TRIED AND TROSS-TED

Arteta's Mr Dependable pops up to grab pace-setting win

- BY TOM CANTON

ARSENAL moved four points clear of title rivals Liverpool after a hard-fought victory over Fulham thanks to winger Leandro Trossard’s winning goal.

The cliche that a sign of champions is that a side can win when they do not play particularly well was in full effect for the Gunners after several mistakes went unpunished in West London. Much of the conversation before the game had centred around captain Martin Odegaard’s absence, and the Norwegian was certainly missed.

However, Bukayo Saka almost exclusively contributed creativity from open play.

Boss Mikel Arteta will not care, however, having seen several attempts to win at Fulham end in failure.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres managed to get into several potential goal-scoring position as Arteta had hoped, but failed to make any of them count.

A late wild attempt on his weaker foot over the bar appeared night and day to the ruthless centre-forward seen in Lisbon a year prior.

Arteta made just one change from the team that beat West Ham before the international break.