Mikel Arteta expressed optimism following Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham, marking their first win at Craven Cottage in three attempts. Leandro Trossard’s decisive 58th-minute strike secured the Gunners’ fifth consecutive win across all competitions, solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal now hold a three-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, with reigning champions Liverpool trailing by four points ahead of their clash with Manchester United. This victory is particularly significant for Arsenal, who struggled in similar fixtures last season, managing just one point from away games against Newcastle and Fulham, as well as a home match against West Ham. This season, however, they have already amassed nine points from these encounters, signaling a marked improvement. Arteta emphasized the importance of these wins as a statement of intent for a team that has finished as runners-up in the last three seasons and is determined to clinch their first league title since 2004. ‘The recent history wasn’t in our favour, and we wanted to change that,’ Arteta remarked. ‘This is another step towards developing the mindset and ability to win these challenging matches against strong opposition.’ The match was not without controversy, as Bukayo Saka appeared to have earned a penalty after being fouled by Fulham’s Kevin. However, VAR overturned the decision, ruling that Kevin had touched the ball first. Arteta, visibly frustrated on the sidelines, later acknowledged the correct decision but criticized the delay in the VAR process. The only concern for Arsenal was the continued goal drought of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has failed to score in seven consecutive games since his high-profile transfer from Sporting Lisbon. Despite his struggles, Arteta remains supportive, praising Gyokeres’ work rate and expressing confidence that the goals will come. ‘He was very close again today. We all want him to score, and it will happen,’ Arteta assured.