Arsenal denied late Saka winner by VAR in draw with Fulham

Bukayo Saka was denied a late winner as Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a blow in a 1-1 draw with London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The house facet moved forward with their solely actual assault of the primary half when Raul Jimenez slammed house on 11 minutes from a Kenny Tete move to earn an unlikely lead at half-time.

Arsenal have been the dominant pressure for a lot of the match and equalised through William Saliba’s close-range end on 52 minutes from a nook routine, however couldn’t discover the winner with Saka seeing his 88th-minute header dominated out by VAR after sub Gabriel Martinelli was deemed to be offside earlier than delivering the cross for the England winger to transform.

Whereas it’s troublesome to begrudge Marco Silva’s sturdy Fulham facet some extent for a efficiency excessive on staff spirit and all-round resoluteness, they may not have complained if the VAR name for Saka’s late winner had gone towards them.

Certainly, generally you need to query how VAR is used with Martinelli gaining no helpful benefit when he picked up the ball out extensive.

The Brazilian ahead truly reduce in the direction of his personal purpose earlier than turning to face up the cross for Saka to move house on the blind facet of Antonee Robinson with minutes remaining.

Replays confirmed the desperately fantastic margins of excellent fortune in soccer since VAR was launched to make the ultimate name.

If Arsenal lose the title by two factors, they will look again at this present day with some bemusement.

Appeared like the one participant within the visiting facet who had the tempo and creativity to unlock a cussed Fulham defence. And would have if not for that late VAR name.

Fulham: Leno 7, Tete 7, Diop 7, Bassey 7, Robinson 7, Berge 7, Lukic 6, Adama 6, Smith Rowe 6, Iwobi 6, Jimenez 6 Subs: Pereira 6, Cuenca 6, Wilson 6, Muniz 6

Arsenal: Raya 6, Partey 6, Saliba 7, Kiwior 6, Timber 6, Odegaard 6, Jorginho 6, Rice 8, Saka 8, Havertz 6, Trossard 6 Subs: Merino 6, Nwaneri 6, Martinelli 6, Jesus 6

11′ GOAL! (JIMENEZ) FULHAM 1-0 ARSENAL A purpose towards the run of play as the house facet strike with their first actual have a look at the Arsenal purpose. Kenny Tete with the availability work and Raul Jimenez with a fantastic end low and laborious into the nook of the web.

37′ LENO TO THE RESCUE FOR FULHAM Bukayo Saka this time manages to get a shot away from the sting of the field, however Bernd Leno cuts an assured determine for the house staff to make the cease. Effective cease.

52′ GOAL! FULHAM 1-1 ARSENAL (SALIBA) The visiting followers are loving that second as Rice goes deep to the again submit with a nook. Havertz heads again throughout purpose and Saliba knocks it house. VAR staff are checking the replay.

88′ GOAL! FULHAM 1-2 ARSENAL (SAKA) And there’s the winner absolutely! Saka with the close-range header within the remaining two minutes in entrance of the visiting followers. Martinelli with the cross to the again submit. Over head of Robinson and Saka arrives on blind facet to nod house.

89′ THE GOAL HAS BEEN DISALLOWED! Martinelli deemed to be offside within the build-up to the purpose. That’s so harsh for Arsenal.