Fulham 2-1 Arsenal – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Gunners fumble the chance to end 2023 top

Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports saying he can’t remember a worse performance by Mikel Arteta’s side and it’s hard to disagree.

It’s been a very trying few days with back-to-back losses to West Ham and now Fulham blowing a hole in their title chances.

Obviously it remains very tight at the top but that kind of limp performance doesn’t bode too well for them.

They need to come into games like this one and look to dominate but it simply didn’t happen despite the early boost of a goal. A puzzling performance.

‘I love you baby’ rings out around Craven Cottage and they’re certainly loving that win.

A thoroughly deserved win over Arsenal sees out 2023 in style as they return to winning ways.

But Arsenal, with the chance to go top, completely blow it despite taking an early lead through Bukayo Saka.

Goals by Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid turned things around and Arsenal remain fourth in the table, with Spurs now just a point behind them.

They simply didn’t show up today.

Saka wins a late corner for Arsenal and this could be their last chance.

He delivers it himself and Fulham head it out for another corner.

Saka delivers again and again it’s headed away. Trossard then crosses too long, it sails out of play and that could be that.

Raul Jimenez is into the book for kicking the ball away.

Harrison Reed introduced for the home side to waste a few more seconds, replacing Tom Cairney.

Arsenal looking desperate now as Bukayo Saka curls a very tame shot straight at Leno, who certainly won’t be rushing to take the goal kick.

Five minutes of stoppage time for Arsenal to salvage this/Fulham to cling on.

Andreas Pereira so close to wrapping this up for Fulham!

From the free-kick resulting from the Saliba booking, he curls a delightful shot that cracks back off the crossbar with Raya beaten.

Fulham still attacking and William Saliba will go into the book for bringing down Harry Wilson as he tried to break through.

Marco Silva and the Fulham fans felt it should have been a red but he wasn’t the last man.

Raul Jimenez looking to make sure fro Fulham as he brings the ball down in the Arsenal box. The Mexican was pushed wide and his shot was eventually blocked.

That’s superb defending! Bukayo Saka bearing down on goal, pulls the trigger and it was Joao Palhinha who slid in and blocked it. Looked a certain goal.

Arsenal inches away from an equaliser. Teasing ball across and both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel throw themselves at the ball but can’t make the contact.

Fulham making two changes as we approach the final 10 minutes – Willian is off, as is Bobby De Cordova-Reid, scorer of their second.

Issa Diop and Harry Wilson replacing them.

News from across town that Tottenham have doubled their lead against Bournemouth courtesy of Son Heung-min and as things stand they’re only a point behind Arsenal in the table.

Gabriel Jesus showing a hint of frustration with a needless foul.

Arsenal turn to their bench again as Kai Havertz is replaced by Reiss Nelson, who jogs out into monsoon conditions here.

Bassey is booked for delaying taking the free-kick.

The rain hammering down in west London now and some in the front rows of the stands moving to take cover.

Arsenal have still only had three shots on target and they were some time ago.

They have looked lethargic at times today.

Fulham on the break and Tom Cairney forces a flying save from David Raya from just outside the box. They’re trying to seal the three points.

The hosts making a sub, too, as Alex Iwobi comes off and Andreas Pereira replaces him. Applause from both sets of fans for the ex-Gunners man.

You feel there’s an important 20 minutes coming up here in Arsenal’s season.

After their recent ropey patch, they could do with something from this and need to apply some pressure. Can they break Fulham down?

Changes for Arsenal. Off go Martinelli and White, on come Gabriel Jesus and Trossard.

A change of shape in attack it would appear with Jesus and Nketiah playing in tandem.

That results in a free-kick in a good central position, about 30 yards out.

Odegaard steps up but curls it over the bar without testing Leno.

Bukayo Saka is fouled and Tom Cairney is the first man in the ref’s notebook.

What a chance! How has Bukayo Saka missed that one?

Left unmarked at the back post after Fulham botched a clearance of Martinelli’s cross from the left.

Saka decided to smash it first time, got it all wrong and it flies over.

Arsenal have to concede a corner and there’s an animated chat between Gabriel and Declan Rice.

Fortunately for them, the corner comes to nothing but Fulham soon win another one.

And it leads to a goal! A messy goal but they’re unlikely to be too bothered.

They sensed a weakness, the cross bounced off Rice and then Tomiyasu, bouncing up nicely for De Cordova-Reid to lash it into the net.

Fulham have turned it around!

Gabriel lifts a long ball over the top searching for Gabriel Martinelli but it’s overhit and runs out of play.

Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho are hastily warming up.

So many Gabriels, let’s hope they don’t stage a nativity play.

Arsenal being patient in possession at the beginning of the second-half, just trying to make something happen.

Fulham have a corner but Arsenal aren’t happy, believing Gabriel was fouled by Castagne.

Swung in towards Jimenez but Arsenal are able to clear their lines well.

We are ready for the second period and Arsenal have made a change.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has replaced Jakub Kiwior in the left-back position.

Mikel Arteta is forced to break into a jog across the pitch from the tunnel to the dug-outs with all the players lined up and ready to go!

It’s fair to say Fulham have missed Raul Jimenez during his three-match suspension.

The Mexican wasted little time in making an impact with the equaliser and it’s the least they deserved for a strong response to Saka’s goal.

Willian has looked especially dangerous down the left, with Tom Cairney and Bobby De Cordova-Reid also well in the game.

It’s been a quiet half for Eddie Nketiah, who started for the Gunners this afternoon ahead of Gabriel Jesus.

While Arsenal have cut Fulham open occasionally with Declan Rice’s through passes into Martin Odegaard, and the wide skill of Gabriel Martinelli, there has been little of Nketiah.

Perhaps Jesus could offer more of a threat after the break?

That’s the whistle and as it stands Arsenal will not be heading top of the table.

All-square at the Cottage, with Raul Jimenez cancelling out Bukayo Saka’s early breakthrough for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side need to up their game after the break.

That was a bit of a frustrated shot by Declan Rice, which sails high and wide into the Hammersmith End to the usual mocking cheers.

Eddie Nketiah has struggled to get into too many scoring positions but he has whistled an effort wide there. Looked offside so probably wouldn’t have counted anyway but Leno was concerned.

Four minutes have been added at the end of this first-half.

Calvin Bassey with another important tackle to rob Odegaard of the ball. The Fulham man has done well in this first-half.

Tosin with a long effort that sails harmlessly wide.

Gabriel Jesus taking a keen interest in proceedings as he jogs down the touchline in his warm-up. Will Arteta turn to him in the second-half if Arsenal can’t find another goal?

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli slides a low shot just wide after a nice move involving Saka, Rice and Odegaard put him in a shooting position.

Looked like it might have been sneaking in.

Odegaard is on the turf having apparently been caught on the face. A few whistles of derision from the home fans as he gingerly gets up again.

The Norwegian takes his time over the free-kick, which falls to Martinelli on the edge of the box. His shot is blocked by Decordova-Reid, then Saka is bundled over the byline by Jimenez.

It did look like a clear barge in the back but nothing doing for Arsenal.

10 minutes of an absorbing first-half remain as Kai Havertz strides forward, checks himself and the moment passes. Nketiah then is crowded out.

Fulham attack but that comes to nought as well as the ball runs out of play.

Arsenal looking for another goal having been stung there by Fulham.

Bukayo Saka rises to nod a deep cross back across goal to Nketiah but he can’t generate enough power to beat Leno.

Fulham reacted well to that early Arsene goal and now they have restored parity.

Once again, they found joy down the left side with Willian keeping the ball in, Tom Cairney crossing after being slipped down the channel and, at the back post, Raul Jimenez touching home an inch-perfect cross.

Lovely goal and delight around the Cottage.

Jimenez marks his return from suspension with a nice goal.

There was a quick VAR check for a potential foul by Bassey on Saka in the lead-up but the goal stands.

Raya appears to be fine. A case of it being easier to get someone else to sort the issue than taking his gloves off.

Ramsdale continues to stretch but doesn’t look like it’s his moment.

A little stoppage because David Raya seems to have something caught in his right eye.

Aaron Ramsdale is sent out for a little job along the touchline just in case.

Bobby Decordova-Reid nicks the ball from William Saliba, who kicked up and may have made a little contact. Fulham shout for a penalty but there didn’t seem much in it.

Fulham have a corner and it’s put over the top by Raul Jimenez. Good response from the hosts after that early Saka goal.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Willian, Iwobi; Jimenez

Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure, Pereira, Muniz, Lukic, Diop

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Subs: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Subs: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny

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.

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Willian, Iwobi; Jimenez

Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure, Pereira, Muniz, Lukic, Diop

We should have the confirmed starting line-ups for you in the next few minutes, so stay tuned.

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.

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.

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.

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.