Arsenal's Premier League title bid dented by Fulham

Bukayo Saka had a late winner ruled out by a VAR review for offside as the Gunners' four-match winning streak was halted in west London. Raul Jimenez had fired Fulham into an early lead before William Saliba levelled thanks to another Arsenal goal from a corner. Mikel Arteta's men edge above Chelsea into second, six points adrift of Liverpool, who have a game in hand after their clash at Everton on Saturday was postponed due to high winds. Chelsea can move back into second should they avoid defeat at Tottenham later on Sunday.

Arsenal were still without influential defensive duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori through injury and Fulham exposed a makeshift left side of the Gunners' backline to take the lead. Kenny Tete's ball in behind was pounced on by Jimenez, who drove forward and fired brilliantly across David Raya into the far corner on 11 minutes.

The opening goal came against the run of play and thereafter Fulham were forced back by an Arsenal side desperate to kickstart their bid for a first title in over 20 years. Saka's shot was comfortably saved by Bernd Leno in the visitors' best effort of the first half. Arsenal's threat from set-pieces was already well publicised before they scored twice from corners to beat Manchester United 2-0 in midweek. Yet, for all their preparations, Fulham were still powerless to prevent the corner kings.

Saliba stabbed home Kai Havertz's header from close range for Arsenal's 23rd goal from corners since the beginning of last season. Another corner should have led to the winner but Thomas Partey nodded wide when unmarked from another pinpoint Declan Rice delivery. Saka did head in at the back post as stoppage time approached, but Gabriel Martinelli had wandered offside before supplying the cross.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester struck twice late on to deny Brighton in a 2-2 draw at the King Power. Tariq Lamptey spectacularly opened the scoring with a looping effort into the top corner from outside the box on 37 minutes. Yankuba Minteh looked to have sealed the three points for the Seagulls 11 minutes from time. But Jamie Vardy started the comeback on 86 minutes before teeing up Bobby De Cordova-Reid to snatch a point in stoppage time.

Bournemouth also scored twice in the dying minutes to deny Ipswich a first home win in the top flight for 22 years in a 2-1 win at Portman Road. Conor Chaplin put Ipswich in front, but the Cherries move up to eighth after substitutes Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara turned the game around in the final three minutes plus stoppage time. Ipswich remain four points adrift of safety in the bottom three.

 

December 8, 2024