STEVE Sidwell was sent-off again as Fulham went down to a narrow defeat against Arsenal.
The former Gunners midfielder lasted just 13 minutes on his return to the starting line-up following a three-match ban, with Andre Marriner showing him a straight red card for a late tackle on Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta.
Per Mertesacker's goal just before half-time settled it, while the visitors also finished a man short after Olivier Giroud was dismissed in the dying minutes.
Fulham got off to a disastrous start when Sidwell was sent for an early bath.
However, the 10 men almost took the lead midway through the half when Urby Emanuelson played in Dimitar Berbatov, but Wojciech Szczesny turned his shot around the post.
Alex Kacaniklic, restored to the side after being recalled from his loan spell at Burnley, went close, with Mertesacker blocking his effort.
Arsenal had most of the possession, but they failed to seriously test Mark Schwarzer in the Fulham goal.
However, the Whites were saved by the woodwork on 34 minutes when Giroud's shot across the goal clipped the far post.
At the other end, Emanuelson forced a good save out of Szczesny after robbing Nacho Monreal of the ball.
But it was the Gunners who took the lead just before the break.
Theo Walcott floated in a free-kick, and Laurent Koscielny headed it across goal for Mertesacker to nod home.
Ruiz fired a free-kick over at the beginning of the second half, while Szczesny had to alert to tip Stanislav Manolev's cross over the bar as the Whites looked for a leveller.
Fulham had the ball in the net 13 minutes from time, but Manolev's effort was ruled out for offside after Szczesny parried another Ruiz free-kick.
Martin Jol brought on Mladen Petric and Kerim Frei late on as they tried desperately to snatch a point.
Their cause was helped when Giroud was given a red card for a challenge on Manolev, although TV replays showed the Arsenal striker was hard done by.
Aaron Ramsey missed the chance to wrap up victory for the visitors on the break, but it didn't matter as they held out for three vital points.
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Manolev, Hangeland, Senderos, Richardson, Kacaniklic (Petric 85), Enoh, Sidwell, Emanuelson (Frei 87), Ruiz, Berbatov.
Subs (not used): Etheridge, Riise, Hughes, Karagounis, Rodallega.
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