A thrilling London derby between Arsenal and Fulham left Arsenal fans with a mix of emotions. With a narrow lead and a tough fight, Arsenal emerged victorious, extending their lead over Liverpool. But here's the catch: it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Gunners.
The game started with a Fulham onslaught, and Arsenal's defense had to weather the storm. Riccardo Calafiori, in a moment of brilliance, struck a stunning volley, only to be denied by an offside call. A controversial moment, indeed!
Leandro Trossard, the hero of the day, broke the deadlock with a tap-in from Gabriel's clever header. However, the real drama unfolded when Bukayo Saka believed he had won a penalty, only for VAR to intervene and show that the ball had been played fairly. A decision that left many fans divided!
Now, let's dive into the player ratings, as analyzed by football.london:
David Raya - A quiet game for the keeper, who distributed the ball well but wasn't tested with many shots. Rating: 6
Jurrien Timber - Lacked his usual spark in the first half, giving away possession in dangerous areas. Not one of his best performances. Rating: 6
William Saliba - Caught out of position, allowing Raul Jimenez a run, but thankfully, Wilson's finish was wayward. Rating: 7
Gabriel Magalhaes - Two errant passes led to chances for Fulham, but the Brazilian recovered well. His flicked header set up Trossard's goal. Rating: 7
Riccardo Calafiori - Unlucky to be offside after a beautiful volley. His chaotic style almost paid off with another volley just over the bar. Rating: 7
Martin Zubimendi - Consistent as always, orchestrating from deep and moving forward with purpose. Rating: 7
Declan Rice - Created a great chance early on and came close to scoring just before halftime. A solid performance. Rating: 7
Eberechi Eze - Lost possession in midfield, leading to a chance for Fulham. Quiet overall and substituted in the 62nd minute. Rating: 6
Bukayo Saka - Produced a moment of magic with a brilliant pass to Gyokeres, but the finish lacked precision. Nearly scored a stunning goal, but Leno made a great save. Rating: 8
Viktor Gyokeres - Missed a great chance from close range, hitting the ball high and wide. Set up well by Saka, but his finishing let him down. Rating: 6
Leandro Trossard - Excellent defensively, cutting out Fulham attacks. Scored the winner with a clever flick, but missed a great chance earlier in the second half. Rating: 8
Substitutes:
Mikel Merino - Came on for Eze and had a great chance to score, but his attempt was wayward. Rating: 6
Gabriel Martinelli - Saw an overhead kick blocked. Rating: 6
Christian Norgaard - Came on too late to make an impact. Rating: N/A
And there you have it, a thrilling game with some controversial moments and a narrow win for Arsenal. But here's the part most people miss: it's these tight games that define a team's character. What do you think? Was the win deserved? And how do you rate Arsenal's performance overall? Let's discuss in the comments!
