2 positives and 2 negatives from Arsenal's slender 1-0 win against Fulham

Arsenal made it three Premier League wins in a row on Saturday as they battled to a 1-0 victory against their London rivals Fulham.

It did not feature the same, assured start that fans saw at Newcastle as the Gunners took a few loose touches and struggled to create. By contrast, Marco Silva’s men posed a threat – helped by wayward Gabriel passes – and looked more likely to score, even if their possession failed to yield any clear-cut chances.

But things changed after the break. From the off, Arsenal had a greater tempo and started to find joy in behind the hosts’ ranks, with the increased pressure soon leading to a set-piece breakthrough (of course) from Leandro Trossard on 58 minutes.

Then it seemed the visitors would get to double their tally from the spot as Saka was felled by home substitute Kevin. However, for the second time this campaign, the VAR stepped in to overrule the on-field decision and replays suggest the only confusion is why it took four minutes for the clear error to be corrected.

Positives and negatives from Arsenal's 1-0 Premier League win away to London rivals Fulham

That reprieve might have inspired a Fulham fightback but, in truth, they did not offer too much (even with NINE minutes added on) and Arsenal ‘held on’ for all three points – their first at Craven Cottage since March 2023.

Here are two positives and two negatives from another triumphant night for the Arsenal title charge.

Positive #1: The defence shines again

If ever there was a defence that deserved a title, it is this Arsenal setup.

Fulham tried to ruffle their feathers early on yet they did not forge any gilt-edged opportunities and the Gunners’ unit, to a man, kept them at bay all match – the first time since 2003 that the club has faced zero shots on target in two consecutive league matches.

But their finest moments still came at the other end. As usual, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber caused all manner of problems via their ‘free’ roles: Calafiori scored a stunner but was offside; the Dutchman constantly found himself in the right half-space and could easily have earned an attacking contribution.

For the goal itself, meanwhile, it was Gabriel who rose highest to flick the Saka corner on towards the ever-clinical Trossard.

Every single one of them is making a huge difference, earning the team key wins as well as those all-important clean sheets (five in eight league matches, eight in eleven games across all competitions) that have us in such a commanding position.

Long may it last.

Negative #1: Slow start to the match

The first game back after an international break can be tricky and it looked like many of the Arsenal players were still on the plane in the first half.

No one covered themselves in glory but a few stood out for their sloppiness: Gabriel twice coughed up possession to invite Fulham pressure and Eberechi Eze did likewise when he had plenty of time to make something happen.

There was also a distinct lack of intensity and the passing was painfully slow as Arsenal ‘probed’ their way around the home defence. Granted, it was a mid-block – the Gunners’ Achilles heel – and Arteta would have been mindful of simply taking the sting out of the crowd early doors before going for the kill later on.

Still, it all made for quite a difficult watch and did so, one might suspect, by accident rather than by design.  

The performance did pick up dramatically after the break though and led to a vital win against what is a bogey team of sorts for Arsenal.

No team will forever play at their swashbuckling best, but fans know what this group is capable of and the Premier League title race is not a forgiving contest – any lapse in concentration or energy levels could prove costly.  

Positive #2: The deputy excels

The going was tough in that first half and, at those junctures, a team needs its captain to drag them over the line.

Bukayo Saka delivered in spades.

He wore the armband in Martin Odegaard’s and delivered a performance that befitted his apparent status as second in command. Whenever he got the ball, Saka looked like he would make something happen and it resulted in the two biggest moments of the night: his corner led to the Trossard strike, while a brilliant run later on culminated in the overturned penalty.

Similar to his backline colleagues, he also put a shift in at the other end and, thus, played his part in the fine collective effort which stopped Fulham gaining any momentum – a happy outcome that did not seem likely after the VAR intervention.

Of course, Odegaard will retain his duties once he comes back but, in Saka, Arsenal have someone else who is worthy of the armband and he wore it with distinction at the Cottage – you forget he is only 24 years old.  

Negative #2: A tough night for Viktor Gyokeres

Seven games without a goal for Gyokeres now and the Fulham match suggests he is starting to lose confidence in front of goal.

In his defence, he got next to no service in the first half as Arsenal passed sideways and backwards while playing at a really slow tempo. But he did engineer one decent chance just before half-time and only managed to fire the ball straight at Bernd Leno (benefit of the doubt, perhaps, as it was from a tight angle).

However, what came after the break was more concerning. First, he missed the ball when Saka put one across the face of goal, then at the end he showed great strength and perseverance to carve out an opportunity only to balloon it over the bar.

Arteta will be encouraged by the hard work he does and, to his credit, Gyokeres never gives up on any 50/50 situations. But the way he snatched at the chances that did fall to him indicates he is feeling the pressure after his summer move.

That sympathy penalty cannot be far away now.