ARSENAL finished 2023 with a defeat as they were beaten 2-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka tapped in from close range to give Mikel Arteta’s side the lead inside five minutes.
Raul Jimenez finished off a superb Fulham counter-attack just before the half-hour mark to put the Cottagers back on level terms.
And De Cordova-Reid slammed home the winner after some abject Gunners defending in the box in the second half.
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: NOW
- Fulham team: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Iwobi, Willian, Jimenez
- Arsenal team: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – get £40 in free bet builder bets
Follow our live blog below…
Full time – Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
It’s all over! A huge result for Fulham – and an even bigger one for Arsenal as far as their season is concerned.
The Gunners miss the opportunity to go top of the Premier League despite leading inside five minutes at Craven Cottage.
However, goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby Decordova-Reid turned the game around, and the Cottagers defiantly saw out any Arsenal response in the pouring rain with courage and charisma.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
90+4. Arsenal win back-to-back corners, but towering headers from Tosin and Diop relieve the pressure.
The ball comes back to Trossard on the right, but his deep cross is so deep that it soars over Bernd Leno and out for a goalkick.
That could be the end of the road for the Gunners.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Jimenez yellow card
90+2 . It’s not often you see a player yellow carded for being pushed over but it’s just happened to Raul Jimenez.
Admittedly, he was trying to thump a dead ball into the Hammersmith End to waste time.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
90. Arsenal will have five minutes of stoppage time if they are to rescue something.
These Fulham players have been magnificent though, and deserve all three points.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
88. Pereira curls the free-kick over the wall…
…and on to the crossbar!
Fulham so, so close to sealing victory.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
87. Saliba brings down Wilson as he races through on goal… is this going to be a red card?! No, it’s only yellow.
The Fulham players and boss Marco Silva are absolutely furious, and feel the Arsenal defender denied a goalscoring opportunity.
Saliba perhaps was helped by the fact that Gabriel was rushing back to support his partner.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
85. Fulham are looking the more likely to add to the score on the break.
Arsenal just look out of ideas.
Can they salvage something here? Can they salvage their season?
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
83. Saka has a sight of goal, but just as he’s about to fire past Leno, Palhinha arrives with a superb thumping challenge.
The Portuguese boss lifts himself up from the turf and lets out a celebratory roar and fist pump.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Fulham double substitution
81. A double change from the Cottagers brings Harry Wilson – on for his 100th Fulham appearance – and Issa Diop into the game.
Willian and Bobby Decordova-Reid make way.
It will mean a three at the back for Marco Silva’s team in the final stages.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
79. A defensive header from Castagne brings Arsenal their first corner of the game, but it’s defended well by the home side.
The Fulham defence are less convincing moments later when a cross from the left travels through everyone, only to evade Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel at the back stick.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Bassey yellow card
78. Calvin Bassey – sent off for two bookable offences at Arsenal – is yellow carded against the Gunners again.
And just like his first at the Emirates, it’s for supposed time-wasting.
Back in August, he was booked for delaying a goalkick despite Saka still being inside the penalty area.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Arsenal substitution
77. Another throw of the dice from Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners haven’t found much width this afternoon, but maybe Reiss Nelson can change that. He replaces Kai Havertz.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
75. Tom Cairney continues to play a captain’s role for Fulham, keeping possession, making space and bringing others into the game.
Just a really lovely footballer.
The torrential rain has absolutely flattened his quiff, mind.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
73. As it stands, Arsenal sit fourth in the Premier League with Tottenham – currently 1-0 up against Bournemouth – breaking down their necks.
Two goals would change it all though, and the Gunners would be back at the summit.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Fulham substitution
71. The heavens have opened in south-west London and the rain is hammering it down now. It’s really windy too. We could be in for a chaotic end of this contest.
Meanwhile, Marco Silva makes his first change, bringing on Andreas Pereira for Alex Iwobi, who departs to warm applause from both sets of fans.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
69. Fulham aren’t done attacking despite the arrival of Arsenal reinforcements.
Raul Jimenez attempts a ridiculous 20-yard rabona (and clatters into Tomiyasu), but following up Cairney lets fly with an effort that forces Raya into a diving push away.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Arsenal double substitution
67. Odegaard whips the free-kick up over the wall…
…and the crossbar.
That’s the cue for Mikel Arteta to make two further changes, introducing Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.
Off go Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White so it’s a rare opportunity for Jesus and Nketiah to play together.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Cairney yellow card
65. The first booking of the game goes to Fulham captain Tom Cairney, who is late in his attempt to stop a spinning Saka.
It’s a free-kick to Arsenal about 25 yards from goal. Odegaard stands over it.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
63. A chance for an immediate response!
Robinson and Tosin make heavy work of dealing with Martinelli’s cross from the left, allowing it to drift through to an unmarked Saka at the far post.
The Arsenal forward has to take it on the volley, but gets his connection all wrong, sending it high over the crossbar.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
61. Arsenal have less than half hour to rescue this one if they are to bring in the new year at the top of the Premier League.
On the touchline, Mikel Arteta looks concerned.
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
59. Fulham have come from behind to lead at Craven Cottage!
But if the equaliser was stylish, their second is an absolute mess.
Willian’s outswinging corner from the right is met by Palhinha’s header into the back of Declan Rice.
The ball diverts towards Gabriel, whose attempted clearance hits Takehiro Tomiyasu and falls for Bobby Decordova-Reid to crash into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Fulham in front!
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
58. Fulham are having their best spell of pressure in the second period.
A couple of crosses have had the visiting defence in trouble, and it brings the hosts successive corners.
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
56. Excellent defending from Saliba cuts out a Palhinha through ball that would have had Jimenez through on goal.
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
54. Arsenal are moving steadily into Fulham’s final third.
But while they were breaking records for touches in the penalty area without scoring on Thursday, they are struggling to get into the home side’s box today.
It makes you wonder how long it will be before we see Gabriel Jesus.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
