There were hardly any shots or chances, but ref Andre Marriner brandished two red cards to create the talking points.
Steve Sidwell was dismissed after just 12 minutes — a decision totally warranted as his tackle on Mikel Arteta was horrific.
The midfielder, just back from a three-game ban for an almost identical challenge on QPR's Armand Traore, planted both his feet just above Arteta's ankle.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud was also dismissed in the last minute — a decision that was debatable as it appeared the French star slipped and caught Stanislav Manolev.
If you had told any Gooner two months ago they would be five points clear of Spurs and in third spot come April 21 they would think you were mad.
Arsenal's 6ft 6in defender has frequently looked off the pace in the Premier League and a liability even in the air. Not yesterday.
Arsenal stood firm as Fulham piled on the pressure in the second half. If only they had played like that since the start of the season then next week's clash against champions-elect United would be for so much more.
Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm — courtesy of the organisation and discipline of Martin Jol's side. Even Sidwell's sending off did not change things.
Aaron Ramsey's 20-yard free-kick went straight at Mark Schwarzer. Giroud claimed a penalty when his 22-yard curling shot hit the arm of Brede Hangeland, but ref Marriner correctly waved it off as ball-to-hand.
The superb Urby Emanuelson slotted Berbatov through, but Wojciech Szczesny pushed his effort away for a corner. With two playmakers in Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky, Wenger's side found it hard to break the Cottagers' dogged determination.
After 35 minutes Cazorla cut the ball inside for Giroud whose angled drive from an acute position came off Schwarzer's far post.
Theo Walcott swung in a free-kick, Koscielny won the first header and Mertesacker nodded home to make sure at the far post.
However, assistant Sian Massey correctly flagged for offside. Six minutes later Jack Wilshere spotted Cazorla's run on the other side of the pitch, but Hangeland threw himself in front of the Spaniard to block.
Marriner under pressure from the crowd all afternoon showed red and even though Wenger seemed to accept it as the right decision afterwards, the striker did not deserve it.
Right at the death Ramsey ran 70 metres and picked up Wilshere's perfectly-timed pass but did not have the legs to keep it on target.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Manolev, Senderos, Hangeland, Richardson, Emanuelson (Frei 87), Sidwell, Enoh, Kacaniklic (Petric 85), Ruiz, Berbatov. Subs Not Used: Etheridge, Riise, Karagounis, Hughes, Rodallega.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Rosicky (Podolski 71), Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott (Wilshere 71), Giroud, Cazorla (Vermaelen 90). Subs Not Used: Mannone, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Gibbs.
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