Arsenal's leader Arteta encouraged after dominant performance ends long-standing jinx against Fulham in Premier League.

Arsenal broke their Fulham jinx with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage on Saturday, a result that propelled them back to the top of the Premier League table. Leandro Trossard's second-half goal secured the win, marking Arsenal's first victory in their last three visits to Fulham.

The match was a tightly contested affair, with Fulham putting up stiff resistance, particularly in the first half. Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson both had opportunities to test the Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya, early on. However, Arsenal gradually gained control, and their pressure eventually paid off.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute from a Bukayo Saka corner. Gabriel Magalhães flicked the ball on, and Trossard was on hand to convert from close range. It was Trossard's second Premier League goal of the season and Arsenal's 50th from a corner since the start of the 2022/23 season. No other Premier League side has scored more than 34 in that timeframe.

Arsenal thought they had a penalty shortly after, when Saka was brought down by Kevin, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. Despite nine minutes of additional time, Arsenal managed to hold on for the win, denying Fulham a single shot on target throughout the match.

Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged Fulham's combative approach and expressed satisfaction with his team's resilience. "The recent history wasn't in our favour," Arteta said, "and we wanted to change that, like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home". He further added, "When the context is 0-0 and the game gets longer and longer it becomes more difficult, but we showed a lot of maturity. We kept knocking on the door in various ways and in the end we find a way with the set-piece to do it. We deserved it in the end".

Saka echoed his manager's sentiments, emphasizing the team's winning mentality. "We believe. The mentality is simple - it's 'win in any context'. We showed it today - we started poor, and we won," Saka told Sky Sports.

The victory sees Arsenal climb back above Manchester City to the top of the Premier League, three points clear. They also sit four points ahead of Liverpool, who can reduce the gap with a win against Manchester United.

Arsenal's solid defensive display was another positive aspect of the win. It was their eighth clean sheet of the season in all competitions, and the second successive league match in which they did not allow a shot on target. The last time they achieved this feat was in 2003.

While the performance was not Arsenal's most fluent, it demonstrated their ability to grind out results, a trait that could prove crucial in the title race. As Arteta noted, "That's another step, having that mindset and that ability to win these kind of matches against a really good opposition, in a really difficult place to come".


Written By
Driven by social justice, a commitment to advocacy, and a passion for sports, Priya is focusing her early journalistic efforts on highlighting inequality and marginalization in her community. She's learning to report on sensitive topics with empathy and accuracy, ensuring vulnerable voices are heard. Her dedication to sports also fuels her understanding of fair play and collective effort, principles she brings to her reporting.
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