Fulham 1 – 1 Arsenal

Arsenal needed to accept a 1-1 draw at Fulham, regardless of scoring from one more nook, because the Gunners missed the possibility 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 stage 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 pissed off all through at Craven Cottage, dominating the sport and giving Fulham little – aside from Raul Jimenez’s opener after 11 minutes when 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 expertise 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 coronary heart in his mouth watching these remaining couple of minutes and the most important VAR resolution of the season up to now,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp at full-time.

“It was completely unimaginable however Martinelli simply needed to hold himself offside.”

“What a weekend for Liverpool. Man Metropolis dropping factors, Arsenal dropping factors they usually’ve obtained themselves into an excellent higher place.”

Arsenal had a lot 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 recreation however glanced his header broad, whereas Thomas Partey put an opportunity broad 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’s offside, however in footballing phrases, that is legal from Martinelli,” says Paul Merson. “You can’t be offside. You are wanting alongside the road.

“He is obtained tempo, he is electrical, so he is not somebody who making an attempt to nick a yard and play proper on the sting. I might be stunned if he is not on the top of 1 within the dressing room by the supervisor as a result of he even is aware of.

“You could possibly see it on his face after, he is aware of you possibly can’t try this. One factor once you look alongside that line – don’t be offside. It is so simple as that.”

The draw – plus yesterday’s postponement of the Merseyside derby attributable to Storm Darragh – means Arsenal have minimize Liverpool’s recreation on the prime to 6 factors – however Mikel Arteta’s aspect will see this as a chance missed.

Fulham, in the meantime, sit eleventh however are nonetheless two factors from fifth spot forward of a visit to Liverpool on Saturday.

Arteta ‘gutted’ as he seeks good efficiency

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta:

“I am gutted that we did not win it, as a result of I believe we deserved to win from the start to the top. We did virtually all the things that we needed to do to win it.

“However that is the standard of the opposition, with one likelihood they rating a objective. After which the margins of the league as nicely. For millimetres, we might have been sitting right here with three factors after a extremely robust and dominant efficiency in opposition to a extremely good group.

“You can’t cry about it. That is the fantastic thing about this league too. The fantastic thing about this group too is how they can play at present, even in these circumstances and in opposition to good opposition. I am actually completely happy for that.

“That is the standard of opposition. We can’t really feel sorry for ourselves. Now we have to face up for ourselves. We had a extremely good efficiency in opposition to a extremely good aspect. Usually you do not see these sorts of video games right here.

“Now we now have to proceed to enhance and have a look at what we are able to do higher in order that the opposition have zero possibilities to win the sport. That is the target.”

Evaluation: Corners are nice, however Arsenal want extra from open play

Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz at Craven Cottage:

For the second recreation in a row, Arsenal produced an xG of round two, whereas giving their opponents little or no on the different finish. It was sufficient for victory in opposition to Manchester United, however not sufficient right here.

It was additionally the second recreation in a row the place 75 per cent of Arsenal’s xG got here from nook kicks alone. From the useless ball, the Gunners are phenomenal – however at current they don’t seem to be doing sufficient from open play.

Arsenal have barely obtained to 1.0 price of xG of their final two video games away from the nook flag. “It is by no means sufficient if you happen to do not rating three, 4 or 5,” mentioned Mikel Arteta after the sport. “If we need to enhance we now have to be higher in each motion that we do.”

Fulham’s low block pissed off Arsenal. After all it did – they’ve the fifth-best defensive construction within the division in relation to Anticipated Objectives Conceded. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard barely obtained a sniff down the wings, whereas Kai Havertz was muscled out of the duels by Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey.

Arsenal need to face low block most weeks – “That is soccer. We can’t cry about it,” added Arteta – whose group must grow to be extra inventive after they do not have corners.

Silva: It was not our greatest day with the ball

Fulham supervisor Marco Silva:

“Robust recreation as we anticipated, actually tough for us. It has been a extremely powerful week for us with the three video games in eight days. Troublesome sort of video games.

“This afternoon we knew it might be powerful, Arsenal made it tough for us. Nice combating spirit, the gamers caught with the plan. The early objective from ourselves put us in second, that was actually good.

“After Arsenal took management of the sport, I actually consider that – on the ball – it was not our greatest recreation.

“Arsenal took the ball from ourselves, they management the ball, had set items however they solely had one actually good likelihood from Declan Rice, they did not have many extra as a result of we blocked them nicely.”

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