Fulham 0-1 Arsenal: Van Persie wonder goal settles hard-fought London derby

Robin van Persie struck a brilliant second-half winner as Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 in the Barclays Premier League match at Craven Cottage.

Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and substitute Zoltan Gera had all tested young goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

However, it was Arsenal who got the crucial breakthrough on 51 minutes through a fine finish from Dutch striker van Persie.

With Chelsea having lost at Wigan, Arsenal - beaten at both Manchester United and Manchester City - were looking to close the gap.

The Gunners started positively, with Bacary Sagna sending over a deep cross from the right which defender Thomas Vermaelen - their leading scorer so far - headed wide.

Mannone needed to make a save, though, when Clint Dempsey created space for a shot at the edge of the Arsenal penalty area.

Fulham were forced into an early change after just nine minutes when Damien Duff hobbled off, replaced by Zoltan Gera.

Arsenal defender William Gallas then needed treatment after inadvertently clashing with his goalkeeper following a cross into the six-yard box.

Fulham continued to knock the ball about well - and almost snatched the lead on 15 minutes.

Gera whipped the ball over, and Johnson's bullet header was brilliantly palmed away by Mannone - who also somehow kept out the rebound from Dempsey at point-blank range.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas fired just over after good work from Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman and Fabregas combined to play in Arshavin, but the Russian was always stretching as his 10-yard effort flew high into the stands, before Nicklas Bendtner tested Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a low drive from the edge of the area.

Dickson Etuhu fouled Bendtner to concede a free-kick in a central position just outside the penalty area. Van Persie struck it well enough, but could not keep the ball down.

There was little respite for the visitors, though, as Fulham were soon back on the offensive, quickly closing down any space.

Gera flashed a shot across goal, which Mannone got a hand to, after being played in on the right by Johnson.

Zamora was shown a yellow card in stoppage-time for a late sliding challenge on Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy.

Fulham looked to continue where they had left off in the second half, as Zamora flashed a 20-yard drive wide.

Arsenal, though, showed more determination, with Arshavin creating problems down the left.
 

Then, out of nothing, the visitors snatched the lead on 51 minutes, after Paul Konchesky's upfield pass was cut out and fed to Fabregas.

The Spain midfielder waited, before chipping an exquisite pass which split the centre-backs on the edge of the area, where van Persie arrived on queue to kill the ball with his left foot, before guiding a fine low strike into the far corner with his right.

After such a positive opening, Craven Cottage was stunned as the atmosphere fell flat.

It was almost 2-0 when Bendtner's flashed the ball across goal, which Schwarzer beat away.

Fulham then broke quickly through Zamora down the right, and his centre was glanced goalwards by Johnson - only for Mannone to produce another stunning save at full stretch before again denying Dempsey at the far post.

On 61 minutes, Bendtner charged forwards to the edge of the Fulham box, but scuffed his shot.

Fulham came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Dempsey's drive deflected off Sagna and onto the post.

Then, Gallas produced a brilliant block to deny Zamora, before Arsenal replaced Arshavin with Tomas Rosicky just past the midway point of the half.

John Pantsil was booked for clattering into the Czech winger, just back from a 18 months out with a series of niggling injury.

On 77 minutes, Mannone did well to turn away another effort from Johnson. The Italian was inspired to then keep out Zamora's downward header.

Van Persie was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue for the final eight minutes, while Fulham sent on Jonathan Greening for Etuhu.

Bendtner headed over and Eboue flashed a shot wide - with Wenger less than impressed by the five minutes of added time.

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