Brave Fulham felled by one ruthless corner as leaders edge it at the Cottage

Fulham matched the league leaders for long spells, carried the more purposeful threat early on and defended stoutly in open play, only to be beaten 1-0 by a corner that underlined Arsenal’s dead‑ball strength. Leandro Trossard turned in from close range just before the hour after a near‑post flick, a harsh reward for a home performance built on discipline and industry.

The single lapse at a set‑piece overshadowed much of the good. Marco Silva’s team restricted Arsenal’s fluency, Bernd Leno made the key saves when called upon, and a penalty given against Kevin for a challenge on Bukayo Saka was correctly overturned on review. But against a side that has made a habit of deciding tight games from corners, Fulham’s resistance cracked once, and once was enough.

A fast start and the promise of youth

Craven Cottage crackled as Fulham pushed forward early. Harry Wilson went close, Raúl Jiménez caused problems, and 18‑year‑old Josh King showcased his maturity with clever use of the ball and a slaloming run that ended with a cross David Raya had to help over his bar. Fresh from his first England Under‑21 start, King again looked unruffled under pressure.

Even as Arsenal began to probe, Fulham kept their structure. Ryan Sessegnon and Alex Iwobi tracked Saka diligently and the visitors’ clearest first‑half moment – Riccardo Calafiori thundering in before being pulled back for offside – arrived from a transition rather than any sustained incision.

Injury disruption and a single, brutal detail

Silva’s plans were forced into an early shuffle when centre‑back Joachim Andersen was hurt and Issa Diop came on. The reshaped back line continued to close down angles and limit Arsenal to familiar patterns down the right, and Bernd Leno’s handling was assured as he denied Viktor Gyökeres.

But corners are Arsenal’s speciality. From Saka’s delivery, Gabriel glanced on and Trossard finished at the back post – the Gunners’ 50th league goal from a corner since the start of 2022/23, a total no one else can match. "It’s frustrating. It’s hard to stop," Silva admitted. "Offensive set‑pieces is not just about one or two players; it’s about the takers too. We were well prepared, but you have to keep the focus 95, 100 minutes."

VAR reprieve under pressure

The leaders pushed for a second, only to find Leno in defiant mood as he blocked from Saka and twice kept out Gyökeres, whose goalless streak extended to nine games. Arsenal’s threat came mainly through persistence, with little cut‑through in open play.

When Saka cut inside and tumbled under Kevin’s challenge, Anthony Taylor initially pointed to the spot. The Fulham substitute, however, had brushed the ball as their knees clashed, and after a VAR review the penalty was overturned – a pivotal call that rewarded Fulham’s tenacity even as the game tilted towards the visitors.

Takeaways against the leaders

Fulham’s neat, tidy phases could not be converted into chances on target against a defence that has yielded little all season. Wilson had the best sights of goal, King again impressed, and the collective work made Arsenal look ordinary in open play. The difference was a single restart, and that clinical edge from corners is precisely where the league leaders excel.

A third consecutive defeat leaves Fulham 14th, but there was plenty to carry forward: intensity from the start, clarity in structure and the emergence of King as a fearless option between the lines. Tightening the concentration at set‑pieces and sharpening the final pass are the next steps for a side that showed they can go toe‑to‑toe with the division’s pacesetters.