Player Ratings: Arsenal post hard-fought victory at Fulham

Find out who impressed after Arsenal beat Fulham to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table 

Leo Trossard's second half winner was enough to send the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table after grinding out a vital victory. 

Read View From The Armchair's unique Player Ratings to find out who impressed during Arsenal's vital victory at Fulham 

David Raya: 7.5/10 - not too much use of the hands, a workmanlike performance today from the Premier League's finest.

Jurrien Timber: 7.5/10 - linked well with Saka at times, in another powerfully determined performance that resulted in another three vital points on the road.

William Saliba: 7/10 - another job well done and another clean sheet, despite nine minutes of injury time being found from somewhere. Keep these results coming and Gyokeres can take some time off.

Gabriel: 7.5/10 - caught napping in possession early doors and very nearly punished by Wilson who was Fulham’s main threat all day. Another clean sheet regardless

Riccardo Calafiori: 7.5/10 - swept home beautifully on 16 minutes, but fractionally offside, another sterling performance from our Italian maestro.

Declan Rice: 7.5/10 - shot narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time as Arsenal pressed for the opener. Marshalled and dictated the flow in the second half superbly.

Martin Zubimendi: 7.5/10 - became increasingly important as the direction of the game unfolded, a clean sheet and a gutsy thre points in the bag, job done onto the next one.

Eberechie Eze: 7.5/10 - replaced on 61 minutes by Mikel Merino as the other Mikel clearly sent out a message to hold on to what we had, just as Eze was warming up to the action.

Bukayo Saka: 8.5/10 - busy, industrious, crafty inside and out on the right flank, nearly won us a penalty before VAR did its thing and overruled, it’s still Arsenal. Our best player by some distance today.

Viktor Gyokeres: 7/10 - oh how he would love for one to go in off his backside or anything at the moment, the longer the drought continues the louder the chirping will get, as long as we keep winning 1-0 I’m good with it all. Better days to come though

Leo Trossard: 7.5/10 - struck on 58 minutes with a poachers' finish from Gabriel’s flicked header from Saka's corner to post a vital goal. Subbed on 80 minutes after his work was done for the day. Not sure why Fulham fans sang 'Who' after the Belgian matchwinner was substituted late on. Who? Er the bloke whop just scored against your team, lads. 

Substitutes:

Mikel Merino:  7/10 - bought on too stifle, smother, and destroy, clean sheet and a one nil win on the road says it worked.

Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 - looked dangerous and will be happy to nab another win on the road.

Christian Norgaard: 7/10 - barely managed to have a sniff of the action, the win is all that matters today.

View From The Arcmhair verdict:

Despite an extremely loud tannoy system at Craven Cottage, as we manage to post a vital victory in the late game on Saturday at a ground that has tripped us up on more than one occasion I can recall in recent memory.

Anything other than three points would have been a disappointment in terms of the league title race, after Mikel Arteta fields the strongest side available to him.

Kudos to the travelling Gooners who have been in good voice from start to finish - mind you if you'd seen them stumble off the two pre-match Party Boats at Putney Pier before the game you wouyld have released they'd be imbing since this morning...and why not. Fair play to the lads and lasses. 

Well that’s a wrap from Craven Cottage.

Very happy to be coming away with all three points, even happier to not have that wind whipping past my chops as it comes in from the Thames, and a long sit in the traffic on the Fulham Palace Road on the way home.

Safe travels home Gooners, plenty of lovely watering holes to saviour these three points on the way home.

Have fun, let your hair down, what’s the worst that could happen, COYG !!