Arsenal lose at Fulham and miss chance to go top

4 months ago 119

Last updated on 3 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Bukayo Saka scores Arsenal's first goal against Fulham

Bukayo Saka is now Arsenal's top scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals in 2023-24

Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Premier League at New Year after a disappointing defeat at Fulham.

Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead inside five minutes but Raul Jimenez equalised on his return from suspension, before Bobby Decordova-Reid scrambled home the winner on the hour.

The loss left Arsenal fourth and two points behind leaders Liverpool, who host Newcastle on New Year's Day.

Fulham are 13th after ending a run of three straight defeats.

Arsenal made the perfect start with a fifth-minute opener following a quick break from the back. Gabriel Martinelli's curling shot from the left was palmed out by former Gunners keeper Bernd Leno, allowing Saka to stick out a right leg and loop the ball into the net from six yards.

But Fulham reacted well and equalised in the 29th minute when Willian, another ex-Arsenal player in the home ranks, fed captain Tom Cairney down the left and his dangerous low cross was swept in by Jimenez.

Marco Silva's men deservedly claimed the winner from a corner when Decordova-Reid stabbed a finish past David Raya following pinball in the box - condemning Arsenal to consecutive losses following the 2-0 home defeat to West Ham on Thursday.

More follows.

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Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

17LenoBooked at 90mins21Castagne4Tosin3BasseyBooked at 77mins33Robinson26João Palhinha10CairneyBooked at 65minsSubstituted forReedat 90+3'minutes14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forWilsonat 80'minutes22IwobiSubstituted forPereiraat 72'minutes20WillianSubstituted forDiopat 80'minutes7JiménezBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

1Rodák2Tete6Reed8Wilson12Ballo-Touré18Pereira19Muniz Carvalho28Lukic31Diop

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

22Raya4WhiteSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 67'minutes2SalibaBooked at 86mins6Gabriel15KiwiorSubstituted forTomiyasuat 45'minutes8Ødegaard41Rice29HavertzSubstituted forNelsonat 77'minutes7Saka14Nketiah11MartinelliSubstituted forTrossardat 67'minutes

Substitutes

1Ramsdale9Gabriel Jesus10Smith Rowe17Cédric Soares18Tomiyasu19Trossard20Jorginho24Nelson25Elneny

Referee:Josh Smith

Attendance:24,444

Live Text

Match ends, Fulham 2, Arsenal 1.

Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Arsenal 1.

Bernd Leno (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Tosin Adarabioyo.

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Antonee Robinson.

Attempt blocked. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a cross.

Substitution, Fulham. Harrison Reed replaces Tom Cairney.

Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.

Offside, Fulham. Raúl Jiménez is caught offside.

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Calvin Bassey.

Andreas Pereira (Fulham) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

William Saliba (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by William Saliba (Arsenal).

Harry Wilson (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt missed. Harry Wilson (Fulham) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right following a corner.

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.

Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Antonee Robinson.

Hand ball by Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal).

Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).

João Palhinha (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Fulham

Squad number17Player nameLeno

Squad number21Player nameCastagne

Squad number4Player nameTosin

Squad number3Player nameBassey

Squad number33Player nameRobinson

Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

Squad number10Player nameCairney

Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

Squad number22Player nameIwobi

Squad number20Player nameWillian

Squad number7Player nameJiménez

Squad number6Player nameReed

Squad number8Player nameWilson

Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

Squad number31Player nameDiop

Arsenal

Squad number22Player nameRaya

Squad number4Player nameWhite

Squad number2Player nameSaliba

Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

Squad number15Player nameKiwior

Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

Squad number41Player nameRice

Squad number29Player nameHavertz

Squad number7Player nameSaka

Squad number14Player nameNketiah

Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus

Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu

Squad number19Player nameTrossard

Squad number24Player nameNelson

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Arsenal lose at Fulham and miss chance to go top