Fulham delivered a sensational New Year's Eve upset, securing a memorable 2-1 comeback victory against Arsenal at Craven Cottage. The match, officiated by referee Josh Smith, featured an inspiring performance from Fulham's Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, dealing a blow to Arsenal's hopes of finishing 2023 at the top of the Premier League table.
The thrilling encounter began with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka opening the scoring in the 5th minute, giving the Gunners an early lead. However, Fulham responded strongly, with Raul Jimenez leveling the score after 29 minutes, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess. The turning point came in the 59th minute when Bobby De Cordova-Reid found the net, completing Fulham's comeback and securing a historic win.
Fulham's attacking prowess and defensive resilience were on display, keeping Arsenal at bay and securing three crucial points. The victory marked Fulham's first over Arsenal in 12 years and left Mikel Arteta's side with back-to-back defeats.
Key moments included Jimenez's clinical finish, De Cordova-Reid's decisive goal, and Saka missing a crucial chance to level the score for Arsenal. Despite Arteta's tactical changes, including the introduction of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, Fulham held their ground.
With this result, Fulham claimed their fourth win in their last five home matches, propelling them to 13th place in the Premier League with 24 points. The match attracted an attendance of 24,444 fans at Craven Cottage.