London, March 12 (BNA): Arsenal regained the top spot in the English Premier League, with five points, by defeating Fulham 3-0 on Sunday.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard scored first half goals at Craven Cottage to secure a fifth successive league win for Arsenal.
Leandro Trossard provided the assist for all three goals. Second-placed Manchester City put pressure on Mikel Arteta’s team by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday, briefly narrowing the gap to two points. Arsenal and City have 11 matches left.
There was more good news for Arsenal as Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus came off the bench in the 77th minute in his first appearance since undergoing surgery on December 6 for a medial collateral ligament injury sustained during the World Cup.
Arsenal had already had a goal ruled out for offside after a video review by the time Gabriel headed in the left corner from Trossard in the 21st minute.
The Belgium midfielder set up the second five minutes later, slotting in a cross from the left that was nodded in by Martinelli after Fulham defender Anthony Robinson won the ball away.
Trossard completed his hat-trick in the second minute of stoppage time in the first half, but the goal was more due to the technical skill of Odegaard, who sent a cross into the area, cut into the area, and hit a shot into the goal of Bernd Leno – former Fulham player. Arsenal goalkeeper.
Tuzen Adarabioyo headed the ball against the crossbar from a corner kick as Fulham got more into the game in the second half.