Fulham against Arsenal

To be honest, the Gunners look more likely to score anyway but can Fulham launch an attack.

Dempsey heads wide.

5 minutes of added time. Really not sure where the ref has got that from! Wenger looks rather bemused.

Bendtner makes some space for himself, great stepover but he's blasted it over.

But nothing comes of it and it looks like the Gunners will hold on for all three points here.

Throw-in for the Cottagers deep in the Arsenal half.

Bendtner should have scored. Great ball from Fabregas but the Danish striker heads it over unmarked.

Rosicky with the ball at his feet, passes to Sagna who is pushed by Dempsey. Free-kick Arsenal.

Fulham free-kick but poor delivery and Arsenal break.

Eboue with a chance, well saved by Schwarzer.

Jerry Payton, Mannone's goalkeeping coach in the crowd. he must be very proud of his student.

Hand-ball Bendtner. Free-kick Fulham.

You have to feel games like this are important for Arsenal to win if they want to push for top honours in the Premier League.

Eboue drives forward down the right but Konchesky tackles well.

Fulham sub: Greening on for Etuhu.

Arsenal sub: Eboue on for Van Persie.

Weak shot from the edge by Murphy. Easily saved by Mannone.

Good footwork from Hangeland, you could see why Monsieur Wenger was interested in the centre-back over the summer.

Just had a look at the replay and it was a great reflex save by Mannone. Zamora maybe should have scored though.

Fulham looking a bit more desperate now but at least they are starting to press.

Another unbelievable save! Mannone pushes away a point blank Bobby Zamora header.

Fulham break on and they've won a free-kick.

Bendtner with a push on Aaron Hughes and the ref has seen it.

The Dutchman dusts himself off to take the set-piece.

Konchesky in the book for fouling Van Persie.

A couple of opportunities there, Hangeland drives the balla cross goal and it falls to Johnson on the edge of the area. He unleashes a powerfuls trike but it's powered away AGAIN by Mannone.

Dangerous position here. Can Murphy deliver.

Clichy clears well but Zamora wins another free-kick.

Fulham free-kick can they conjure something.

Gallas returns to the picture under a barrage of boos from Fulham fans. They think he's faking it but it looked pretty painful.

Gallas is struggling again. Nasty landing after winning a header with a majestic leap.

Arsenal all over the Cottagers now, I feel that a second goal is near.

The ball deflects out to Song who skies one high into the stand.

Great football by Arsenal. Van Persie and Bendtner link-up and Rosicky's shot is blocked out for a corner.

Free-kick but Gallas has drifted off.(offside that is, not off to sleep)!

Naughty challenge by Pantsil. there's no getting away with it this time. Yellow card.

Fabregas gets a cross in but Hangeland clears it up.

Arsenal sub: Rosicky on for Arshavin.

And he's missed. Chance goes begging but I'm not sure how sporting that was.

The keeper's groggy but Fulham continue to attack. He's in no state to make a save but Zamora has an opportunity.

The keeper punches and collides with Zamora.

That was a matter of inches.

Clint Dempsey finds away through and Sagna deflects his shot just on to the post.

Great chance for Fulham!

Arsenal throw-in deep in Fulham territory.

Fulham struggling to make as much impact as in the first half but Arsenal not really creating any clear-cut chances either. the game is in danger of stagnating a little here.

Dempsey picks out Johnson but he's returning from an offside position. He's not returned fast enough though and is offside.

Sagna watches the ball drop over his head but he seems to know what he's doing and clears it out.

Bendtner allowed to run straight through by the Fulham defence and he fizzes a shot just wide.

Vermaelen penalised for a high foot on Zamora.

Very poor drags a shot well wide from all of 30 yards. Dear oh dear Mr Dempsey.

But now Dempsey comes forward.

Classic Arsenal really, Fulham chasing shadows.

Arsenal playing keep-ball now.

But it's given away cheaply and Diaby advances now for the Gunners.

Johnson on the break now.

Free-kick to Arsenal. Fabregas to take on the right wing.

Replay of the goal. One touch to control and one to finish. Pure class from RVP.

Drop of the shoulder by Arshavin and he strikes one from 20 yards. But it's up and over the goal.

Zamora cross to Johnson and Mannone makes another top drawer save. He tips it to Dempsey who fires it back across goal but no-one can get on the end of it.

Chance! Van Persie to Bendtner who shoots across goal. Great save by Schwarzer who palms it to safety. it was heading into the bottom corner.

Hodgson looking extremely unhappy on the sidelines.

"1-0" to the Ar-se-nal" is the chant that's echoing around Craven Cottage.

Poor defending by Fulham but Arsenla moving the ball a little better now.

Arsenal 1-0 Fulham. Fabregas with a pinpoint pass over the top to Van Persie. Exceptional control by the Duthcman with his left foot and he slides it into the corner with his right. Impressive stuff.

GOAL! Van Persie.

Diaby tries to thread it to Van Persie but it's a very poor ball. He probably would have been better off taking a shot.

A wave of Fulham attacks there. Clichy heads out, Zamora with a deflected shot, and Etuhu with an air shot. it's all go so far in the second half.

Straight into Schwarzer's hands, deliveries have been poor up to now.

Arsenal corner. Arshavin to take.

Van Persie will be lucky to get a penalty for the rest of this season, fancy claiming in the press that you exaggerate dives!

Van Persie goes down under the challenge of Hughes. Fair tackle.

Very ambitious effort there from nearly 30 yards out. It's dragged wide by Zamora, apparently a one in six chance taker according to ESPN's Kevin Keegan.

Fulham on the attack with Zamora.

No substitutions at half-time. Let's have some goals in the next 45 minutes please lads.

The second-half kicks off...

There's the half-time whistle. Fulham with more to shout about than the Gunners so far. Good work from Mannone to keep Arsenal level. See you in 15 minutes folks...

Punched away again by Schwarzer.

Poor to the near post but scooped away by Zamora for another corner.

Corner Arsenal. Fabregas to take.

Good punch away by Schwarzer.

Foul by Zamora on Clichy. Yellow card for the Fulham striker and Arsenal have a free-kick on the left of the area.

No is the answer. And Arsenal break with Clichy.

Fulham corner now, can Murphy produce a good delivery.

3 minutes of added time.

Great strength by Zamora and it's a throw-in deep into the Arsenal half.

Van Persie breaks through but he can't quite control the ball and Schwarzer colelcts.

Hangeland with an amazing outside of the foot pass, not sure where he's learnt that. But Zamora is offside.

John Pantsil gets away with a bit of a kung-fu kick on Bendtner.

Gera's cross is met by Zamora but his header fires wide.

Johnson through and he tries to take on Vermaelen but the Belgian brick wall stands firm.

Wenger looking frustrated in the dugout, the Gunners haven't really created much.

Arshavin plays it through to Fabregas but he's offside. Only half a yard, but offside nonetheless.

They haven't had a draw in the league at Craven Cottage this year - their last one was the 2-2 result against Chelsea in December 2008.

Both teams looking fresh, but then again Gera is the only man on the pitch who played in the Carling Cup!

Free-kick Fulham, though Bendtner's claiming he got knocked in the face by Konchesky. Don't think I would mess with the Cottagers' left-back!

The delivery is poor and Mannone collects.

Gera's low shot was palmed away impressively for a corner.

Another cracking save from Mannone

Johnson brings it down from Zamora but it's a loose touch otherwise he could have been in.

Free-kick Fulham. Foul by Diaby.

Zamora offside, close one though- he would have been clean through.

Speculative effort from Murphy, but he fires wide.

The Gunners have hit the woodwork five times in this season's Premier League, more than any other team

Foul on Johnson by Vermaelen. he's too small according to ESPN's Mr Carter.

Murphy picks it up in midfield, Konchesky down the left and he tiptoes past Sagna. Poor delivery though from the left back.

Arsenal's league matches so far this season have featured an average of five goals a game, the highest in the Premier League.

Over the crossbar, disappointing from the Dutchman.

And now another, within Van Persie's range definitely. He's going to fancy this one. About 25 yards out.

Free-kick Arsenal now, Arshavin to take just inside the Fulham half.

I'm not even a fan but you have to admire the way arsenal play the game. Saying that Song's just committed a foul.

Diaby on the attack and again sublime link-up play by the Gunners.

Fulham have had fewer than half as many shots on target (19) than Arsenal in this season's Premier League (48).

He whips it in but no-one attacks it.

Murphy to take. Again.

Bizarre booking for Murphy, he's taken the free-kick early and earned a yellow card for it.

Free-kick to Fulham.

Strike by Bendtner but it's easy for Schwarzer, great knock down by van Persie.

Both sides very even so far, Mannone's save the highlight up to now.

Arsenal have lost their last two league away games. They haven't lost three on the road since November 2006 when they lost at West Ham, Bolton Wanderers and... Fulham.

Bit of a shocker there, immaculate passing by the Gunners in the build-up. Not that you'd expect anything less from Arsene Wenger's side.

Great chance, Arshavin blazes over after being released by Fabregas.

Bendtner with an excellent run, he shows some great gas and wins a corner.

Fulham still pressing. Roy Hodgson's men looking up for this.

Fulham allowed Arsenal just one point from a possible six in head-to-heads last season. Aston Villa were the only other Premier League side with as good a record.

Fabregas blazes over. Van Persie through the legs of Hangeland to Cesc but the Arsenal captain hits it high and over.

Replay of the saves, first one was a stunner second he saved with his face. Solid from the young Italian.

Fabregas given space to turn but the ball flies through to Schwarzer.

Great open game so far.

Two seconds later and Annone saves the rebound too!

Great save by Annone! Gera's ball in and Johnson's effort was heading into the corner.

Dempsey showing some great touches and he releases Zamora

Bendtner gives the ball away cheaply in midfield.

Arshavin shows a good turn of pace and crosses the ball into a dangerous area, but no Arsenal players in sight.

Not sure if he will be back on but now the game continues, hope the refs adding up those stoppages.

The young keeper has shoulder-charged Gallas by the looks of the replay- must of been something Gallas said in training!

Mannone clutches the ball but Gallas looks in pain. Wenger looks concerned.

Here come Fulham again, Gera crosses and Mannone and Gallas clash.

Fabregas takes it but it's straight into the hands of Schwarzer.

Diaby shows good strength running through the middle and he wins a free-kick.

Calf injury for Duff who has been a little bit of a sicknote over the years. Gera scored a great goal against City midweek.

Fulham Sub: Gera on for Duff.

Damien Duff struggling here, and he's being escorted off.

Billy Hogan from the Boston Red Sox spotted in the crowd at the Cottage.

Van Persie gets the ball, and doesn't dive as he revealed he often does today. He puts the cross in but no one to get onto his ball.

Johnson away again and the Cottagers looking dangerous.

Fulham sem to have sparked into life. Some good interchanges. And Johnson nearly put clean through. Mannone was out quickly to meet it.

Dempsey shoots from outside the box but it's straight down the throat of Mannone.

Johnson gets the ball on the edge of the area and whips it in but Zamora can't get there.

Zamora looks long and Clichy can't see the ball out. Duff wins the throw-in.

Bit of an uneasy start by Fulham.

Hangeland gives the ball away and Arsenal press, but he's done well in the end to shepherd it out for a goal-kick.

Right one minute in and Asrsenal attacking early-on, Eduardo heads wide, only a half-chance really though.

And we're off...

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna Vermaelen Gallas Clichy Diaby Fabregas Song Billong Arshavin Van Persie Bendtner.

Fulham: Schwarzer Konchesky Pantsil Hangeland Hughes Murphy Duff Etuhu Dempsey Johnson Zamora

Breathe. And I didn't even mention last gasp victories for Bolton and Blackburn. Let's hope for more of the same at the Cottage this evening then!

What an afternoon it's been in the Premier League. Unbelievable. Wigan beat Chelsea, United top of the league on goal difference, Liverpool score six-including a Torres hat-trick and Spurs win 5-0 with Robbie Keane scoring four.

Good evening all and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League clash between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

Join us at 1700BST for Fulham's game against Arsenal, live on ESPN UK.

Arsenal sub: Eboue on for Van Persie.

Weak shot from the edge by Murphy. Easily saved by Mannone.

Good footwork from Hangeland, you could see why Monsieur Wenger was interested in the centre-back over the summer.

Just had a look at the replay and it was a great reflex save by Mannone. Zamora maybe should have scored though.

Fulham looking a bit more desperate now but at least they are starting to press.

Another unbelievable save! Mannone pushes away a point blank Bobby Zamora header.

Fulham break on and they've won a free-kick.

Bendtner with a push on Aaron Hughes and the ref has seen it.

The Dutchman dusts himself off to take the set-piece.

Konchesky in the book for fouling Van Persie.

A couple of opportunities there, Hangeland drives the balla cross goal and it falls to Johnson on the edge of the area. He unleashes a powerfuls trike but it's powered away AGAIN by Mannone.

Dangerous position here. Can Murphy deliver.

Clichy clears well but Zamora wins another free-kick.

Fulham free-kick can they conjure something.

Gallas returns to the picture under a barrage of boos from Fulham fans. They think he's faking it but it looked pretty painful.

Gallas is struggling again. Nasty landing after winning a header with a majestic leap.

Arsenal all over the Cottagers now, I feel that a second goal is near.

The ball deflects out to Song who skies one high into the stand.

Great football by Arsenal. Van Persie and Bendtner link-up and Rosicky's shot is blocked out for a corner.

Free-kick but Gallas has drifted off.(offside that is, not off to sleep)!

Naughty challenge by Pantsil. there's no getting away with it this time. Yellow card.

Fabregas gets a cross in but Hangeland clears it up.

Arsenal sub: Rosicky on for Arshavin.

And he's missed. Chance goes begging but I'm not sure how sporting that was.

The keeper's groggy but Fulham continue to attack. He's in no state to make a save but Zamora has an opportunity.

The keeper punches and collides with Zamora.

That was a matter of inches.

Clint Dempsey finds away through and Sagna deflects his shot just on to the post.

Great chance for Fulham!

Arsenal throw-in deep in Fulham territory.

Fulham struggling to make as much impact as in the first half but Arsenal not really creating any clear-cut chances either. the game is in danger of stagnating a little here.

Dempsey picks out Johnson but he's returning from an offside position. He's not returned fast enough though and is offside.

Sagna watches the ball drop over his head but he seems to know what he's doing and clears it out.

Bendtner allowed to run straight through by the Fulham defence and he fizzes a shot just wide.

Vermaelen penalised for a high foot on Zamora.

Very poor drags a shot well wide from all of 30 yards. Dear oh dear Mr Dempsey.

But now Dempsey comes forward.

Classic Arsenal really, Fulham chasing shadows.

Arsenal playing keep-ball now.

But it's given away cheaply and Diaby advances now for the Gunners.

Johnson on the break now.

Free-kick to Arsenal. Fabregas to take on the right wing.

Replay of the goal. One touch to control and one to finish. Pure class from RVP.

Drop of the shoulder by Arshavin and he strikes one from 20 yards. But it's up and over the goal.

Zamora cross to Johnson and Mannone makes another top drawer save. He tips it to Dempsey who fires it back across goal but no-one can get on the end of it.

Chance! Van Persie to Bendtner who shoots across goal. Great save by Schwarzer who palms it to safety. it was heading into the bottom corner.

Hodgson looking extremely unhappy on the sidelines.

"1-0" to the Ar-se-nal" is the chant that's echoing around Craven Cottage.

Poor defending by Fulham but Arsenla moving the ball a little better now.

Arsenal 1-0 Fulham. Fabregas with a pinpoint pass over the top to Van Persie. Exceptional control by the Duthcman with his left foot and he slides it into the corner with his right. Impressive stuff.

GOAL! Van Persie.

Diaby tries to thread it to Van Persie but it's a very poor ball. He probably would have been better off taking a shot.

A wave of Fulham attacks there. Clichy heads out, Zamora with a deflected shot, and Etuhu with an air shot. it's all go so far in the second half.

Straight into Schwarzer's hands, deliveries have been poor up to now.

Arsenal corner. Arshavin to take.

Van Persie will be lucky to get a penalty for the rest of this season, fancy claiming in the press that you exaggerate dives!

Van Persie goes down under the challenge of Hughes. Fair tackle.

Very ambitious effort there from nearly 30 yards out. It's dragged wide by Zamora, apparently a one in six chance taker according to ESPN's Kevin Keegan.

Fulham on the attack with Zamora.

No substitutions at half-time. Let's have some goals in the next 45 minutes please lads.

The second-half kicks off...

There's the half-time whistle. Fulham with more to shout about than the Gunners so far. Good work from Mannone to keep Arsenal level. See you in 15 minutes folks...

Punched away again by Schwarzer.

Poor to the near post but scooped away by Zamora for another corner.

Corner Arsenal. Fabregas to take.

Good punch away by Schwarzer.

Foul by Zamora on Clichy. Yellow card for the Fulham striker and Arsenal have a free-kick on the left of the area.

No is the answer. And Arsenal break with Clichy.

Fulham corner now, can Murphy produce a good delivery.

3 minutes of added time.

Great strength by Zamora and it's a throw-in deep into the Arsenal half.

Van Persie breaks through but he can't quite control the ball and Schwarzer colelcts.

Hangeland with an amazing outside of the foot pass, not sure where he's learnt that. But Zamora is offside.

John Pantsil gets away with a bit of a kung-fu kick on Bendtner.

Gera's cross is met by Zamora but his header fires wide.

Johnson through and he tries to take on Vermaelen but the Belgian brick wall stands firm.

Wenger looking frustrated in the dugout, the Gunners haven't really created much.

Arshavin plays it through to Fabregas but he's offside. Only half a yard, but offside nonetheless.

They haven't had a draw in the league at Craven Cottage this year - their last one was the 2-2 result against Chelsea in December 2008.

Both teams looking fresh, but then again Gera is the only man on the pitch who played in the Carling Cup!

Free-kick Fulham, though Bendtner's claiming he got knocked in the face by Konchesky. Don't think I would mess with the Cottagers' left-back!

The delivery is poor and Mannone collects.

Gera's low shot was palmed away impressively for a corner.

Another cracking save from Mannone

Johnson brings it down from Zamora but it's a loose touch otherwise he could have been in.

Free-kick Fulham. Foul by Diaby.

Zamora offside, close one though- he would have been clean through.

Speculative effort from Murphy, but he fires wide.

The Gunners have hit the woodwork five times in this season's Premier League, more than any other team

Foul on Johnson by Vermaelen. he's too small according to ESPN's Mr Carter.

Murphy picks it up in midfield, Konchesky down the left and he tiptoes past Sagna. Poor delivery though from the left back.

Arsenal's league matches so far this season have featured an average of five goals a game, the highest in the Premier League.

Over the crossbar, disappointing from the Dutchman.

And now another, within Van Persie's range definitely. He's going to fancy this one. About 25 yards out.

Free-kick Arsenal now, Arshavin to take just inside the Fulham half.

I'm not even a fan but you have to admire the way arsenal play the game. Saying that Song's just committed a foul.

Diaby on the attack and again sublime link-up play by the Gunners.

Fulham have had fewer than half as many shots on target (19) than Arsenal in this season's Premier League (48).

He whips it in but no-one attacks it.

Murphy to take. Again.

Bizarre booking for Murphy, he's taken the free-kick early and earned a yellow card for it.

Free-kick to Fulham.

Strike by Bendtner but it's easy for Schwarzer, great knock down by van Persie.

Both sides very even so far, Mannone's save the highlight up to now.

Arsenal have lost their last two league away games. They haven't lost three on the road since November 2006 when they lost at West Ham, Bolton Wanderers and... Fulham.

Bit of a shocker there, immaculate passing by the Gunners in the build-up. Not that you'd expect anything less from Arsene Wenger's side.

Great chance, Arshavin blazes over after being released by Fabregas.

Bendtner with an excellent run, he shows some great gas and wins a corner.

Fulham still pressing. Roy Hodgson's men looking up for this.

Fulham allowed Arsenal just one point from a possible six in head-to-heads last season. Aston Villa were the only other Premier League side with as good a record.

Fabregas blazes over. Van Persie through the legs of Hangeland to Cesc but the Arsenal captain hits it high and over.

Replay of the saves, first one was a stunner second he saved with his face. Solid from the young Italian.

Fabregas given space to turn but the ball flies through to Schwarzer.

Great open game so far.

Two seconds later and Annone saves the rebound too!

Great save by Annone! Gera's ball in and Johnson's effort was heading into the corner.

Dempsey showing some great touches and he releases Zamora

Bendtner gives the ball away cheaply in midfield.

Arshavin shows a good turn of pace and crosses the ball into a dangerous area, but no Arsenal players in sight.

Not sure if he will be back on but now the game continues, hope the refs adding up those stoppages.

The young keeper has shoulder-charged Gallas by the looks of the replay- must of been something Gallas said in training!

Mannone clutches the ball but Gallas looks in pain. Wenger looks concerned.

Here come Fulham again, Gera crosses and Mannone and Gallas clash.

Fabregas takes it but it's straight into the hands of Schwarzer.

Diaby shows good strength running through the middle and he wins a free-kick.

Calf injury for Duff who has been a little bit of a sicknote over the years. Gera scored a great goal against City midweek.

Fulham Sub: Gera on for Duff.

Damien Duff struggling here, and he's being escorted off.

Billy Hogan from the Boston Red Sox spotted in the crowd at the Cottage.

Van Persie gets the ball, and doesn't dive as he revealed he often does today. He puts the cross in but no one to get onto his ball.

Johnson away again and the Cottagers looking dangerous.

Fulham sem to have sparked into life. Some good interchanges. And Johnson nearly put clean through. Mannone was out quickly to meet it.

Dempsey shoots from outside the box but it's straight down the throat of Mannone.

Johnson gets the ball on the edge of the area and whips it in but Zamora can't get there.

Zamora looks long and Clichy can't see the ball out. Duff wins the throw-in.

Bit of an uneasy start by Fulham.

Hangeland gives the ball away and Arsenal press, but he's done well in the end to shepherd it out for a goal-kick.

Right one minute in and Asrsenal attacking early-on, Eduardo heads wide, only a half-chance really though.

And we're off...

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna Vermaelen Gallas Clichy Diaby Fabregas Song Billong Arshavin Van Persie Bendtner.

Fulham: Schwarzer Konchesky Pantsil Hangeland Hughes Murphy Duff Etuhu Dempsey Johnson Zamora

Breathe. And I didn't even mention last gasp victories for Bolton and Blackburn. Let's hope for more of the same at the Cottage this evening then!

What an afternoon it's been in the Premier League. Unbelievable. Wigan beat Chelsea, United top of the league on goal difference, Liverpool score six-including a Torres hat-trick and Spurs win 5-0 with Robbie Keane scoring four.

Good evening all and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League clash between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

Join us at 1700BST for Fulham's game against Arsenal, live on ESPN UK.