Arsenal’s difficult end to 2023 continued as Fulham came from behind to beat the Gunners 2-1 to inflict a second straight defeat on Mikel Arteta’s side and deny them top spot in the Premier League.
The visitors made the perfect start in response to their midweek defeat to West Ham as Bernd Leno could only parry Gabriel Martinelli’s shot into the path of Bukayo Saka, who tapped home from close range to give the Gunners the lead in the fifth minute.
However, Fulham took the game to Arsenal and responded, ending a run of three Premier League games without a goal as Raul Jimenez converted Tom Cairney’s cross to bring the hosts level.
It was another extremely difficult afternoon for Arsenal, who failed to muster a shot on target in the second half. It was described as their “worst of the season” by Arteta and they could do nothing to halt Fulham’s momentum as Bobby De Cordova-Reid fired home the winner in the 59th minute to make it a happy end of year for Marco Silva’s side.
The win sees Fulham, who end a run of three straight defeats without scoring a goal, move up to 13th in the table.
Meanwhile, Arteta’s men, who were top of the table on Christmas Day, have just one win in their last five games in the league. The defeat caps miserable few days as they finish the year fourth and miss out on a second chance to go top of the Premier League, leaving Liverpool with an opportunity to go three points clear when they face Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, Tottenham finished 2023 on a high with victory over an energetic Bournemouth in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pape Sarr opened the scoring when Rodrigo Bentancur latched on to Neto’s casual pass out from the back and the ball broke for Sarr, who drilled it into the far corner.
Smarting from a 4-2 loss to Brighton in midweek, an injury-hit Spurs watched as Bournemouth enjoyed plenty of chances and looked likely to level.
But the visitors lacked a clinical edge in the final third and Son Heung-min doubled his side’s lead with a superb left-footed strike which went in off a post before Richarlison swept home to wrap up the points for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Alex Scott steered home a consolation goal but the Cherries are likely to wonder how they allowed the scoreline to get away from them and leave London empty-handed.
It marked a first defeat in eight games for Andoni Iraola’s side as Dominic Solanke’s three-match scoring streak came to an end.
Spurs remain fifth in the table – three points off top spot and one behind Arsenal in fourth.
