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LONDON: Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League as Leandro Trossard sealed a 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.
Belgian forward Trossard bagged his first league goal this season in the second half at Craven Cottage.
That was enough to clinch Arsenal’s fifth successive victory in all competitions and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
Arsenal were installed as the bookmakers’ favorites to win the Premier League after Liverpool’s two successive defeats knocked the champions out of pole position.
Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Everton earlier on Saturday had taken them briefly above Mikel Arteta’s side into first place.
But the north Londoners regained top spot with an efficient if unspectacular performance by the banks of the River Thames.
“It is a really tough place to come. We have experienced that in the last few years. We put a lot into it. We had some giveaways in the first half, but we became more dominant throughout the game,” Arteta said.
“They have been together for many years, so they know how to adapt.”
Arsenal have won six of their eight league matches this season as they chase a first English title since 2004.
Fulham threatened an early opener when Harry Wilson’s reverse pass reached Raul Jimenez, but the Mexican’s effort was pushed away by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Pouncing on a misplaced pass by Gabriel Magalhaes, Wilson went close with a curler that flashed just past the far post.
Riccardo Calafiori thought he had given Arsenal the lead against the run of play, but the defender’s sweet strike was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.
Wilson almost squeezed a low drive past Raya from the edge of the area before Josh King’s cross forced the ‘keeper to tip the ball over his bar.
Running onto Bukayo Saka’s pass, Viktor Gyokeres was denied by a good save from Fulham ‘keeper Bernd Leno as the Arsenal striker’s goal drought reached seven games.
Calafiori volleyed over from 18 yards and Declan Rice drilled wide on the stroke of half-time.
Trossard’s wayward shot from close-range was followed by a goal-line clearance from Timothy Castagne moments later as Arsenal’s frustration mounted.
Arteta’s men nearly paid for those misses when Wilson lashed a fierce volley narrowly over.
But Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, a noted Arsenal fan, was watching from the stands and the Gunners finally got some satisfaction in the 58th minute.
Arsenal’s set-piece prowess proved decisive as Gabriel flicked on Saka’s corner and Trossard converted from close range.
Arsenal have now scored 37 goals from corners in the Premier League since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
The momentum was with the Gunners and Saka slalomed through the Fulham defense for a shot that forced Leno into a smart stop.
Arsenal were denied a penalty when Kevin’s challenge on Saka was initially ruled a foul before referee Anthony Taylor had to overturn his decision after VAR showed the Brazilian’s tackle made contact with the ball.
Gyokeres scored 97 times in 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon, but the Swede has just three goals for his new club.
His travails showed no signs of ending as he smashed over with the goal at his mercy, then fired straight at Leno, but Arsenal had already done enough to boost their title charge.

BARCELONA: Substitute Ronald Araujo scored three minutes into added time as Barcelona secured a 2-1 win over a stubborn Girona in LaLiga on Saturday.
Champions Barcelona, who have 22 points after nine matches, sit top of the table, a point above Real Madrid, who have played a game fewer and face Getafe on Sunday. Girona are in the relegation zone, sitting 19th in the table with six points.
“Everyone knows I used to play as a striker. When the manager asked me, I didn’t hesitate. When I got to the bench, I said that if I came on, I’d score. I work to help the team. I’m happy to do so,” said Uruguay international Araujo.
The match began with players from both teams standing still for 15 seconds, as part of a protest organized by the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) over LaLiga’s decision to move December’s match between Villarreal and Barcelona to the United States.
Barcelona immediately went on the offensive, with probing through balls for Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal, back after a two-week absence due to a groin injury, threatening from the right.
Barcelona took the lead in the 13th minute, when Pedri received Yamal’s quick ball into the box and ran across the defensive line before dispatching a low left-footed finish.
Yet Axel Witsel’s spectacular bicycle kick off Arnau Martinez’s header levelled for Girona seven minutes later, with the Belgian’s acrobatic effort bouncing over a diving Wojciech Szczesny.
Girona, who had barely threatened until Witsel’s equalizer, had Barcelona briefly on the ropes, with Szczesny’s save denying Vladyslav Vanat and Portu hitting the post.
But Barcelona regained control before the half-hour mark, with Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga keeping out De Jong’s shot, while Marcus Rashford’s free kick rattled the crossbar.
Girona then countered through Vitor Reis, whose lofted ball sent Bryan Gil running through the hosts’ high defensive line. The former Tottenham Hotspur winger only had the keeper to beat, but ended up shooting over the bar in the 39th minute.
The visitors’ Alex Moreno shot just wide of the far post two minutes later, as both sides went into the break on equal terms, having had three shots on target despite Barcelona dominating possession.

BARCELONA DOMINATE SECOND HALF
Barcelona pushed hard when the match resumed, with five shots on target in the first 30 minutes of the second half.
The hosts’ halftime substitute Fermin Lopez hit the post seven minutes after coming on and Pau Cubarsi found the net on the hour mark but his effort was disallowed due to Eric Garcia’s foul on Hugo Rincon in the build-up.
Viktor Tsyhankov had the chance to score a second for Girona in the 87th minute, but his shot off Yaser Asprilla’s pass was weak.
Girona faced heartbreak six minutes later as Araujo, who came on in the 82nd minute, sealed the win for Barcelona, finding the net from De Jong’s cross with his right foot.
“I’m happy with how the team competed, with the feeling we had. We are leaving with a very hard blow... in those final minutes, we defended poorly,” Girona coach Michel said. Barcelona host Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, before continuing their LaLiga campaign at Real Madrid next Sunday.