It took another set-piece goal to take Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League – as Leandro Trossard’s second half strike from a corner proved enough to earn a gritty win over injury-hit Fulham at Craven Cottage this evening.

It was far from a vintage performance from the Gunners but they improved after the home side had the better of the first half an hour and their 37th goal from a corner in the last two years proved the difference between the teams. Bukayo Saka, who fought an entertaining battle with Ryan Sessegnon down the right, swung in the set-piece, Gabriel climbed highest to flick in on and Trossard turned home at the far post before Raul Jimenez could react.

Fulham fought hard, especially as Marco Silva’s side were dogged by further injuries. Already denied the services of Rodrigo Muniz, Kenny Tete, Antonee Robinson, Sasa Lukic and Samuel Chukwueze, Joachim Andersen was forced off after injury his quad and captain Tom Cairney eventually succumbed to a shoulder injury sustained in the first half. The Cottagers did much more than pile white shirts behind the ball, with Harry Wilson and Josh King unfortunate not to give them the lead after an encouraging opening but the Whites lacked the ruthlessness that the league leaders appear to have acquired.

The home side’s quick start saw Jimenez, who made a welcome return to the starting line-up having been injured in scoring at Aston Villa last month, find Wilson in the box but the Welsh winger’s instinctive effort was deflected wide. A clever corner than saw Tom Cairney’s volley blocked before Wilson went close twice in quick succession but his finishes lacked their usual poise. After Riccardo Calafiori had a sumptuous volley correctly ruled out for offside, King’s clever cross-shot had David Raya worried but the Arsenal goalkeeper was able to tip it over the bar.

Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres continued his goalless start to life with the Gunners but he was denied by a smart save from former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno before the interval. The former Coventry City forward led the line impressively but snatched at a couple of good chances in the second half before he was replaced in the closing stages by Gabriel Martinelli. Fulham absorbed a prolonged period of Arsenal possession after the interval before Wilson twice failed to the hit the target from the inside the area, although he did brilliantly to volley towards goal after Jimenez and Alex Iwobi had fashioned a shooting chance on the counter attack.

Arsenal’s goal was a simple one – with the smallest man on the field tucking away a close-range finish after Gabriel had managed to get a decisive flick on Saka’s set-piece. The England international was then denied by a superb save from Leno after brilliantly wriggling his way through the Fulham rearguard and Arsenal would have had an opportunity to double their lead shortly afterwards were it not for a VAR intervention after referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty despite substitute Kevin getting the ball when he challenged Saka inside the area.

The home side kept fighting until the end with Adama Traore seeing a volley blocked, but Arsenal held on to claim a vital victory. Silva will hope his team can quickly recover from a disappointing run of three consecutive reverses, but life in the Premier League is never easy – with a tough trip to Newcastle United on the horizon next weekend.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, R. Sessegnon, Andersen (Diop 42), Cuenca (Bassey 82); Berge, Cairney (Smith Rowe 64); Wilson (Traore 82), Iwobi, King (Kevin 63); Jimenez. Subs (not used): Lecomte, Tete, Reed, Kusi-Asare.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Califiori, Saliba, Gabriel; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze (Merino 62); Saka, Trossard (Martinell 81), Gyokeres (Norgaard 90+6). Subs (not used): Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, White, Nwaneri, Dowman.

GOAL: Trossard (58).

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).

ATTENDANCE: 27,736.