2023-12-31 18:29:28
A gloomy end to the year for the Gunners. Motivated by the possibility of ending 2023 at the top of the Premier League in the event of success this Sunday afternoon, Mikel Arteta’s men caught their feet in the carpet at Fulham (2-1). A third consecutive match without success which forced Arsenal to drop to fourth place, two points behind leader Liverpool with one more match.
The afternoon had started well for the English vice-champions, who presented themselves at Craven Cottage without their left back Oleksandr Zinchenko, injured, and without their Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, replaced in the eleven by Eddie Nketiah. In pouring rain worthy of December 31 in England, Bukayo Saka scored his sixth league goal of the season, taking advantage of a ball poorly repelled by his former teammate Bernd Leno, following a strike from Gabriel Martinelli, to conclude up close (0-1, 4th).
The apathy of the Gunners
Despite this perfect start, the Londoners quickly fell into a false rhythm, they who remained on a draw conceded to Liverpool (1-1) and a setback against West Ham (0-2) earlier in the week. And if Raul Jimenez missed a first opportunity to equalize, coming up against David Raya (14th), the Mexican striker did not tremble to transform a good cross from Tom Cairney into a goal with a beautiful right-footed volley (1 -1, 28th).
Largely in possession of the ball (61%), the Gunners were unable to escape their apathy in the second half, even hitting less on goal than an extremely dangerous Fulham team in transition (15 shots to 13). And it was finally from a set piece that the Cottagers managed to make the difference: Willian’s corner, also a veteran of the red and white house, caused a mix-up in the opposing defense, ultimately benefiting Bobby Reid , quicker to finish strong in the area (2-1, 59th).
The score could even have been higher if Andreas Pereira’s full-axis free kick had not crashed into Raya’s bar in the 86th minute. Arsenal therefore ends the year with a very bad operation because at the same time, Tottenham mastered their subject against Bournemouth (3-1), in a match marked by the tribute to Hugo Lloris, allowing Spurs (5th) to stick to a small unit of their rival.
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