The Daily Star Ireland
Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on Liverpool in the Premier League title race were dampened after a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Mikel Arteta’s team had the opportunity to reduce the deficit to just four points but struggled in the first half, with Fulham easily neutralizing their attack and taking the lead through Raul Jimenez.
In the second half, Arsenal responded positively, and their persistence paid off when William Saliba scored an equalizer in the 51st minute, following a lengthy VAR review. It seemed like Arsenal might seize the win, but Fulham proved resilient under pressure and demonstrated their potential as European contenders this season.
Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but had little to show for it. Fulham, on the other hand, attacked effectively on the counter. The opening goal came after Kenny Tete’s quick pass allowed Jimenez to race through and finish past goalkeeper David Raya. Despite Arsenal’s efforts, including a near-miss from Declan Rice and a weak shot from Bukayo Saka, they struggled to break down Fulham’s defense.
The Gunners started the second half with more urgency, and a corner kick led to Saliba’s equalizer. Arsenal continued to press but still fell short of their best performance. Fulham nearly retook the lead when Andreas Pereira had a shot blocked by Raya, and late in the game, VAR ruled out what would have been an 87th-minute winner for Saka due to an offside position by Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal’s title ambitions took a hit as Fulham earned a well-deserved point, with the final whistle leaving the visitors frustrated.
