Mikel Arteta’s men were looking to cement a hugely encouraging start to the season by winning a fourth consecutive game – something they hadn’t achieved since 2004.
While they controlled possession in the first half, clear-cut chances were hard to come by against a dogged Fulham rearguard. Gabriel Jesus, arguably the Premier League’s most impressive player in the early stages of the season, was on the periphery for large portions.
While far from his potent best, the Brazilian did provide Granit Xhaka a chance to score, but the midfielder missed the target.
In fact, Arsenal’s best opening of the half came just beyond the half-hour mark, when a Fulham challenge inadvertently played Bukayo Saka in on goal, but the England winger was denied by former teammate Bernd Leno in the Cottagers’ goal.
Perhaps missing the extra quality of absentees Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey, Arsenal had underwhelmed before the break, and while there were early chances for Jesus and Martin Odegaard shortly after the restart, the Gunners were caught cold and fell behind.
Gabriel was caught dwelling in possession by the tenacious Aleksandar Mitrovic, who muscled him off the ball before finishing beyond Aaron Ramsdale, netting his 100th goal for Fulham.
For the first time this season, Arsenal would need to come from behind. Captain Odegaard had been their best player throughout, and the Norwegian provided the leveller, as his shot deflected off Tosin Adarabioyo and beyond a sprawling Leno.
Momentum was seemingly with the hosts now, but Ramsdale was called into action shortly after the equaliser, producing an impressive double-save to deny Mitrovic and Bobby Decordova-Reid.
After being culpable for the goal his side conceded, Gabriel made amends as he prodded home the winner in the 86th minute from a corner with the help of William Saliba.
Leno made a mess of clearing a corner under pressure from Saliba, with the ball dropping to the Brazilian defender to win the game and maintain Arsenal’s 100% start to the season, while forging a sixth straight league win over Premier League newcomers.
