Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League as Leandro Trossard’s goal from a corner clinched a hard-fought win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

A tight game was broken open by another Arsenal set-piece when Trossard bundled home from close range at the back post after Gabriel had flicked on Bukayo Saka’s second-half delivery.

The goal was Arsenal’s 50th from a corner since the start of the 2022/23 season. No other Premier League side has scored more than 34 in that timeframe, underlining their dead-ball threat.

Fulham, a bogey side for Arsenal having taken four points from the last two meetings at Craven Cottage, provided stiff resistance but struggled to create clear openings, with Harry Wilson spurning their best chances as they failed to register a shot on target.

Arsenal’s best opportunities fell to the misfiring Viktor Gyokeres, who was twice denied by Bernd Leno, and also shot wastefully over on another occasion in the second half.

The Gunners also had a penalty overturned following a VAR check after Kevin had initially been adjudged to have fouled Saka.

Trossard’s close-range corner goal proved sufficient in the end for the visitors, with the excellent Saka leading the charge at one end and Gabriel and William Saliba helping to secure a fifth clean sheet of the season at the other.

Liverpool will have the chance to cut the gap to one point at Anfield on Sunday, but it’s Arsenal who have seized the early initiative in the title race. For Fulham, who lost Joachim Andersen to a first-half injury, a third consecutive loss leaves them 14th.

Arteta: We were tough and willing

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players’ efforts, saying at his press conference: “The recent history wasn’t in our favour. We wanted to change that like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home.

“The first 10 to 15 minutes took us a while to get into the game and we lost some transitions. We managed the rest of the game much better. The more it dragged on, we were better and better.

“It’s not comfortable. They didn’t generate any big chances, but in the first half there were giveaways. Jimenez is a real threat. One-nil is not enough.

“If I have to describe the players, it’s tough and very, very willing.”

Saka: Our mentality is to win in any context

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka emphasised the significance of winning 1-0 against Fulham at a ground where the Gunners have struggled in recent seasons.

He told Sky Sports: “We believe. The mentality is simple – it’s ‘win in any context’. We showed it today – we started poor, and we won.

“It’s significant for us. For others it might not be, but for a few years we’ve come here and not got the results we wanted. Everyone’s really happy in the changing room with today.

“We’ve struggled with Newcastle away, West Ham and home, and now Fulham away. We’re picking up points this season that we haven’t in other seasons.”

On his performance, he said: “I wanted to get the ball and make things happen. I grew into the game and had a good performance.

“At the start of the game I took some rubbish corners, but kept going and we got there in the end.”

Analysis: Is Saka Arsenal’s Salah?

Bukayo Saka talked up Arsenal’s grit and determination in his interview with Sky Sports after their hard-fought win over Fulham. “The mentality is simple, it’s to win in any context,” he said. But the victory owed a lot to his individual brilliance too.

Leandro Trossard was the match-winner, of course, bundling home the crucial goal. But it was Saka’s wicked corner that created the chance, albeit after a few deliveries he described as “rubbish” afterwards. It was just one of many moments of quality.

The 24-year-old appears determined to make up for lost time following his return from a hamstring injury. Fulham found it difficult to contain him in the second half. Saka was relentless in the way he drove at their left-back Ryan Sessegnon.

He finished the game having won 14 duels, the second-most by any player in a Premier League game all season. He also created the second-most chances, with six. He ranked only a place lower, in third, for touches in the box, with 13.

The numbers underline the extent of his threat and it was telling how frequently his team-mates looked for him. Every attack seemed to go through him. At the final whistle, only William Saliba and Declan Rice had had more touches.

His efforts earned him the player of the match award. They nearly earned him a penalty and should have been rewarded with at least a goal or an assist. But don’t be fooled by the lack of one. This is a brilliant player getting even better. Last season was Mohamed Salah’s. Could this one be Saka’s?

Arsenal’s imperious defence

• Arsenal haven’t faced a shot on target in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November of their last title-winning season in 2003/04, with the second game in that run also coming against Fulham.
• Arsenal have limited their opponents to fewer than 10 shots in seven consecutive Premier League games.
• The Gunners have only conceded three Premier League goals in eight games this season, two fewer than any other side. They have kept the most clean sheets, with five.

Silva: Hard to stop Arsenal’s corners

Fulham boss Marco Silva rued his side switching off from a corner for Arsenal’s goal and admitted the Gunners are difficult to stop from set-pieces.

“It’s frustrating. It’s hard to stop. Offensive set-pieces is not just about one or two or three players.

“It’s about the takers. They are lucky because they have very good takers too. And it’s a hard challenge for you. When Arsenal face the other teams, it’s a hard challenge for them to face.

“From set-pieces, they show their power in that moment. What is the frustration for us? We felt that we were well prepared for that moment.

“And we showed throughout the game that we were very well prepared for that moment. But this is the type of games where you have to keep the focus 95, 100 minutes.”

Story of the match in stats…

What’s coming up in the Premier League?