Fulham FC staged a thrilling comeback against Arsenal in a gripping encounter at Craven Cottage, sealing a 2-1 victory that ended the Gunners' 2023 on a sour note with their second consecutive London derby defeat.
Despite Bukayo Saka's early opener for Arsenal within four minutes, Fulham displayed resilience as Raul Jimenez netted the equalizer before halftime. The momentum swung in Fulham's favor when Bobby De Cordova-Reid capitalized on a defensive mishap from an Arsenal corner, securing the turnaround.
This marked Arsenal's first Premier League defeat when scoring the opening goal since New Year's Day 2022 against Manchester City, a match where Bukayo Saka also put the Gunners ahead. Fulham broke their streak of 26 winless games in the league when trailing, achieving their first victory after falling behind since October 2022 against Leeds.
Arsenal, having lost two of their last 20 Premier League games this season after an impressive start, now grapple with back-to-back defeats, mirroring a similar occurrence from last season in May.
The defeat leaves Arsenal at 40 points from 20 matches, on par with Manchester City, who possess a superior goal difference and an extra game in hand. Meanwhile, Fulham holds the 13th spot with 24 points from 20 matches.
The match showcased several intense moments, including Timothy Castagne's dynamic run and Bernd Leno's pivotal save after Gabriel Martinelli's attempt, leading to Saka's goal. Fulham responded with a spirited effort, with Raúl's attempt saved by David Raya.
Raúl's impactful return to the team saw him equalize, connecting with Tom Cairney's precise cross. The Whites intensified their offensive play, completing their comeback as De Cordova-Reid capitalized on a loose ball in the box from Willian's corner.
Despite Arsenal's efforts towards the end of the first half, including attempts from Martinelli, Nketiah, and Rice, they couldn't overturn the scoreline. Fulham's Andreas Pereira came close to sealing the game with a free-kick hitting the crossbar, solidifying their third-ever Premier League victory against Arsenal.
(With Agency Inputs)
