—Arsenal once again had to rely upon a set-piece goal, earning a scratching 1–0 win away to Fulham on Saturday evening courtesy of Leandro Trossard and the proudly prominent Nicolas Jover.
“Focus on what we can control,” was Mikel Arteta’s message to his players as they set about defending their lead at the Premier League summit this weekend. As has become increasingly obvious, the title challengers cannot control competent opposition from open play. But when the game is broken down into discrete scenarios in either penalty box, the Gunners are unmatched.
Trossard’s second-half effort, instinctively cushioning the ball over the line with his thigh on a corner kick, was Arsenal’s eighth goal from a dead-ball situation in as many Premier League games. Has no one figured out that Gabriel is half-decent in the air? Evidently not.
Fulham were not short of threat themselves, but failed to penetrate an Arsenal rearguard which has conceded just three goals this season. That defensive resolve on top of a remarkable proficiency from corners, helped Arsenal open up a three-point gap above Manchester City in second, with Liverpool four points back before their visit from Manchester United on Sunday.
