In their quest to clinch the Premier League title, Arsenal suffered a disheartening setback as they were defeated 2-1 by Fulham in an exciting encounter.
The Gunners looked to be in control after Bukayo Saka tapped in a rebound from Gabriel Martinelli’s shot in the 5th minute to take the lead.
However, Fulham refused to back down and equalized with a well-taken goal from Raul Jimenez after Tom Cairney’s cross found him in a dangerous position.
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Despite their early lead, Arsenal struggled to impose themselves on the game in the second half and failed to register a single shot on target.
This was a cause for concern for the Gunners and their manager Mikel Arteta, who described it as the team’s “worst performance of the season.”
Fulham, on the other hand, grew in confidence as the game progressed and took the lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s strike in the 59th minute.
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The defeat was a huge blow for Arsenal, who missed a golden opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the league after their midweek loss to West Ham.
The Gunners have now won only one of their last five league games and are struggling to keep pace with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race.
In contrast, Fulham’s victory was a much-needed boost for the team, who had gone three games without a goal before this match.
The win sees them move up to 13th in the table and will give them confidence heading into the new year.
As for Arsenal, they will need to regroup quickly and find a way to bounce back if they are to achieve their season’s objectives.
