Red-hot Arsenal was cooled off in the London rain, as Fulham scored early and held on for a draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Fulham struck early through Raul Jimenez and Arsenal could only manage one response, a William Saliba goal off a corner kick.
Arsenal move up to second on 29 points, six back of Liverpool and one ahead of Chelsea before the Blues kick off versus Spurs on Sunday.
Fulham sit 10th with 23 points, seven off the top four but just two points from fifth.
Gunners low blocked out of win column
The worst thing that could’ve happened to Arsenal’s hopes of a romp at Craven Cottage early moment for the visitors, and Fulham made the most of their first chance to find the back of the goal when Raul Jimenez ran onto Kenny Tete’s long ball and beat David Raya. The rain then combined with a hungry Fulham boasting plenty of ex-Gunners to make this a slog for Arsenal. Fulham defended so well, as Arsenal scored off a corner but struggled to unlock the Cottagers through open play. When they did, VAR spotted offside in the build-up to take Bukayo Saka’s latest heroics off the scoreboard. Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, Bernd Leno and absent Reiss Nelson will be the only players with Arsenal blood happy with this result, as Marco Silva’s men were resolute in their defense and won despite taking two shots to Arsenal’s 12, and the Gunners now fall further off their title goals.
Fulham vs Arsenal player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Arsenal player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Arsenal player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Arsenal host Monaco at 3pm ET Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League, then welcome Everton to the Emirates Stadium at 10am Saturday.
Fulham next play Liverpool, a 10am kickoff on Saturday.
Fulham vs Arsenal final score: 1-1
Raul Jimenez 11', William Saliba 52'
Fulham vs Arsenal live updates — By Nicholas Mendola
Bukayo Saka goal overturned by VAR
A man in Ballon d’Or form pokes home at the back post.... but is there offside in the build-up?
Yes. Gabriel Martinelli is offside on the left before delivering the cross for Saka.
Arsenal subs
Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino enter for Havertz and Jorginho in the 74th minute.
Another corner kick goal? Just miss
Thomas Partey will go to bed at night knowing he could’ve nodded the Gunners in front off a 70th minute corner.
William Saliba goal! Fulham 1-1 Arsenal (51st minute)
You’re definitely going to believe this — Arsenal have scored off a corner kick.
A back post swung corner is nodded back into the mix by Kai Havertz, and William Saliba knifes it over the line.
We’re even in the rain at Craven Cottage.
Halftime — Fulham vs Arsenal
Martin Odegaard is wobbling a little after a late first-half knock but appears okay — something to watch when the teams return from the break.
Arsenal have managed just five shots and only one was on target, as they have the ball but not the lead.
If nothing changes, the Gunners’ seven-point gap to Liverpool would now carry a game-in-hand for the leading Reds.
Leno denies Saka a magical goal
Declan Rice takes the ball away at midfield and springs Bukayo Saka down the right.
The England winger takes Calvin Bassey for a ride, then manages a shot despite pressure from Sasa Lukic.
Saka fires a low effort that Bernd Leno pushes away for a corner, which Fulham handle well.
The Cottagers keep their 1-0 lead as we reach the 39th minute.
Arsenal have regrouped
The Gunners are hoarding the ball and producing all of the game’s moments since Jimenez struck out of nothing.
Still 1-0 to the hosts, who appear plenty comfortable in defense after a half-hour.
Raul Jimenez goal! Fulham 1-0 Arsenal (11th minute)
A perfectly-weighted through ball from Kenny Tete springs Raul Jimenez into the Arsenal third.
William Saliba is charged with closing ground on Jimenez and he does, but the Mexican striker’s aim is true with low dragged shot past a diving David Raya.
Saliba close off a corner
Someone’s gotta figure out how to defend Arsenal’s corner prowess, right?
William Saliba blocks Bernd Leno then comes for the ball, well-served, but his redirection spins wide of the far post.
0-0, 5'.
Fulham lineup
Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber, Rice, jorginho, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Havertz
How to watch Fulham vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: Craven Cottage — West London
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Fulham vs Arsenal preview — By Nicholas Mendola
The second-place visitors feel their title form is back on track and need to keep winning in order to keep pressure on Liverpool, who have built a seven-point gap over closest chasers Arsenal and Chelsea.
Arsenal have won three-straight Premier League games, scoring multiple goals in all three to produce a combined score line of 10-2 over Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Manchester United.
Fulham are five points off the fourth-place pace set by Manchester City, and Marco Silva’s men won at midweek to again pull into the European places.
The Cottagers have one less day’s rest than the Gunners, whose win over Man United came at home a day before Fulham’s 3-1 defeat of Brighton.
Fulham team news, focus
There are a host of ex-Arsenal players on the books at Fulham, including Alex Iwobi who has five goals and three assists this season following a brace against Brighton. Reiss Nelson won’t be on the pitch for the reunion event, though Bernd Leno and Emile Smith Rowe will meet their former team.
OUT: Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf), Sasa Lukic (suspension), Tom Cairney (suspension), Reiss Nelson (hamstring)
Arsenal team news, focus
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has been at his best since missing the game against Forest on Nov. 23, assisting against Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United. And, of course, you’re not allowed to mention Arsenal these days without mentioning their habit of scoring on corner kicks (Mikel Arteta almost seems to be getting annoyed by how often it’s discussed!).
OUT: Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Ben White (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Magalhaes (knock), Riccardo Calafiori (knee)
Fulham vs Arsenal prediction
Fulham have the ability to slow Arsenal’s attack and cause problems at the other end, especially the way Antonee Robinson has been eating up his side of the pitch. At the end of the day, however, the Gunners should find their way to more and superior chances. Fulham 1-2 Arsenal.
