Mikel Arteta delivers ‘unbelievable’ verdict after VAR denies Arsenal’s late winner against Fulham

Arsenal missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool after being held to a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday. Liverpool’s match against Everton was postponed, leaving the Gunners with a chance to narrow the deficit to four points, but Mikel Arteta’s side fell short, extending their winless run against Marco Silva’s team to three games.

The match began with Raul Jimenez giving Fulham the lead, but Arsenal equalized through William Saliba, who stayed just onside in a tight VAR call. However, the Gunners were denied a late winner when Gabriel Martinelli was caught offside before assisting Bukayo Saka, a decision that left Arteta lamenting the “unbelievable” small margins that cost his team the victory.

Reflecting on the game, Arteta expressed his disappointment, telling Match of the Day: “We dominated the game from start to finish, but unfortunately, it came down to millimeters. That’s the reality of this league. The way we fought and reacted after going 1-0 down was incredible, but we just didn’t get the reward we deserved today.”

Despite their dominance, Arsenal now sit six points behind Liverpool, having played one game more, while maintaining a slim two-point lead over Manchester City. Arteta praised his team’s performance but acknowledged the frustration of failing to capitalize on Liverpool’s inactivity.

Adding to the criticism, former Arsenal player Paul Merson slammed Martinelli for his offside error during the buildup to Saka’s disallowed goal. Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said, “In football terms, it’s criminal. He’s looking along the line; he has pace and doesn’t need to play on the edge. You simply cannot make that mistake.”

Martinelli’s costly error highlights the fine margins that continue to challenge Arsenal in their pursuit of the Premier League title. While the performance impressed Arteta, the dropped points may weigh heavily as the season progresses.