Fulham v Arsenal player ratings: Jimenez 8, Iwobi 7; Saka 6, Havertz 5

Mikel Arteta's team suffer damaging Premier League defeat at Craven Cottage

• 

  Bernd Leno 6/10

  FULHAM RATINGS: Leno ended the game with four saves but they were mostly routine. Could have done better with his handling in the build-up to the opener. EPA

• 

  Timothy Castagne 6/10

  Gave Martinelli too much space and allowed him to shoot in the build-up to the opener. Enjoyed a much better performance against Trossard in the second half. AP

• 

  Antonee Robinson 7/10

  Lovely cut back to the edge of the penalty area in the 14th minute for Jimenez. Enjoyed a good second half against Saka. Getty Images

• 

  Calvin Bassey 7/10

  A solid game against Arsenal’s slick attackers. Made a well-timed tackle on Saka to kickstart the move that led to the home side’s equaliser. AFP

• 

  Tosin Adarabioyo 7/10

  Stayed close to Nketiah all game and kept him relatively quiet. Important when defending crosses in the second half. AFP

• 

  Joao Palhinha 6/10

  Wasn’t at his destructive best in the first half but improved when needed the most in the second. Made a vital last-ditch sliding tackle to stop Saka in the 81st minute. Getty Images

• 

  Tom Cairney 7/10

  A willing runner next to Palhinha in midfield, Cairney made life difficult for the Arsenal players with his non-stop pressing. Whipped in an excellent cross to the back post for Jimenez to score in the first half. APShow less

• 

  Alex Iwobi 7/10

  Up against his former team, Iwobi was industrious and looked lively on the ball. His ability to always pick out a pass even in tight spaces was crucial in the first half. PA

• 

  Willian 6/10

  Got on the end of Iwobi’s cross and had a chance to make Raya work but he failed to keep his shot on target. Influence waned in the second half. Getty Images

• 

  Bobby Decordova-Reid 8/10

  Did well to stay onside and hit his shot high into the net to put the home side in front. Tucked in to help out Castagne in the second half when the visitors pilled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. ReutersShow less

• 

  Raul Jimenez 8/10

  Tested Raya with a shot that he could have done better with in the 14th minute. Levelled the scores for the home side with a first-time shot past Raya in the 29th minute. EPA

• 

  Andreas Pereira N/A

  SUBS: Pereira (Iwobi, 71) Hit the crossbar with a freekick that left Raya rooted to a spot. Displayed good vision to play Wilson through on goal but he was dragged down by Saliba. Reuters

• 

  Issa Diop N/A

  (Willian, 80) Came on and added extra defensive presence to the middle of the home side backline late in the game. Harry Wilson (Decordova-Reid, 80) - N/A. Getty Images

• 

  David Raya 6/10

  ARSENAL RATINGS: Raya made a couple of routine saves during the game. Couldn’t have done anything to keep out the goals. EPA

• 

  Ben White 5/10

  Had an effective outing on the right side of defence, but was deservedly subbed off early in the second half. AP

• 

  Jakub Kiwior 5/10

  Should have done better with his attempt to clear the ball just before it got to Jimenez to level the scores. Failed to contribute going forward. Getty Images

• 

  William Saliba 6/10

  Made an important interception to stop Jimenez from getting on the end of Reid’s cross just after the restart. Vital interception to stop Jimenez from running through on goal in the 55th minute. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Gabriel 6/10

  Made an important headed clearance just ahead of Jimenez in the 56th minute. Got close to scoring at the other end but got his timing all wrong. AFP

• 

  Declan Rice 6/10

  Had a go from way out on the stroke of halftime, but his shot was always going high and wide. Looked average in the second half, just like the other Arsenal midfielders. EPA

• 

  Kai Havertz 5/10

  Average performance from Havertz on the left side of the visitors’ attack. Didn't do much wrong, but didn’t have a huge influence on the proceedings. AP

• 

  Martin Odegaard 6/10

  Came close to finding the top corner in the second minute, but his shot went wide. Tried to make things happen in the second half, but it just wasn’t his day. AFP

• 

  Bukayo Saka 6/10

  Opened the scoring from close range when Leno spilled Martinelli’s shot into his path. Had a very good chance to make it 2-2 on the hour mark, but his shot was disappointing. Poor in the second half. AFPShow less

• 

  Gabriel Martinelli 7/10

  Played a huge part in the opener as his shot was spilled into the path of Saka to probe home. He should have made it two when Odegaard found him on the edge of the penalty area, but his effort went just wide. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Eddie Nketiah 5/10

  Had his first sight of a goal with a weak shot into the ground in the 33rd minute. Looked lost in the second half. Getty Images

• 

  Takehiro Tomiyasu 6/10

  SUBS: (Kiwior, 46) Unfortunate to see Gabriel’s clearance ricochet off him and into the path of Decordova-Reid to put the home side in front. Defended well after that incident and tried to get involved in attack. Getty ImagesShow less

• 

  Leandro Trossard 5/10

  (Martinelli, 67) Disappointing cameo from the winger. Repeatedly let down by his first touch and decision-making. Reuters

• 

  Gabriel Jesus 6/10

  (White, 68) Worked hard after coming on but tried a little too hard on a number of occasions. Reiss Nelson, (Havertz, 77) - N/A. Getty Images

Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered a big blow following a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta was looking for a response after losing 2-0 at home to West Ham on Thursday but there was no respite.

The Gunners started brightly at Craven Cottage as Bukayo Saka pounced to tap home his first goal in six games after Bernd Leno parried Gabriel Martinelli's initial effort.

Raul Jimenez was badly missed during his three-game ban for a red card at Newcastle and the Mexican striker kickstarted the Fulham fightback with his fourth goal in as many games.

Willian sent Tom Cairney free down the left and his dangerous low cross was swept home by Jimenez at the back post.

Fulham were the better side in the second half and they got their reward just before the hour mark. Arsenal failed to clear a corner and the ball broke kindly for Bobby De Cordova-Reid to smash home from close range.

Arteta was left fuming after what he considered the worst performance of the season.

"We weren't good enough," said Arteta. "The other day we lost a game (against West Ham) we fully deserved to win and today we were nowhere near the level.

"This one you have to isolate because it's the worst performance of the season."

A lack of a clinical striker has been pinpointed as the major flaw among Arteta's squad that may prevent them from winning a first league title in 20 years. But Arsenal also kept just one clean sheet in eight games in December.

Arteta rejected suggestions he needs to reinforce his squad in the January transfer window.

"If we play like we played in the other 19 games we will be up there," he added.

"If we play like today, we will be nowhere near. Today was a really difficult day to swallow."

Arsenal remain in fourth, two points behind leaders Liverpool and level on 40 points with Manchester City, but having played a game more than both their title rivals.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.