For Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, there was scant reward for all of his team's efforts in their clashh with Arsenal.
"I did not think it was a bad performance from us," said the Fulham boss following his side's fourth league defeat.
"We defended well and attacked well against one of the Premier League's better teams.
"We have now played four of last season's top five and can only hope there are other teams out there who we can beat more easily.
"We played better than we did when we beat them here last year. Then, we scored and dug in. This time it was they who got the goal and then dug in."
Hodgson concluded: "All these things are balm for the wound but it is the wound that is the major problem.
"The result of the game is that Arsenal won.
"We came across a goalkeeper in splendid form and a determined Arsenal team - and overall we can count ourselves unlucky not to get something from the game.
"It's always seconds in football, an inspired moment, a chance taken, as opposed to a chance missed."
"Now we can say we were unlucky, but it's still a defeat for us and we have lost four of our last five games."