Premier League - Tuesday 01st April 2025, 7:45 PM
Arsenal2
(1)
-
(0)
1
Fulham
Attendance: 60256
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Match events
Kiwior
16
Gabriel
16
Merino
38
53
Andersen (f)
57
Lukic (f)
Saka
66
Nwaneri
66
67
Pereira
67
Lukic
67
Willian
67
Traore
67
Iwobi
67
Smith Rowe
Rice (f)
72
Saka
73
Trossard
77
Timber
77
77
Sessegnon
77
Diop
77
Muniz
77
Jimenez
94
Muniz
Match review
Match Report
Arsenal (1) 2-1 (0) Fulham
Premier League Match Day 30 24/25 at Emirates Stadium,
Tueday 1st April 2025 KO: 19:45
Referee:
John Brooks (Leicestershire)
|
Fulham had nothing to show for a spirited display on Tuesday night, as we fell to a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
A deflected Mikel Merino effort was the difference between the sides at the break.
The lads created much more in the second half, but found ourselves two down when Bukayo Saka marked his return to action after three months out with a goal.
Rodrigo Muniz halved the deficit in stoppage time to make for an interesting finale, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to capitalise and get back into the game.
Marco Silva made five changes to the side that exited the Emirates FA Cup three days earlier. There was a switch to three at the back, too, with Issa Diop and Jorge Cuenca drafted in, along with Emile Smith Rowe, Adama Traoré and Raúl Jiménez. Calvin Bassey, Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi, Willian and Muniz all dropped to the bench.
After an opening 20 minutes which saw Fulham defend well while threatening on the counter, Ethan Nwaneri produced the first shot on target of the night, connecting with his volley firmly as it bounced into the ground and required a strong fist away from Bernd Leno.
T
| Match Stats |
Arsenal |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(1) 2 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Merino 37 |
Muniz 94 |
|
Saka 73 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
17 |
9 |
| On target |
4 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
24% |
33% |
| Possession |
52% |
48% |
| Passes |
476 |
460 |
| Passes Success |
90% |
87% |
| Corners |
5 |
4 |
| Tackles |
14 |
16 |
| Tackles Success |
46% |
81% |
| Saves |
2 |
3 |
| Fouls |
2 |
10 |
| Offsides |
5 |
0 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
he Whites had been relatively comfortable repelling our hosts, but our defence was breached in fortuitous circumstances when Merino’s effort – which was heading straight to Leno – took a sizeable deflection off Cuenca to take it away from the Fulham ‘keeper and inside the far post.
Despite creating little other than blocked Raúl and Saša Lukic shots, Silva’s men could count themselves unlucky to go into the break behind.
Arsenal will feel they should have doubled their lead five minutes after the restart when Gabriel Martinelli cut back to Martin Ødegaard eight yards out, but the Gunners skipper blazed his first time strike well over.
The Fulham reaction to that was instantaneous, with Raúl drawing a brilliant save from David Raya at his near post, and Smith Rowe having the follow-up taken off his toes before he could fire in the rebound.
It was then Leno’s turn to impress, making himself big to save from Jurrien Timber with his chest, after the Dutchman had played a smart one-two with Ødegaard.
The Gunners threatened with two headers in quick succession around the hour mark, with William Saliba nodding a free-kick over, before Martinelli’s attempt was deflected away by Cuenca.
It was a good spell for the North Londoners, but we should have equalised when Adama did brilliantly to pinch the ball off last man Jakub Kiwior, only to drag his shot when in on goal.
The home fans were at their loudest when Saka came off the bench, and they made some noise again when he got on the end of a Martinelli flick to head home from close range.
Two substitutes then combined to create a fine chance for Fulham to half the deficit, as Iwobi showed great footwork to make a yard of space and dig out a pinpoint cross, but Muniz didn’t make the connection he would have liked, heading it a yard wide.
The subs had made a difference for the Whites, with Ryan Sessegnon next to try his luck, but his header from an Antonee Robinson cross was too close to Raya.
Sessegnon had been a livewire since his introduction, and it was his lungbusting run in stoppage time that led to our goal, with Muniz bouncing back from his earlier miss by sweeping in Sess' delivery at the near post, via a touch off Saliba.
There were still two of the six added minutes to play at that point, and at the end of those Muniz did well to win a corner, from which Joachim Andersen headed wide.
With that the game was done, but the Fulham players certainly left everything out there in their attempts to take something from the game.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber (Trossard 77), Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes (Kiwior 16), Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri (Saka 66), Merino, Martinelli
Unused substitutes: Tierney, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Neto, Gower
Goals:
Merino 38 (Breakthrough for Arsenal. Arsenal's makeshift centre forward does it again.
Fulham were defending really well with numbers behind the ball, but Nwaneri's cutback picks out Merinio inside the ball.
He takes a touch before stabbing the ball through a crowd of players and past Leno into the far corner.)
Saka 73 (It just had to be him! Saka is back!
The Emirates Stadium erupts. The Arsenal fans have what they came to see.
Saka won't score an easier goal, either!
Merino's cross is flicked on by Martinelli and Saka is waiting at the far post to guide home the simplest of headers into an empty net.
What a moment for him after such a long time out with injury.)
Yellow Card: Rice (72,f),
Fulham Leno, Diop (Sessegnon 77), Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne, Lukic (Pereira 67), Berge, Robinson, Traore (Willian 67), Smith Rowe (Iwobi 67), Jimenez (Muniz 77)
Unused substitutes: Bassey, Reed, Cairney, Benda
Goals:
Muniz 90+4 (Fulham have a lifeline.
Arsenal switch off and Sessegnon's cross picks out Muniz, who finds a way past Raya with the help of a deflection.
Game on? Fulham have two minutes to find an equaliser!)
Yellow Card: Andersen (53,f), Lukic (57,f)
Referee:
John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Attendance: 60,256
Fulham are next in action at 14.00 on Sunday 6th April, when they welcome Liverpool to Craven Cottage. The game is live on SkySports