Mikel Arteta is likely to be frustrated with one of his players following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Fulham, according to football pundit Paul Merson. The result at Craven Cottage dealt a blow to the Gunners’ Premier League title aspirations.
Fulham took an early lead through Raul Jimenez’s composed first-half finish. Arsenal responded early in the second half when William Saliba equalized with a close-range header.
However, their hopes of securing all three points were dashed when VAR ruled out Bukayo Saka’s late winner due to an offside in the build-up, with Gabriel Martinelli flagged as the offending player.
Martinelli was deemed offside during the initial cross, and his positioning led to the VAR decision that cost Arsenal a crucial victory. Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, criticized the Brazilian winger for his lapse.
“You can’t be offside there,” Merson said. “Martinelli is quick enough to stay onside and still beat defenders. It’s about awareness and looking along the line.”
Merson suggested Arteta might address the mistake with Martinelli privately, emphasizing the importance of avoiding such errors in tight matches.
The draw leaves Arsenal six points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played one more match. Although the Gunners moved to second in the table, Chelsea could reclaim the position with a draw against Tottenham later in the day.
The result represents a missed opportunity for Arsenal, and Arteta will demand greater focus and precision from his squad as they continue their title chase.
