This was the perfect way for Fulham to respond to three defeats in a row. Marco Silva’s first victory against one of the Premier League’s top six was fully deserved – and his battling charges had to do it the hard way, having conceded an early goal to Bukaya Saka. Fulham fought to gain a foothold in a blood and thunder London derby, with Raul Jimenez’s predatory finish at the far post bringing them level at half time, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid sweeping in the winner after Arsenal had failed to clear a corner. That the victory arrived with Fulham not compromising on their attacking principles against one of the favourites to lift the title would have made it all the sweeter for Silva.

Fulham’s first win over the Gunners in eleven years was founded on the sort of work ethic that De Cordova-Reid embodies. The Jamaican international would admit that he was fortunate to remain in the starting eleven after a below par performance at Bournemouth on Boxing Day – but his tenacity typified how the Whites went about slaying Mikel Arteta’s side. Fulham fought for every ball and created a host of good chances too – with the former Cardiff City forward drilling home after Arsenal had struggled to clear Willian’s set-piece.

Silva was insistent that his side wouldn’t trade in their adventurous approach for a place at the Premier League table after he steered the Cottagers to the top flight in his first season in charge at Craven Cottage. The hosts paid for their gung-ho attitude when Timothy Castagne was caught upfield having failed to put in a dangerous cross from one of Fulham’s first attacks. Gabriel Martinelli twisted De Cordova-Reid inside out and, although Bernd Leno was equal to his eventual shot, Saka needed no second invitation to prod home the rebound from close range.

It was almost as if Arsenal felt it would be too easy after that. They were passive in possession and in their attitude, with the white shirts sweeping forward in search of equaliser. Jimenez should have provided one when he sidefooted straight at David Raya after the ex-Arsenal winger Willian and Antonee Robinson had linked up along the left flank. Jimenez, who enjoyed great joy when he dropped deeper than the Arsenal centre halves, then found another former Arsenal midfielder in Alex Iwobi and Willian curled a trademark effort agonisingly wide having been teed up by the Nigerian internatioanal.

Jimenez was furious with his himself for thrashing Willian’s corner wildly over the bar as the home side piled on the pressure, but he made amends from much closer range just before the half hour. Calvin Bassey, imperious on his 24th birthday, timed a challenge on Saka superbly and Joao Palhinha played Tom Cairney clear on the left flank. The Fulham skipper sent in a sublime low ball from the left and Jimenez met it magnificently on the slide at the back post to score his fourth goal in as many appearances.

You expected Arsenal, who had seen speculative shots from the anonymous Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice fly well off target, to regather themselves for the second period but Fulham continued to ask most of the questions. Palhinha protected the home back four in a peerless performance, whilst Cairney quietly dictated the play, drifting effortlessly between the lines as the Whites made plenty of their share of the ball. Silva’s side had looked threatening from a succession of corners but when Palhinha met Willian’s flag kick and the ball bounced around off first Rice, then Gabriel and finally half-time substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu, De Cordova-Reid drilled home from seven yards out.

Saka skied an immediate opportunity to bring Arsenal level when Bassey and Antonee Robinson seemed to go for the same ball, but even though Arteta sent on Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard in the search for an equaliser, Fulham had the clearer chances despite ceding possession and territory for the final half an hour. Raya somehow clawed a Cairnery curler away from the top corner and the former Brentford goalkeeper was helpless when substitute Andreas Pereira’s free-kick crashed against the crossbar.

Fulham, so meek in their defeats by Burnley and Bournemouth over the festive period, fought until the last knockings – encapsulated by an incredible Palhinha block when Saka seemed certain to level matters late on – and this display should give them great confidence going into their League Cup semi-final with Liverpool next month. It also poses serious questions about Arsenal’s stomach for the fight with Manchester City certain to scrap for their Premier League title in the months ahead.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha, Cairney (Reed 90+3); De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 80), Willian (Diop 80), Iwobi (Pereira 72); Jimenez. Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Ballo-Toure, Lukic, Muniz.

BOOKED: Cairney, Bassey, Jimenez, Leno.

GOALS: Jimenez (29), De Cordova-Reid (59).

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; White (Jesus 67), Kiwior (Tomayisu 45), Saliba, Gabriel; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz (Nelson 77); Saka, Martinelli (Trossard 67), Nketiah. Subs (not used): Ramsdale, Cedric Soares, Elneny, Jorginho, Smith-Rowe.

BOOKED: Saliba.

GOAL: Saka (5).

REFEREE: Josh Smith (South Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 24,444.