Arsenal’s Premier League title problem suffered one other blow in a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday, as Tottenham beat Bournemouth 3-1 to shut in on their north London rivals. The Gunners’ excessive hopes of a primary league title in 20 years have been rocked by two damaging defeats in 4 days. Mikel Arteta was on the lookout for a response after dropping 2-0 at residence to West Ham on Thursday and the guests began brightly at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka pounced to faucet residence his first objective in six video games after Bernd Leno parried Gabriel Martinelli’s preliminary effort.
However Arsenal did not construct on their early benefit and Fulham hit again to snap a three-game dropping run within the Premier League with out even scoring a objective.
Raul Jimenez was badly missed throughout his three-game ban for a crimson card at Newcastle and the Mexican kickstarted the Fulham fightback along with his fourth objective in as many video games.
Former Arsenal winger Willian despatched Tom Cairney free down the left and his harmful low cross was swept residence by Jimenez on the again submit.
Martinelli was inches away from restoring Arsenal’s lead earlier than the break.
However it was Fulham who had been the higher aspect within the second half and so they bought their reward simply earlier than the hour mark.
Arsenal did not clear a nook and the ball broke kindly for Bobby De Cordova-Reid to smash residence from shut vary.
Solely a nice save from David Raya to disclaim Cairney and the crossbar from Andreas Pereira’s free-kick prevented Arsenal from struggling additional punishment within the pouring rain in west London.
However sufficient injury could have been finished to their title aspirations over the previous week.
Arsenal stay in fourth, two factors behind leaders Liverpool and stage on 40 factors with Manchester Metropolis, however having performed a sport greater than each their title rivals.
Son’s parting reward
Arteta’s males might even be exterior the highest 4 by the point they’re subsequent in league motion in three weeks’ time as Tottenham closed to inside a degree of the Champions League locations.
Ange Postecoglou’s males shrugged off a mounting harm disaster to inflict Bournemouth’s first defeat in eight video games.
Pape Sarr’s exact end into the underside nook opened the scoring after simply 9 minutes.
However the Senegalese midfielder left the sphere in tears halfway by the primary half with an harm that places his participation within the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations doubtful.
Bournemouth will really feel they need to have been stage earlier than the break because the in-form Dominic Solanke hit the bar amid a flurry of probabilities.
As a substitute, the guests had been picked off within the second half.
Son Heung-min can also be set to depart for a couple of weeks to steer South Korea on the Asia Cup.
The Spurs captain signed off in type with a thumping end from a slender angle earlier than Richarlison made it 3-0.
Alex Scott pulled a objective again six minutes from time, but it surely was too little, too late for the Cherries, who stay in twelfth.
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