Trossard Fires Arsenal Clear at EPL
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London, 19 Oct (ONA) — A
second-half strike from Leandro Trossard secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for
Arsenal over a resilient Fulham, sending the Gunners three points clear at the
top of the English Premier League (EPL).

In a match where the Gunners were
forced to grind out a result, the breakthrough arrived in the 58th minute.
Rising high to meet Bukayo Saka’s corner, defender Gabriel Magalhães flicked
the ball across goal, where an unmarked Trossard was perfectly positioned to
volley home from close range.

Manager Mikel Arteta was compelled
to alter his lineup, naming the attacking Eberechi Eze in place of the absent
captain Martin Odegaard. The change initially seemed to disrupt Arsenal’s
rhythm, as Fulham started brightly. The visitors threatened early through Harry
Wilson and Josh King, who forced a fine save from goalkeeper David Raya.

Arsenal grew into the contest and
thought they had taken the lead when Riccardo Calafiori found the net, only for
the effort to be correctly ruled out for offside.

The Gunners emerged from the
interval with renewed intensity, pinning Fulham back in their own half. The
sustained pressure eventually told with Trossard’s decisive intervention. The
hosts had a chance to double their lead when Bukayo Saka won a penalty, but the
decision was overturned following a VAR review.

The result sees Arsenal reclaim top
spot with a three-point cushion over Manchester City, who had briefly led the
table after an earlier win against Everton. Third-placed Liverpool, who now sit
four points adrift, will host Manchester United tonight.

— Ends/Khalid