Arsenal's slump continues

Fulham 2 Arsenal 1

Arsene Wenger may just have to face his own “moment of truth” tonight after defeat at Fulham all but ended Arsenal’s hopes of forcing their way into the Barclays Premiership title race.

The Gunners boss had admitted his team were entering a crucial phase of the campaign, both domestically and in Europe.

With little margin for error following the weekend loss at Bolton, this 2-1 reverse at Craven Cottage looks set to prove fatal.

The decision to rest several first-team regulars – with one eye on both Saturday’s north-London derby against Tottenham and next week’s Champions League trip to Porto – proved unwise as Fulham rose to the challenge.

An early goal from Brian McBride set the tone for the evening, before Tomas Radzinski swept in a second from close range.

Although Robin van Persie reduced the deficit before half-time with a brilliant 30-yard free-kick, even the introduction of Theo Walcott could not save Arsenal – who finished the game with 10 men following Philippe Senderos’ dismissal for a second yellow card.

Fulham had taken the lead inside six minutes.

From Claus Jensen’s left-wing corner, McBride got ahead of his markers to meet the ball at the near post, flick it backwards up over Jens Lehmann and past Mathieu Flamini on the line.

Arsenal, though, were soon back on the offensive.

Captain Thierry Henry, fit again following a neck problem, looked menacing again down the left, as he cut inside before drilling an angled strike over the bar.

Unlike many of the sides which had come to the Emirates Stadium and then sat back, the Cottagers looked anything but content to defend their advantage on home soil.

Captain Luis Boa Morte tricked his way past Alexander Song with a sublime backheel before dashing to the by-line and pulling the ball across goal.

Tomasz Radzinski arrived just in time at the far post ahead of Flamini to double Fulham’s lead with a tap-in on 19 minutes – but then needed treatment after his momentum took the Canadian into the advertising hoardings.

It should have been 3-0 and game over just after the half hour when Boa Morte dashed clear of the Arsenal defence, with more than a suspicion of offside.

Lehmann narrowed the angle quickly – and the big German stood tall to make a crucial block.

Arsenal went up the other end and pulled a goal back nine minutes before the break through a stunning free-kick from van Persie.

Liam Rosenior upended Alexander Hleb, and was booked for his troubles.

The young Dutchman lined up behind the dead ball – a full 30 yards from goal slightly right of centre.

There was only ever one thing on his mind, as van Persie promptly curled a quite breathtaking left-foot effort around the wall and into the far corner, past the diving Antti Niemi.

Jensen was just off target with his chance from a free-kick as the match became somewhat scrappy.

McBride forced another good stop from Lehmann, this time at his near post, as the hosts finished the half on top.

Wenger called for Cesc Fabregas at the restart, with Song taken off – and the Gunners looked lively.

Henry thought he had levelled after collecting a trademark cross-field pass and driving an angled shot past Niemi from the left. However, the assistant’s flag had already been raised in what looked a marginal call at best.

As the hour mark approached, neither the tempo nor the edge to the match looked like dropping.

Tomas Rosicky was given a rest, with England starlet Walcott set to inject some pace down the Arsenal right.

On 63 minutes, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when centre-half Senderos, who had already been booked, received a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Boa Morte, just outside the penalty area.

The Fulham captain was within inches of restoring his side’s two-goal advantage – but the free-kick rattled back off the crossbar with Lehmann rooted to the spot.

Arsenal had to take risks now, and continually left themselves open on the quick counter attack.

However, the visitors almost snatched an equaliser when Walcott’s first-time shot from the edge of the Fulham penalty area struck the outside base of the far post as the Gunners rallied.

Tempers were close to boiling point in the closing stages, Flamini and McBride both cautioned for their part in a touchline tussle.

Henry nearly connected with Walcott’s low centre, as the Gunners were left to reflect on what might have been as their title dreams faded – a result which no doubt would have been greeted with just as much jubilation a few miles down the Fulham Road.