Mikel Arteta expressed deep frustration and disappointment after VAR ruled out what could have been Fulham’s winning goal against Arsenal during their Premier League clash on Sunday.
The Gunners aimed to narrow the gap with Liverpool, whose match against Everton was postponed on Saturday. However, the game ended in a draw, extending Arsenal’s winless run against Fulham to three consecutive matches.
Arsenal’s visit to West London was a crucial chance to close Liverpool’s lead to four points. Instead, the Gunners remain six points behind the league leaders, having played an extra match. Despite this setback, Arsenal still holds a two-point advantage over Manchester City, last season’s champions.
The match saw Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead early, but Arsenal equalized through William Saliba after a close offside call went their way.
In the game’s closing stages, Arsenal appeared to have secured victory when Gabriel Martinelli assisted Bukayo Saka for what seemed to be the winning goal. However, VAR ruled Martinelli offside, disallowing the goal, leaving Arteta visibly annoyed.
Speaking after the match, Arteta expressed disappointment with the disallowed goal and the narrow margins that shaped the game’s outcome.
He told Match of the Day, “Very disappointed not to win the game. We completely dominated from start to finish, executing our game plan well. Unfortunately, they scored from their only shot, but our team’s performance and determination were exceptional.”
Arteta highlighted the frustrating nature of Premier League football, where small margins often decide games. “It’s incredibly tough when such fine margins dictate results. That’s the most disappointing part tonight,” he said.
Despite the result, Arteta praised his team’s resilience after conceding early. “We responded immediately, equalized, and kept pushing for the win. The team gave everything until the final whistle, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the reward we deserved,” he added.
Reflecting on the missed chance to take advantage of Liverpool’s inactivity, Arteta acknowledged the result as a setback. “We aimed to build on our recent success. The performance and chances were there, but football can be cruel with such fine margins,” he concluded.
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson also criticized Martinelli’s positioning during the disallowed goal, stating on Sky Sports, “He was offside, and in football terms, what Martinelli did is unacceptable.”
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