Arsenal stroll past Fulham to maintain 5-point lead

A dominant performance in the first-half and a professional one for Arsenal in the second, as they scored three goals in the first 45 minutes, and kept Fulham at bay in the second to record a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Fulham hosted Arsenal at the Craven Cottage in an attempt to halt the run of the high-flying league leaders; however, an impeccable first-half for the Gunners, where they scored three times, proved insurmountable for the Cottagers.

Arsenal scored in the 17th minute, but it was ruled out for offside before Gabriel Magalhaes fired them ahead in the 21st minute.  

Gabriel Martinelli made it two in the 26th minute of the game before Odegard capped off the scoring in the second minute of first-half injury time.  

Arsenal took the game to their hosts from the start of proceedings and went ahead early on when Antonio Robinson bundled the ball into his own net; however, an offside was found in the buildup to the goal and it was ruled out.  

The Gunners finally broke the deadlock when Gabriel got on the end of a cross by Leandro Trossard from a corner kick. 

The second goal came from the same flank. Trossard cut into the byline and scooped the ball into the area, and the ball was met hospitably by Martinelli, who guided it home.  

Trossard was again the provider of the third goal, and again, it was a cross from the left wing. 

This time he whipped a low cross into the area, which was controlled by Odegard, who side-stepped opposition defenders before burying the ball in the back of the net. 

The job was done for Arsenal in the first-half and the second-half was about protecting what they had earned. Fulham had their chances, but the Arsenal goal remained unassailable.  

Gabriel Jesus came on for the first time since his injury at the World Cup in the 77th minute, replacing Trossard. 

Jesus had a decent cameo, but he still missed a bit of sharpness. He was put through on goal and should have scored on his return to action, but the Brazilian striker finished poorly.