Mikel Arteta has voiced his frustration and disappointment over VAR’s decision to disallow a potential Fulham winning goal in Arsenal’s Premier League clash on Sunday.
The match, which ended in a draw, marked Arsenal’s third consecutive winless encounter with Fulham and missed an opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
With Liverpool’s match against Everton postponed, Arsenal had the chance to reduce the deficit to four points but now remain six points behind, having played one game more. Despite this, the Gunners maintain a narrow two-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City.
The game started with Fulham taking the lead through Raul Jimenez, but Arsenal equalized via William Saliba after a close offside decision went in their favor.
Late in the game, Arsenal appeared to secure the winner when Gabriel Martinelli set up Bukayo Saka, but the goal was ruled out due to Martinelli being offside—a decision that left Arteta visibly annoyed.
Speaking to *Match of the Day*, Arteta expressed his dissatisfaction with the result, saying, “It’s very disappointing not to win.
We dominated the game from start to finish, executing our plan well. However, we conceded from their only shot, which makes this result even more frustrating.”
Arteta highlighted the fine margins that often define games in the Premier League, stating, “It’s unfortunate how small details can decide games.
That’s the most disappointing part tonight.” Despite the setback, he praised his team’s resilience, noting their determination to fight back after conceding early.
Reflecting on the missed chance to capitalize on Liverpool’s inactivity, Arteta admitted the draw was a setback.
“We came here aiming to continue our momentum. The performance was strong, and we created enough chances to win, but this is football, and the margins are incredibly tight,” he said.
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson also criticized Martinelli for his offside positioning in the lead-up to the disallowed goal. Speaking on *Sky Sports*, he remarked, “In football terms, what Martinelli did is unacceptable. Being offside in that situation is simply avoidable.”
