Arsenal couldn’t seal a comeback during their visit to Fulham, settling for a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. The result was disappointing for Mikel Arteta’s team, as their hopes of competing for the Premier League title took another hit. 

Raúl Jiménez’s goal and Arsenal’s frustration

The match tipped in Fulham’s favor early, thanks to a brilliant counterattack. A long ball found Raúl Jiménez, who struck a low shot past Spanish goalkeeper David Raya in the 11th minute. This was Jiménez’s first goal of the season, a crucial opener that showcased his precision and impact in high-stakes games.

Despite their early lead, Fulham shifted to a defensive stance, aiming to hold off Arsenal’s attempts to equalize. Clear chances from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka tested goalkeeper Bernd Leno, but neither found the back of the net before halftime.

Arsenal’s response and a controversial ending

The equalizer came early in the second half, in the 52nd minute, following a defensive error by Fulham. A corner taken by Declan Rice was headed by Kai Havertz, setting up William Saliba, who easily scored from close range. This goal boosted the visitors, who maintained dominance for the rest of the match but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.

The most controversial moment occurred in the 90th minute when Saka scored what seemed to be the winning goal for Arsenal, only for the VAR to rule it out due to an offside by Gabriel Martinelli. The match ended in a frustrating draw for the Gunners.

The result leaves Arsenal in second place, six points behind leaders Liverpool and only one point ahead of Chelsea, who could surpass them in the standings. Pressure mounts on Arteta’s side as they must secure consistent victories to stay in contention for the title.

The Gunners’ next challenge is a crucial Champions League home game against Monaco, where they’ll aim to regain confidence and pursue success in this demanding season.