Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is likely to be disappointed with Gabriel Martinelli following the team’s 1-1 draw against Fulham, as noted by football pundit Paul Merson.
The result at Craven Cottage hampered Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, leaving them six points behind leaders Liverpool, having played one more match.
Fulham took the lead in the first half through Raul Jimenez, who calmly finished past Arsenal’s defense. However, Arsenal responded quickly in the second half when William Saliba equalized with a close-range header, reigniting their hopes for a vital win.
Arsenal’s hopes of taking all three points were dashed when a late goal from Bukayo Saka was ruled out by VAR for an offside infringement. Martinelli was deemed to be the player offside in the build-up to the disallowed goal.
Discussing the incident on Sky Sports, Merson criticized Martinelli’s positioning, saying, “You can’t be offside there. You’re supposed to be looking along the line. Martinelli is so fast; he doesn’t need to rely on being offside to gain an advantage. He can beat defenders even if they have a head start.”
Merson speculated that Arteta would likely have a private conversation with Martinelli about the mistake. “I would expect the manager to speak to him in the dressing room,” he said. “You could tell from Martinelli’s reaction that he knew he’d made a mistake. Being offside in that situation is avoidable—it’s about staying alert and aware of the defensive line.”
Despite Arsenal climbing to second in the league, their position is precarious, with Chelsea ready to reclaim that spot if they secure at least a point in their upcoming derby against Tottenham.
The draw was a missed opportunity for Arsenal in their title challenge, underscoring the importance of maintaining focus during crucial moments.
Arteta will surely demand better decision-making from his players as they continue their pursuit of the Premier League title.
The disallowed goal highlights how small mistakes can shape a team’s season, emphasizing the need for concentration and tactical awareness in such a competitive league.
