2023-12-31T17:58:24+00:00
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/ Arsenal, nicknamed “The Gunners”, who are aspiring to win their first English Premier League title after a twenty-year absence, enters the new year with a heavy burden after three consecutive losses.
According to Agence France-Presse, the team has entered a spiral of poor results, suffering two consecutive losses for the first time this season, after falling today, Sunday, to Fulham 1-2 in the twentieth round, failing to top the standings temporarily.
After falling 0-2 to their guest West Ham from the east of the capital on Thursday, the North London team, which is aspiring to a first league title in two decades, suffered a second loss, this time against its host in the foggy west of the city.
This is the third match in a row in which Arsenal has failed to achieve victory, so it failed to top the standings temporarily, and remained fourth with 40 points, two points behind leaders Liverpool and Aston Villa, and on goal difference from title holder Manchester City, noting that the latter and Liverpool have played one less match.
In contrast, Fulham achieved its first victory after losing three matches in which it did not score any goals, and strengthened its position in a warm thirteenth place.
At Craven Cottage, Arsenal started the match well. From an individual effort on the left side, Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli penetrated the area and fired a beautiful curling ball that German goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved with difficulty, and it fell to Bukayo Saka, who followed it into the empty net, scoring his first goal in six matches (5).
Arsenal’s momentum was dampened by Fulham’s improved performance, which relied on counter-attacks.
From the efforts of the former Arsenal player, Brazilian Willian, and a long cross on the left side by the veteran Scottish captain Tom Cairney, the ball reached the veteran Mexican striker, who returned from a three-match suspension, Raul Jimenez, who played it from close range into the net of the Spaniard David Raya, scoring a deserved equaliser (29).
This is Jimenez’s fourth goal in the last 4 matches in the league.
Then the home team took the lead after a corner kick and a “confusion” in front of the goal that reached the veteran Jamaican Bobby Reid, who snatched it flying into Arsenal’s net (59), to translate Fulham’s technical superiority.
This is the fourth goal that has shaken Arsenal’s net from a corner in the last six matches.
Unlike Arsenal, their northern neighbours Tottenham managed to bounce back from their 4-2 defeat at Brighton, beating 13th-placed Bournemouth 3-1 before their trip to Old Trafford for a tough clash next Sunday against Manchester United.
Tottenham reduced the gap to one point with their neighbours, Arsenal, in fourth place.