12 March 2023 , 15:52
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Arsenal blew Fulham away with an electric first-half display to claim a priceless 3-0 victory in the title race.
After an even start to proceedings, VAR intervened in the 17th minute after the unfortunate Antonee Robinson knocked a rebound into his own net following sterling work from Gabriel Martinelli. But there was no dispute just a few minutes later as Gabriel Magalhaes towered above everybody else in the six-yard box to break the deadlock from a pinpoint Leandro Trossard corner.
It was two just five minutes later: Martinelli was on the spot to nod home Trossard's looped cross, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb. And the versatile Belgian forward was pulling the strings again just before the break; he found the space to pick out Martin Odegaard on the far side of the box and the Gunners captain did the rest with a composed finish.
Here, Mirror Football picks out five talking points in the aftermath of a ruthlessly efficient performance from the league leaders...
1. Trossard comes up trumps
While it's probably fair to say that Trossard wasn't exactly at the top of Arsenal's New Year shopping list a couple of months ago, the versatile forward has more than proved his worth since his bargain £27million switch from Brighton.
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After impressing in recent weeks, Trossard was once again deployed as a false nine and produced a record-breaking display to put Fulham to the sword in their own backyard.
After floating in the cross that led to Arsenal's opener, Trossard ghosted into space to tee up Martinelli, who put the finishing touch to a slick passing move that started all the way back in the Gunners' own half. And he stayed sharp right up until the half-time break when he showed great composure to pick out Odegaard, who sealed the points with an equally classy finish.
Odegaard's finish means that Trossard has become the first player in Premier League history to register a hat-trick of assists in a single half of an away game. Overall, the ex-Seagulls star now has five assists in his last four games. He looks undroppable on current form.
2. Gunners motor ahead of Man City
Join the debate! What did you make of Arsenal's performance against Fulham? Let us know here.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with his Arsenal teammates (Clive Rose/Getty)If last weekend's dramatic fightback against Bournemouth proved Arsenal have the grit required to end a 19-year title drought, then this performance underlined they have the class of champions, too.
After an even start to proceedings, Arsenal moved through the gears to leave Fulham trailing in their wake at Craven Cottage.
Arsenal have turned doubters into believers in recent months and the contrasting manner in which they've secured back-to-back league wins over the past week is further evidence, if it was needed, that they are going nowhere in the title race.
Manchester City ground out a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park to cut the gap to two points, but Arsenal's classy first-half clinic has re-established their five point cushion at the summit. Over to you, Pep.
3. Set-piece turnaround
Gabriel Magalhaes headed in Arsenal's opening goal (Clive Rose/Getty Images)Set-pieces proved to be Arsenal's Achilles' heel on Thursday night, but the Gunners opening goal at Craven Cottage came from the same medium.
Gabriel managed to propel himself above a swarm of bodies inside a crowded six-yard box to power a header beyond his former teammate Bernd Leno just minutes after VAR had intervened to wipe out an own goal from Robinson.
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Crucially, Arsenal were just as good at defending set-pieces as they were attacking them to thwart a Fulham team that boasts a number of aerial threats.
Arteta will be enthused, rather than relieved, after he slammed the Gunners' defensive frailties in midweek. The onus is now on his side to prove this wasn't a one-off.
4. More capital punishment for Fulham
Fulham could only watch as Martin Odegaard's strike fizzed into the back of the net (Jacques Feeney/Offside)Arsenal's impressive first-half blitz capped a miserable week for Fulham, who succumbed to another derby defeat against Brentford on Monday.
The Whites sorely missed the steel that Joao Palhinha has provided this term and were cut open time and time before David Coote mercifully drew proceedings to a halt after Arsenal's third strike.
Fulham have exceeded all expectations after winning the Championship title and are still in with a chance of capping a memorable season under Marco Silva with an unlikely European place. But they couldn't live with Arsenal, who underlined their title credentials with a classy display.
5. Jesus back for the run-in
Gabriel Jesus returned from a lengthy injury lay-off in the final moments of the game (Ryan Pierse/Getty)The return of Gabriel Jesus to the Arsenal bench is a welcome boost to their title hopes - but the Gunners didn't require his services at Craven Cottage.
The Brazilian international has been sidelined ever since he picked up a knee injury during the World Cup. And while it was feared his absence would have a detrimental effect on Arsenal's title hopes, the Gunners have fared just fine without him.
Arteta had the luxury of bringing him on in the dying embers of the match when the points had already been sewn up.
Jesus is bound to play a more prominent in the coming weeks though - and his presence could make all the difference as Arsenal bid to stay ahead of his old club in the title race.