Arsenal Drop More EPL Points By Losing At Fulham As Mikel Arteta's Side Miss Chance To Go Top

Arsenal missed the chance to end 2023 top of the Premier League after losing 2-1 at Fulham. Bukayo Saka, Raul Jimenez and Bobby Decordova-Reid got the goals.

Arsenal missed the chance to end 2023 top of the Premier League after losing 2-1 at Fulham on New Year's Eve.

A win at Craven Cottage would have seen the Gunners leapfrog Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool in the table.

But goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby Decordova-Reid, after an early opener by Bukayo Saka, left Mikel Arteta's side in fourth place.

Raul Jimenez pictured celebrating after scoring for Fulham against Arsenal at Craven Cottage on New Year's Eve :: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images/Nigel Keene

The Gunners made a superb start when Saka bundled home a rebound from close range in the fifth minute after Bernd Leno had saved an effort from Gabriel Martinelli.

But Fulham equalized just before the half-hour mark when Mexico forward Jimenez got on the end of a low cross from Tom Cairney to score his fourth goal in three games.

Fulham then took the lead in the 59th minute after Arsenal made a mess out of trying to defend a Willian corner kick.

Declan Rice deflected the ball backwards. Gabriel's attempted clearance then hit Takehiro Tomiyasu and the ball bobbled invitingly into the path of Decordova-Reid, who slammed home a shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

Arsenal have now dropped 11 points in their last five Premier League matches, having lost to Aston Villa and West Ham, as well as drawing at Liverpool, earlier in December.

Highlights: Fulham 2-1 Arsenal