Leandro Trossard burnishes credentials as Arsenals catalyst for the title

Leandro Trossard provided all three assists for the league leaders

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By Jason Burt, Football Correspondent, at Craven Cottage

So astute has been Arsenals transfer business in the past couple of years it is difficult to highlight who has been the best signing but the initial 21 million deal to bring in Leandro Trossard may prove to be the most shrewdly opportunistic.

A hat-trick of assists for the Belgium forward against Fulham the first time in Premier League history an away player has achieved that in a first-half helped turn a potentially fraught London derby into a stroll by the River Thames.

With it, Arsenal re-established their five-point lead over Manchester City with the kind of imperious performance which once more suggests they are not just capable of going the distance but also of delivering their first title in two decades.

In fact, given City have an FA Cup quarter-final next weekend, Arsenal can go into April after the international break a formidable eight points clear if they beat struggling Crystal Palace away on Sunday.

They have now won five league games in a row since the defeat to City which represents an impressive response to that potentially derailing set-back when it appeared the momentum for the title had swung away from them. There are 11 league games to go or, as Trossard put it, 11 finals.

He created goals for Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard and it could have been a fourth in that opening 45 minutes had Granit Xhaka not taken a heavy touch when he should have shot after a sharp exchange of passes left him with only Bernd Leno to beat.

With Gabriel Jesus finally back, after his 120-day lay-off from a knee injury, and joyfully returning as a second-half substitute, Mikel Artetas attacking options are about to increase at a crucial period. There is fresh weaponry.

Arteta certainly deserves praise for how he has managed without the Brazilian No9 as the Arsenal manager has not only rotated his forwards and was able to take off Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Trossard here but added a different dimension.

Not so long ago it looked like the workload on Saka and Martinelli might buckle them. No more. Arsenal also have Eddie Nketiah, out with a minor injury, and Reiss Nelson, who replaced Saka.

It seemed when Trossard signed he was going to challenge Martinelli for a position wide on the left of the attack but he was used most effectively as false centre-forward, interchanging with the Brazilian and providing greater fluidity.

There were question marks over Trossard after his falling out with Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi which, he claimed, left him feeling humiliated and which led to him being sold.

But there was never any doubt about his ability or effectiveness. The 28-year-old has a hat-trick at Anfield to his credit this season. And now another unique hat-trick as a provider.

When we talk about composure and finding the right pass and looking for the right colour in the box it can be very blurry but he is the opposite, Arteta, who celebrated his 100th win in just his 167th game in charge, said in reference to Trossard and his clarity.

There was the highest praise given who it came from and given his ability to pick a pass from Odegaard. He has brought some amazing things to the team. I love playing with him. Hes good to find the right pass, the captain said.

Trossards statistics said it all: 54 touches, 28 of his 36 passes (mainly in tight, forward areas) completed and four chances created. Little wonder Arteta sought him out at the final whistle for a hug and it is that adaptability and durability which might just help see Arsenal over the line.

And to think Trossard was an injury doubt, having limped off early during last weekends dramatic win over Bournemouth. He was not expected to play here but such is his determination to do so that he declared himself fit and Arsenal felt the benefit.

The movement is the key. It was from the left that Trossard made his contribution for all three goals; moving outside cleverly as Martinelli switches in. For the first, it was from a corner with Gabriel able to rise relatively unchallenged by Tosin Adarabioyo to head home before the pick of the goals arrived.

It was the kind straight from the coaching manual but not for Fulham who were later accused of being soft by their frustrated head coach Marco Silva.

Clear Arsenal deserved the three points, he said. In the first-half we were on the pitch but in some moments looked like we werent.

One of those moments was for the second goal as every Arsenal outfield player was involved with the ball transferred to Trossard who centred with the hapless Antonee Robinson allowing Martinelli to head in. On half-time Odegaard collected Trossards cross, cut inside and finished.

Fulham were better after that, Silva had clearly ripped into them, but they have lost all four games without the suspended midfielder Joao Palhinha. Arsenal are not so reliant on Trossard but on this evidence what a smart addition he has been. It is an unexpected deal that could make the difference.

Well played Arsenal. Tough day for Fulham, they just came up against a good side in really fine fettle and the result was never in doubt. The Gunners go five clear...

Yet another clean sheet away. Salibas talent is unmissable but probably high time Gabriel got some more praise from outside the Arsenal bubble. Everything you want in a PL centre-back, and the cherry on top is being left-footed. The list of better CBs than him is a short one.

Both draws: Man United held to a 0-0 by Southampton. Villa take the lead at West Ham but Hammers get a pen, 1-1 FT.

Odegaard: I love having Leo Trossard in the team, he has brought a lot to us and I love to play with him. Massive boost to have Jesus back.

Trossard: It is 11 finals for us, we will take it game by game. We have done well last week to come back from a difficult position and today is a different game.

A fine performance from Arsenal. Extremely impressive. Fulham pretty wretched. Three assists for Trossard. Goals for Gabriel, for Martinelli, and for Odegaard. Jesus got 25 minutes. Arteta will be delighted.

Fulham plugging away. Ive got no sound on the commentary at the moment which could be LINEKERGATE or maybe is just the rinky-dink TVs at HMDT. In any event, they are putting some decent moves together but Arsenal are home and dry.

Vieira knocks it past Tosin Adarabioyo and hits the deck. But theres no time for the freekick because this game is coming to an end.

Huge chance for Jesus! Fabio Vieira charging down the centre-right, Jesus overlaps on his right, slips it to him, Jesus hits a decent low effort but Leno does just enough to block with his legs.

Jesus beats the ground in frustration.

Trossard and Martinelli came off as Jesus came on. Fabio Vieira also getting a run.

Trossard should be the MotM youd think, for three assists.

Fulham can at least take some heart from this second half performance. But now Mitrovic has had a whack. He stays down. Dear me that really would put the cherry on the top... it seems that he is in fact ok to continue.

Gabriel Jesus is coming on for Arsenal. It is the Brazil number nines first outing since the World Cup.

Saka and Zinchenko, both of whom were on the quieter side, come off. Reiss Nelson and Kieran Tierney the lads who come on.

Thats Fulhams best moment. Hoelgebaum Andreas Pereira drives forward, slips it to Reid, who shoots hard and low. Good stop from Ramsdale and Fulham get a corner on the follow up.

From said corner, Fulham get up for the header - and have hit the bar!  Tosin Adarabioyo and Aleksandar Mitrovic both got their heads to the ball at almost exactly the same time. Not too sure whos header it was in the end but a moot point given that it hit the woodwork. Tosin couldnt do much with the rebound.

Elegant, efficient from Odegaard as he plays Saka in down the inside right channel. Ream comes across to cover, and does it well.

Here isSam Dean: A new chant for the Arsenal fans, for Trossard: Leo, Leo, Leo. Not the most inventive, admittedly, but a reflection of the quality of his performance today.

Arsenal with a corner, Saka hits it low, Saka drills it and Martinellis low drive is repelled.

Martinelli and Trossard are combining well. Fulham a bit more into this game than in the first half but its an improvement from a seriously low base.

Some delays at the start of this half. Ramsdale and Sliba both going for the ball, Lukic is in the mix too. Think Ramsdale inadvertently caught Saliba.

Now Ramsdale in the wars again as he leaps to cut out and Fulham cross and lands heavily.

Bit more like it from the home side as they get down the right and cross. Appeals, incorrect ones, for a handball.

They do get a corner though. Cleared.

Get Jesus on for some soft minutes or dont bother and give him the extra week?

As one-sided a half of football as you will ever see. Arsenal very good, Fulham very bad. This one is over.

3 - Leandro Trossard is the first player in Premier League history to make a hat-trick of assists in the first half of an away game. /kQKI0zRtA3

Trossard, who has been excellent, gets down the left and crosses. Far too easy, but good play nevertheless.

But talking about too easy, here is Odegaard receiving the ball in the area. Time for one, two, three, touches and then the shot. Abject from the Fulham defence.

Martinelli is fouled. Odegaard plays the ball in.

Leno struggling but Tosin gets it clear on this occasion.

Can Fulham hold out until the interval and somehow group?

A rare moment of light for Fulham. Zinchenko over-elaborates, and Pereira has a chance to shoot with Ramsdale going walkabout. No.

Odegaard plays it in and Trossard dinks wide. This is borderline embarrassing already.

Bit of an update from the other games: Casemiro has been sent off for Man United for what looked a wild, high tackle on the clip I just saw. Its 0-0 in that game.

Ollie Watkins gave Villa the lead but West Ham have levelled things up with a pen.

Fulham give the ball away terribly, Arsenal are allowed to put together a slick passing move and Xhaka surges into the area. He only needs to control it and tuck this away but his first touch is that of the cement mixer and Fulham escape on this occasion.

Thats two! Its another header. Alan Smith says that it is men against boys and I cannot disagree. Arsenal get down the left and cross. Robinson has had a shocker in the Fulham defence there! He should have headed clear but hes just ducked his head in the most pathetic confused way, and Martinelli can hardly believe his luck as he just has to nod it in at the back stick.

Sam Deanfocuses more on the Arsenal excellence than the poor defending from Fulham: Arsenal are cruising here and that was one of the best team goals of the season so far. The passing was so crisp, starting deep in their own half before the suddenly broke down the left. Leandro Trossard has been superb in this first half, creating both goals and dropping into midfield at all the right times.

Arsenal have another corner. Fulham cannot clear, heres Saliba purring onto the ball and smashing a good shot not far wide. Arsenal are all over Fulham.

And at an inopportune moment as well. Gabriels headed the Gunners ahead - Dave Jones had to step into the breach.

Leandro Trossard the man who delivered the corner, and absolutely superb timing and physicality from Gabriel to head that home.

Here isSam Dean: Gabriel Magalhaes made his Arsenal debut at Fulham and he has a weirdly good goalscoring record against todays opponents. He scored on that debut a few years ago, and also struck the winner against Fulham earlier this season. The Brazilian has matured into a real leader of this Arsenal defence.

Arsenal well in charge of this at the moment.

Sky Sports have lost commentay! Dave Jones is having to fill in.... think this is due to technical gremlins rather than any solidarity for Gary Lineker...

Ah that is hard lines. Nice little one two, Martinelli surges onto it and hits a hard low shot from an acute angle. Leno parries it quite well, it was struck firmly, but he palms it straight into Antonee Robinson, off whom it rebounds into the goal. No blame accrues to either keeper or defender. The goal is given.

After a couple of minutes of fiddling with set squares and protractors or whatnot, its decided that someone (Martinelli himself after the one-two??) was offside. So no goal.

The Fuggers have the oldest starting XI in the PL this season (average) and Arsenal the second youngest, after Saints.

First involvement of note for Al Mitrovic, who controls a long ball in the area and tries an ambitious floaty curly thing that drifts well wide.

Antonee Robinson puts a reducer in on young master Saka. Arsenals effort from the freekick is lame, some flapping around ends with Marintelli hoofing the ball forward for a goal kick.

Trossard down the centre but Fulham deal with that pretty well.

Game yet to settle. Arteta is seeking his 100th win as Arsenal manager, according to a graphic on Sky Sports.

Its the Gunners who have the ball in the first minute, playing it around at the back.