Mikel Arteta is likely to be deeply frustrated with one of his Arsenal players following their 1-1 draw against Fulham, according to football pundit Paul Merson. The Gunners were unable to secure a win at Craven Cottage, a result that could hinder their Premier League title ambitions.
The match began with Raul Jimenez putting Fulham ahead in the first half, scoring a composed goal to give the home side the lead. Arsenal managed to equalize early in the second half through William Saliba, whose close-range header brought them back into the contest.
However, the Gunners’ hopes of snatching all three points were dashed in dramatic fashion when VAR intervened to disallow Bukayo Saka’s late winner. The goal was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up, with Gabriel Martinelli identified as the offending player.
Martinelli was clearly offside when the initial cross came into the box, and his positioning led to the VAR decision that ultimately cost Arsenal a crucial victory. Reflecting on the incident, Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, was critical of the Brazilian winger and suggested that Arteta would be similarly unimpressed.
“You can’t be offside there,” Merson remarked. “You’re looking along the line. Martinelli is a player with blistering pace—he doesn’t need to try and gain an advantage by being offside. He’s fast enough to let defenders have a head start and still beat them.”
Merson went on to add that he would not be surprised if Arteta expressed his frustration with Martinelli behind closed doors. “I’d expect the manager to have a word with him in the dressing room.
You could see it in Martinelli’s reaction—he knew he had made a mistake. Being offside in that situation is avoidable; it’s just about staying aware and looking down the line.”
The result leaves Arsenal six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, although they have played one game more.
Despite climbing to second place in the standings, their position is under immediate threat, as Chelsea could reclaim second spot if they manage to earn a single point in their upcoming derby match against Tottenham later in the day.
For Arsenal, the draw is a missed opportunity in their pursuit of the Premier League title, and Arteta will undoubtedly expect sharper focus from his players in future matches.
