Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left devastated after watching his side’s Premier League title aspirations suffer another setback at Craven Cottage, where a last-gasp Bukayo Saka winner was ruled out by the finest of VAR margins in a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
The Spanish manager’s frustration was palpable as he reflected on a game that Arsenal dominated from start to finish, only to be denied victory by what he described as “millimetres” when Gabriel Martinelli was judged offside in the build-up to what would have been Saka’s dramatic winner.
“Gutted that we didn’t win it because I think we deserved to win from the beginning to the end,” Arteta expressed in his post-match conference, clearly struggling to reconcile his team’s dominant performance with the final result. We did almost everything that we had to do to win it. This is the quality of the opposition and the league. For millimetres we could have been here with a really dominant win.”
The draw represents a significant missed opportunity for Arsenal to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, who saw their Merseyside derby against Everton postponed on Saturday. The result leaves the Gunners six points adrift of the leaders, who also hold a game in hand, potentially dealing a severe blow to Arsenal’s title ambitions.
The match statistics tell a story of Arsenal’s dominance and ultimate frustration. Fulham managed just two shots throughout the entire game, with Raul Jimenez’s thunderous strike from a counter-attack proving enough to secure a point for the hosts. The efficiency of Fulham’s limited attacks stood in stark contrast to Arsenal’s wastefulness in front of goal, an issue that has begun to plague their recent performances.
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson labeled Martinelli’s marginally offside position as “criminal,” highlighting how such fine margins can prove costly in a title race. The Brazilian winger’s position by mere millimetres ultimately denied the Gunners what would have been a crucial victory in their pursuit of Liverpool.
The result has raised questions about Arsenal’s attacking efficiency, with Arteta now facing the challenge of getting his forward line firing on all cylinders again. Despite creating numerous opportunities, the team’s inability to convert chances into goals has become a concerning trend that threatens to undermine their title challenge.
Looking ahead, Arsenal face a crucial week with a Champions League clash against Monaco on Wednesday before hosting Everton at the Emirates on Saturday. These fixtures present an immediate opportunity for redemption, but the pressure is mounting as each dropped point makes the path to Premier League glory increasingly challenging.
The frustration of the Fulham draw is amplified by the context of the title race. With Liverpool’s game postponed, Arsenal had a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top, making the fine margins that denied them victory all the more painful. The result serves as a reminder of how unforgiving the Premier League can be, where the smallest details can have massive implications for a team’s title aspirations.
As Arsenal prepare for their upcoming fixtures, Arteta must find ways to transform his team’s dominant performances into victories. The Spanish manager’s post-match comments reflect not just disappointment at points dropped, but also a recognition that in a title race as competitive as this season’s, such fine margins could ultimately prove decisive.
