Fulham 0-1 Arsenal – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Bukayo Saka pokes in a rebound after Gabriel Martinelli’s shot… putting the Gunners back top of the table
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Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Fulham growing in confidence. Declan Rice is just beaten by the bounce and Raul Jimenez gets it wide to Alex Iwobi, whose cross can’t quite find Jimenez in the middle but comes to Willian.
He tries his luck, attempting to bend the ball into the far corner but misses by some way.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Castagne is getting into some good positions down the Fulham right up against Kiwior. He again crosses but mishits it quite badly and it’s too long for Willian to retrieve.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Better from Fulham – a swift move involving Cairney, Willian, Robinson and a cut back from the left to Raul Jimenez, who tries to place it in but couldn’t get enough power to trouble Raya.
Mind you, a positive sign for Fulham.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have taken an early lead against Bournemouth thanks to Pape Sarr.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
The Arsenal fans in the Putney End at Craven Cottage going through their repertoire of songs following that early goal.
Looking fairly comfortable at the moment.
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Fulham looking to respond and David Raya is alert to the danger as he gathers the ball ahead of Timothy Castagne.
The perfect start for Mikel Arteta’s side and they’ll look to shore things up.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Arsenal – Bukayo Saka 5mins
Blistering start by Arsenal and they have an early breakthrough – but VAR is checking for an offside against the goalscorer Bukayo Saka.
It was Gabriel Martinelli causing the issues down the right, bursting into Fulham’s box and curling in a shot that keeper Bernd Leno got a touch on.
But only to divert it into Saka, who had a tap-in from just a few yards out.
Check complete, Saka had managed to stay onside and Arsenal lead.
Fulham 0-0 Arsenal
Plenty of early possession for Arsenal, happy to give everyone in the team a quick touch of the ball.
Declan Rice slips a nice though ball into Martin Odegaard, who bounces off Robinson, turns and curls a shot that goes a couple of feet wide of the far post.
Bright start by the Gunners.
KICK-OFF
We are off and running on the banks of the River Thames and it’s a London derby to see out the year. West vs North, Fulham vs Arsenal.
The Cottagers in their white and black home colours, Arsenal wearing
a green and navy third kit.
Here come the teams!
A nice glimpse of the Craven Cottage Christmas tree in the tunnel area as the two sides walk out onto the pitch for their final match of 2023.
Both hoping to return to winning ways and the incentive for Arsenal to end the year top of the tree in the Premier League.
Subs: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny
Just 10 minutes until kick-off
Almost ready for the last set of Premier League games in 2023.
Tottenham are hosting Bournemouth across London but our focus here will be on Fulham vs Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
Jamie Redknapp: Arsenal need a ‘killer’ in front of goal
They haven’t go what I would call a ‘killer’ in front of goal. Nketiah comes in today, Jesus does a lot for the team but in terms of finishing and getting those clinical goals, those goals two or three yards out that others get, it is just not in his armoury.
That’s why there are so many rumours about them trying to sign a centre forward in the January transfer window. It’s not going to be easy but that’s what is missing.
I’ve no doubt from at attacking point of view they miss Granit Xhaka. He was a creative force in that team. I never thought I’d say it but they do miss him.
I want to see a bit more from Odegaard, he has been good at times but perhaps lacks a clinical element.
The warm-ups are well underway
It’s an overcast but mostly dry afternoon in west London and Craven Cottage is slowly filling up as the two teams go through pre-match preparations. Just over 20 minutes until kick-off.
Gunners usually end year on a high
Fulham have won their final league games in five of the last eight calendar years (two draws, one defeat in the others). Last year they beat Southampton 2-1 on this date.
But Arsenal have won their final league game in 12 of the last 16 calendar Yeats (two draws and two defeats in the others), including the last three in a row.
The Gunners won 4-2 at Brighton on New Year’s Eve last season.
It’s well known that Arsenal want to sign a striker to power their title push in January, with Brentford and England sharpshooter Ivan Toney a prime candidate.
But Mail Sport’s very own Chris Sutton has urged the Gunners to sign someone more ‘up to speed’
Toney returns from his eight-month betting ban on January 16.
Click the links to read more.
The festive feel remains at Fulham!
A nice sense of New Year cheer at Craven Cottage with a brass band playing as the fans make their way into the ground.
The January transfer window open tomorrow and we can expect most of the Premier League clubs to do business of some kind.
Our transfer guru Simon Jones has compiled a guide to each of the teams and their anticipated moves.
Happy hunting ground for the Gunners
Arsenal have won their past five Premier League away games against Fulham, netting at least three goals in each of the past four.
Only at Aston Villa between 1932 and 1939 have the Gunners ever scored three or more goals in five consecutive away league games against an opponent.
With Kai Havertz coming back into Arsenal’s team, it’s an opportune moment to post this piece from overnight by Isaan Khan.
It tells how the German, who cost the Gunners a sizeable £65million, has overcome a slow start to become a crucial part of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Breaking: The confirmed Arsenal team
Arsenal have confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko misses out with a slight calf issue.
That means Jakob Kiwior steps in for Arsenal at left-back.
Elsewhere, Kai Havertz, who was suspended for the West Ham loss, comes back in for Leandro Trossard in midfield.
In attack, Eddie Nketiah is preferred to Gabriel Jesus, who starts this one on the bench.
Subs: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny
Breaking: Here’s how Fulham line up
Marco Silva has made three changes from the Fulham side well beaten at Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Raul Jimenez returns in attack following his three-match ban. Willian also returns following three games out with a hamstring injury, and he faces his old club.
The third change comes at right-back, with Timothy Castagne in for Kenny Tete.
We should have the confirmed starting line-ups for you in the next few minutes, so stay tuned.
Form guide – Arsenal
It’s been a worrying little wobble for Arsenal but one that hasn’t dented their title hopes given rivals have also been dropping points.
They went down 1-0 to Aston Villa on December 9 and since then they’ve beaten Brighton 2-0, drawn 1-1 at Liverpool and lost 2-0 at home to West Ham.
So a mixed bag. That loss to the Hammers was a surprise and Arteta’s side will be desperate to put that behind them with three points today.
Some timely comments from Gunners captain Martin Odegaard ahead of this one after his team dropped eight points in their last four matches to slip to fourth spot.
He has revisited the pain of last season, when Arsenal lost out in the title race to Manchester City having been some way in front.
Click the link to read more.
Form guide – Fulham
Fulham’s form has really flip-flopped in the past couple of weeks.
After back-to-back 5-0 thrashings of Nottingham Forest and then West Ham, the Cottagers have suffered three consecutive league defeats and haven’t even scored a goal.
They went down 3-0 at Newcastle, 2-0 at home to Burnley and 3-0 at Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
But interspersed with that, they did reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals by winning on penalties at Everton.
Who knows what today will bring but a fourth straight league loss will pile the pressure on.
How the table looks
Saturday in the Premier League saw victories for Aston Villa and Manchester City but neither were able to knock Liverpool off top spot in the table.
Villa did move level on 42 points with Jurgen Klopp’s side with their dramatic 3-2 home win over Burnley, while City are two points back with a game in hand after beating Sheffield United 2-0.
Liverpool aren’t in action until tomorrow when they play Newcastle.
But Arsenal, as you can see, are able to move top this afternoon. Tottenham are also playing today, at home to Bournemouth and that’s also at 2pm.
Gunners aim to end 2023 on top
It’s the final Premier League action for the year and Arsenal could usher in 2024 sitting top of the tree again.
A win over London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon will see the Gunners leapfrog Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool to the top.
But Mikel Arteta’s side do sometimes show vulnerability, such as in their 2-0 home loss to West Ham the other night, and for many that is why they’ll again fall short in the title race.
Fulham have suffered defeat in their last three league outings, without even scoring, and will be desperate for some New Year cheer with the scalp of Arsenal.
Welcome along to our live coverage. Well bring you plenty of build-up before the 2pm kick-off.