. The Gunners, who had been briefly displaced by Manchester City’s earlier win, showcased resilience and maturity to grind out the result at Craven Cottage, despite not being at their fluid best.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his team’s composure in a match that grew increasingly challenging as it remained goalless. “When the context is 0-0 and the game gets longer and longer, it becomes more difficult, but we showed a lot of maturity,” Arteta said post-match. “We kept knocking on the door in various ways, and in the end, we found a way with the set-piece to do it. We deserved it in the end.”
The decisive moment came just before the hour mark when Trossard bundled the ball home after Gabriel flicked on a Bukayo Saka corner. This goal marked Arsenal’s seventh from a corner in the Premier League this season, more than any other team. Arteta highlighted the importance of set-pieces in breaking down compact defenses like Fulham’s. “We generate so many set-pieces, so you have to start from there,” he explained. “Against these low blocks, when they don’t really want to drop and commit that many players, we will have another opportunity to put the players that we want in the positions that we want, with the role that we want, and we need to exploit that.”
Defensively, Arsenal were resolute, with Arteta noting that they didn’t concede a single shot on target. “I don’t think we conceded a shot on target, which tells you again how well we were organised,” he said. However, he acknowledged a shaky start, admitting, “We had a spell in the first 10 to 15 minutes where we had a few giveaways and transitions and momentum to them without them really doing much.”
The only blemish in an otherwise satisfying performance was the continued goal drought of striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has now gone nine games without scoring for club and country. Despite the Swede’s struggles, Arteta remained supportive, emphasizing his work rate and near misses. “He was very close today again, two or three times,” Arteta said. “We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal, so we try to give him support and love, and it will come.”
With the win, Arsenal demonstrated their ability to secure results even when not at their peak, a hallmark of a mature and title-contending side. Arteta urged his team to maintain their momentum, with another crucial match looming on Tuesday. “We have to keep going now. They are coming thick and fast,” he added.
This victory underlines Arsenal’s set-piece prowess and defensive solidity, while Arteta’s faith in Gyokeres signals a belief that the striker’s goals will soon flow. For now, the Gunners are back on their perch, ready to face the challenges ahead in their quest for Premier League glory.