Arsenal Edges Fulham with Set-Piece Mastery
LONDON — Arsenal achieved a crucial 1-0 victory against Fulham on Saturday, but the question remains: will this method be enough to secure the Premier League title?
The Gunners are currently leading the league, thanks to their strong defense and exceptional ability to score from set pieces. Leandro Trossard’s close-range goal in the 58th minute ensured they maintained their position at the top, sitting three points clear of Liverpool, who will face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Updating a notable statistic: since the start of the 2023-24 season, Arsenal has netted 37 goals from corners, significantly outpacing other teams by 16 goals. This advantage could prove vital in what is anticipated to be a competitive title race.
Arsenal’s defensive resilience was on full display in this match. Following Trossard’s goal, Fulham managed only one additional shot throughout the remaining time. A volley from substitute Adama Traoré was blocked, and Arsenal comfortably navigated through nine minutes of stoppage time to secure the win at Craven Cottage.
“We generate many set pieces, which is where we begin — it’s an area we need to understand,” said Mikel Arteta post-match. He elaborated, “Against teams that sit back, set pieces provide opportunities to position players effectively, and we must take advantage.” He welcomed the win, acknowledging the clean sheet and emphasizing the importance of collective commitment and enjoyment in maintaining their strong foundation.
Though it’s early in the season, Arsenal’s performance raises interesting comparisons with Manchester City, where star striker Erling Haaland made the difference in a 2-0 victory against Everton. In contrast, Arsenal’s methods appeared less glamorous.
Arsenal could have won by a larger margin, but Viktor Gyökeres extended his goal drought to nine games. He squandered excellent opportunities in both halves, with a shot saved by Bernd Leno and another missed chance from close range.
Gyökeres has displayed inconsistency since his move from Sporting Lisbon, where he thrived with 97 goals in 102 games. Arteta is determined to support him through this adjustment phase. “He was very close today, and we all want him to score,” he noted, “His work rate is phenomenal, and it will come.”
Skipper Martin Ødegaard is sidelined for weeks due to a knee injury, putting pressure on others like Eberechi Eze to step up his performance, though Arsenal’s main threat in the first half came from Riccardo Calafiori, who had a goal disallowed for offside.
Fulham’s aggressive pressing initially unsettled Arsenal, aided by a disoriented Gabriel Magalhães, who had just returned from international duty. However, Arsenal rallied, especially in the second half, as Bukayo Saka led their efforts, culminating in Trossard’s decisive goal, set up by Gabriel’s header from a corner.
Fulham’s manager Marco Silva expressed frustration with how his team failed to manage the threat at the far post, noting, “We should have controlled that better.”
With this win, Arsenal has now secured 19 or more points from their first eight league matches for the third time in four seasons. The last time they achieved such a strong start, in 2003-04, they went on to claim the league title. A significant challenge awaits them as they strive to replicate that success.
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