The Jamaican has been in good form having scored in recent games for club and country
Reggae Boy Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored a second half to ensure Fulham went home with a win against title contenders Arsenal. This loss means that the Gunners missed their opportunity to top the Premier League.
The game ended with a score-line of 2-1 in favor of Fulham. The Gunners are currently going through a period of bad form, this is their second straight loss.
Arsenal began strongly and it wasn’t long before Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead in the fifth minute. Arsenal continued controlling the possession of the ball but they were toothless in front of goal.
Arsenal’s was created after Gabriel Martinelli did all the ‘donkey work.’ The Brazilian winger curled a low cross towards the far post after carrying the ball from within his own half. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno tried to divert the ball away from him but it ended up in the path of Saka. The English winger stuck his foot out for an easy tap-in finish.
Fulham fought back by creating some opportunities of their own but they failed to convert two decent chances. However, their persistence was rewarded when Raul Jimenez scored an equalizer in the 29th minute.
The Mexican striker used tremendous technique to finish off a low cross that was delivered by Tom Cairney. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was left helpless by the first-time effort. This goal means that Jimenez has scored four goals in his last four EPL matches. This is impressive considering he only scored 4 in his previous 50.
The two teams continued to pursue a winning goal but none of them found it in the first half. Saka got a chance to re-establish Arsenal’s dominance in the 63rd minute but his effort flew high. In fact, the Gunners failed to register any decent shot on target. It was only Saka who scuffed a harmless shot in injury time.
In the 59th minute, Fulham stunned the Gunners when Bobby Reid poked in an easy goal. This goal killed off Arsenal’s resilience. The Jamaican has been in good form having scored in recent games for club and country. The opportunity was created after the Gunners failed to clear a corner. Pundits criticized Arsenal defender Gabriel Maghales for failing to react quickly enough.
The Gunners enter the new year in fourth place despite topping the table at Christmas. They were coming from another loss to West Ham on Thursday. This was their first home loss in the current season.
Liverpool is currently leading premier league table with 42 points. Leon Bailey’s Aston Villa also has 42 points but they remain second because of an inferior goal difference. Bailey has also been enjoying a spectacular season in which he has been scoring prolifically.
Arsenal continued to look toothless even after striker Gabriel Jesus came on as a second-half substitute.
Instead, it was Fulham who almost scored a third goal when Carney’s shot was stopped in the 71st minute. Andreas Pereira also hit the crossbar in the 87th minute.
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