Individuals Each day-Arsenal held at Fulham in title race blow
Arsenal held at Fulham in title race blow
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Arsenal needed to accept a 1-1 draw at Fulham, regardless of scoring from yet one more nook, because the Gunners missed the prospect to shut the hole to Premier League leaders Liverpool to 4 factors.
For the second time within the house of 4 days, Arsenal dealt a set-piece blow proper after half-time, as William Saliba deflected Kai Havertz’s header from Declan Rice’s nook to degree the sport at 1-1 – their Gunners’ twenty third objective from a nook for the reason that begin of final season.
The Gunners have been annoyed all through at Craven Cottage, dominating the sport and giving Fulham little – aside from Raul Jimenez’s opener after 11 minutes after the Mexican ahead broke clear from Jakub Kiwior’s marking and slammed house previous David Raya.
Saliba’s objective survived a prolonged VAR examine for offside – however the know-how denied Arsenal getting ready to stoppage time as Bukayo Saka’s late winner was dominated out for an earlier offside by Gabriel Martinelli.
“[Liverpool head coach] Arne Slot would have had his heart in his mouth watching those final few minutes and the biggest VAR decision of the season so far,” stated Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp at full-time.
“It was absolutely incredible but Martinelli just had to keep himself offside.”
“What a weekend for Liverpool. Man City dropping points, Arsenal dropping points and they’ve got themselves into an even better position.”
Arsenal had lots extra possibilities to attain a couple of at Craven Cottage – with their finest possibilities coming from, you guessed it, corners. Saliba ought to have scored from Arsenal’s first one of many sport however glanced his header vast, whereas Thomas Partey put an opportunity vast from one other Rice nook.
The Gunners thought that they had gained it after Martinelli’s cross was headed house by Saka however VAR noticed the previous had gone too early within the build-up.
“He is offside, but in footballing terms, that’s criminal from Martinelli,” says Paul Merson. “You can’t be offside. You’re trying alongside the road.
“He’s acquired tempo, he’s electrical, so he’s not somebody who attempting to nick a yard and play proper on the sting. I’d be stunned if he isn’t on the tip of 1 within the dressing room by the supervisor as a result of he even is aware of.
“You could see it on his face after, he knows you can’t do that. One thing when you look along that line – do not be offside. It’s as simple as that.”
The draw – plus yesterday’s postponement of the Merseyside derby attributable to Storm Darragh – means Arsenal have lower Liverpool’s sport on the high to 4 factors – however Mikel Arteta’s aspect will see this as a possibility missed.
