Arsenal stumble at Fulham after Saka’s late strike dominated out for offside

The excellent news is that it was higher for Arsenal than final season. The unhealthy information is that their run of successive wins was ended at 4 they usually spurned a chance to use strain to the leaders, Liverpool. And worse, they had been denied an 89th-minute winner by a good – however right – offside name by the video assistant referee.

Liverpool could really feel, with six gamers out injured and Everton having put 4 previous Wolves on Wednesday, that the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby supplied a welcome break earlier than the rigours of the festive programme. Nonetheless, it additionally gave Arsenal the chance to chop the hole to 4 which, even having performed a sport extra, doesn’t appear anyplace close to as daunting as seven. As it’s, the hole is six factors and Liverpool have a sport in hand. All the things for the time being is developing Arne Slot.

It was this fixture final season that had imposed decisive injury on Arsenal’s title problem. When the margin to the champions on the finish of the season is as slender as two factors, all slip-ups are important, but it surely was this sport on New Yr’s Eve that appeared most vital, all of the extra in order it got here on the again of an surprising 2-0 dwelling defeat to West Ham. What occurred at Craven Cottage, although, was worse, if solely as a result of Arsenal went forward after 5 minutes and appeared snug earlier than Raúl Jiménez’s equaliser and their subsequent collapse.

The influence will not be as nice this season, and given how effectively Fulham are enjoying for the time being, there may be no assumption of away victory over them for any facet however, nonetheless, it was unimaginable to keep away from the sense of stalling momentum.

Arsenal have been much-improved because the return of Martin Ødegaard 4 video games in the past however there appeared a hazard of them faltering once more as Jiménez put Fulham forward after 11 minutes.

To an extent the injury was self-inflicted as Jakub Kiwior drifted inexplicably in direction of the ball, providing the chance for Kenny Tete to slip a go by means of for Jiménez to complete with crisp authority. A lot of that first interval went precisely as you think about Marco Silva deliberate it: Arsenal having the majority of possession however creating little or no.

Sasa Lukic, working alongside Sander Berge, was central to that. He’s a participant a lot happier out of possession than he’s with the ball which you can virtually really feel the reduction amongst Fulham followers when he’s tackled as a result of which means he can get on with what he’s greatest at: lunging in to win it again. Antonee Robinson, Fulham’s ever-impressive right-back, had a tremendous sport as effectively. The place others tend to standoff Bukayo Saka, he engaged him aggressively had had the higher of their duel.

Fulham’s different first-half success was in negating Arsenal’s dead-ball menace largely due to the way in which Adama Traoré, stationed on the again publish subsequent to William Saliba, was capable of intercept his man with one chunky forearm, stopping him making a run throughout the goalkeeper. Maybe his holding isn’t strictly authorized however then numerous what occurs at corners nowadays isn’t; the entire 18-yard field has grow to be an enormous gray space. 4 inswingers earlier than half-time, three from Saka and one from Declan Rice produced no higher menace to the Fulham aim than Bernd Leno having to punch the ball awkwardly away when it appeared to be swinging instantly in.

However there’s a purpose Arsenal followers sing the title of their set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover. The primary nook Arsenal obtained within the second half was aimed not at one of many huge defenders however deeper, to Kai Hazertz. He headed down and Saliba, coming into the centre, shrugged off Traoré and, remaining a fraction onside, turned the ball in, Arsenal’s twenty third aim from a nook because the begin of final season.

Fulham, although, remained resolute, though Thomas Partey put a header simply large from one other nook. Arsenal’s menace, although, remained largely restricted to set-pieces. Which isn’t actually a criticism; having been for a very long time a facet who appeared to need to dominate video games to win them, they now have a method of successful even when the rhythm isn’t fairly upon them, or towards sides who defend in addition to Fulham did.

And Arsenal regarded to have pinched it, Gabriel Martinelli’s cross being headed in on the again publish by Saka, however VAR intervened. The Brazilian had been – simply – prematurely of the deepest Fulham defender. Liverpool’s lead stays daunting.