Yet the Gunners often toiled badly, even after Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell, just back from suspension, saw red for a 12th minute lunge at Mikel Arteta's ankle.
Laurent Koscielny mis-hit his header from Theo Walcott's free-kick, enabling Mertesacker to lunge forward and nod home from close in.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had decided to rest England midfielder Jack Wilshere, with Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky coming into the side, as did Nacho Monreal, who had been on the bench for the midweek goalless draw against Everton, while Wojciech Szczesny continued in goal as Lukasz Fabianski was still injured.
At the other end, Giroud played in Walcott, who finished well past Mark Schwarzer, but the offside flag was already up.
Former Arsenal trainee Sidwell was promptly dismissed - and could now see a three-game suspension increased for poor discipline.
The home fans roared their team on against the odds, and Dimitar Berbatov forced a good stop from Szczesny after breaking down the right and into the Arsenal penalty area.
Giroud was unfortunate on 35 minutes when he spun his marker on the edge of the Fulham box before driving a low shot across the face of goal, which beat Schwarzer, but hit the outside of his left-hand post.
Szczesny, though, was called into action again when Emanuelson robbed Monreal and drilled in a low shot, which the Pole got down well to push behind.
Eyong Enoh fouled Aaron Ramsey conceding a free-kick some 35 yards out on the right. Walcott floated the ball into the box, and Koscielny headed it back across the face of goal, where German centre-half Mertesacker arrived unmarked to nod in from a yard out.
Referee Marriner was at the centre of controversy again at the start of the second half when he showed Arteta a yellow card after Emanuelson went down following a quick break, with replays suggesting it was a dive by the Dutchman.
Szczesny had to be alert to palm over a cross from Manolev which looked to be dipping in, before Koscielny headed away as Berbatov arrived at the far post from the resulting corner.
Fulham had the ball in the net when Manolev tapped home after Szczesny spilled a 20-yard free-kick from Kieran Richardson - but assistant referee Sian Massey made a fine offside call.
Arsenal remained dangerous on the break, with Santi Cazorla's angled drive blocked after intelligent build-up from Monreal and then Wilshere.
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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