SET pieces were crucial AGAIN but Arsenal lost more ground in the title race after coming back from behind to draw 1-1 with Fulham.
The Gunners thought they’d won it at the death but are now SIX points behind Prem leaders Liverpool, after enduring a frustrating afternoon at Craven Cottage.
Arsenal dominated the early exchanged but saw themselves 1-0 down early thanks to Raul Jimenez’s spell-bounding run and finish inside 11 minutes.
The visitors had plenty of the possession, but very little to show for it in the opening 45 minutes.
Mikel Arteta was booed at half-time, but unlike last year’s defeat at Craven Cottage he held off on any substitutions at the break.
Another successful corner routine saw the Gunners level after William Saliba poked home from six-yards five minutes after half-time.
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And heartbreak ensued in the 89th minute when Bukayo Saka’s back post header was ruled out after Martinelli strayed offside in the build up.
Here SunSport’s Katherine Walsh gives her player ratings…
David Raya – 6
Couldn’t do much about his one-on-one with Jimenez and was rarely threatened after that.
Until a HUGE save at his near post in the 71st minute after Sander Berge’s ball over the top sent Andreas Pereira away.
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Thomas Partey – 5
Arteta opted to play Partey at right-back but, it quickly became clear just how missed the Ghanaian’s presence was in midfield.
William Saliba – 6
Great positioning and a lengthy VAR check saw him tap in the equaliser from a back-post Havertz’s header. Yes, from another corner.
Couldn’t get back in time to stop Jimenez’s opener. Could he have done more?
Jakub Kiwior – 4
Terrible afternoon filling into Gabriel’s big shoes.
Easily outmanoeuvred by Raul Jimenez’s inside run for the Fulham No.9’s sleek low finish opener inside 11 minutes.
Seemed out of place and not sure of his role during corner routines.
Jurrien Timber – 5
Undoubtedly a greater influence on the right side of defence.
Timber was quiet by his standard and was dragged narrow for Jimenez’s opener.
Martin Odegaard (c) –
Looked like he was struggling with something in the first half-an-hour as he hunched over, and hobbled off while walking inside at half-time after being on the end of a big tackle from Sander Berge.
Some harmless balls into the Fulham box went well past Trossard as Arsenal looked somewhat rattled after going 1-0 down.
Replaced by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri when Arsenal were looking for a winner.
Jorginho – 6
Largely did his job in nullifying Emile Smith Rowe before the Arsenal youth academy star was replaced inside 60 minutes.
But some wayward long balls saw a frustrated Arteta turn away in the opening half.
Declan Rice – 6
Some lovely runs between the centre-backs in his bid to push forward to level the score. Didn’t stop running and linked up well with Saka and Odegaard.
But had to bail out the makeshift left hand side of Timber and Kiwior out a couple of times and lethal from corners.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Every time you look at the TV, Saka was crossing. Great corners from the right hand side.
Grew into the game with both Robinson and Bassey working hard to team up on him, soon sat them both down with an outrageous run.
Such a menace from the right but Robinson finally went in the book in the final five minutes.
Kai Havertz – 6
Out-duelled by Diop for much of the first half and rarely tested former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno in his 73 minute appearance.
Poor sense of positioning at times to get onto some good crosses from his Saka and Trossard.
But made up for it in the second half, with a brilliant back post run from Rice’s corner which inadvertently set up Saliba.
Leandro Trossard – 6
An unbelievable piece of skill saw him bamboozle former Gunner Iwobi but his stunning cross was fumbled by Saka.
More of a threat in the second-half before he looked disappointed to be subbed off for Gabriel Martinelli.
Subs
G Jesus (’73 for Havertz) – 4
Indecisive as Rice pinged a ball over the top for his run, which eventually landed in Leno’s waiting hands.
Gabriel Martinelli (’60 for Trossard) – 6
Disastrously aught offside in the lead up to Saka’s would-be winner in the 89th minute.
But worked better with Timber than Trossard perhaps managed. Tricky feet saw him fouled several times by Kenny Tete in final 15 minutes.
Sent multiple great crosses from the left, but Leno was often up to collect.
Booked for dissent as he bounced the ball in frustration at not being awarded a throw in.
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Mikel Merino (’73 for Jorginho) – 5
Should’ve been booked for a tug on Pereira.
E Nwaneri (’78 for Odegaard) – 6
Brave runs in his 15 minute cameo. Arteta clearly trusts the teenager.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
