Mikel Arteta has voiced his frustration and disbelief over VAR’s decision to disallow what could have been a winning goal for Fulham against Arsenal during their Premier League match on Sunday.
The Gunners were aiming to close the gap on Liverpool, whose game against Everton was postponed. However, the match ended in a draw, extending Arsenal’s winless run against Fulham to three games.
The West London clash presented a chance for Arsenal to reduce Liverpool’s lead to four points. Instead, the Gunners remain six points behind the league leaders, having played an extra game. Despite this, Arsenal still holds a slim two-point lead over last season’s champions, Manchester City.
Raul Jimenez gave Fulham an early lead, but Arsenal equalized through William Saliba after a tight offside call worked in their favor.
Late in the match, Bukayo Saka appeared to have scored the decisive goal, assisted by Gabriel Martinelli. However, the goal was ruled out due to Martinelli being offside, leaving Arteta visibly annoyed.
Post-match, Arteta expressed his disappointment with the disallowed goal and the fine margins that dictated the result.
Speaking to *Match of the Day*, he said, “Very disappointed not to win the game. We dominated from start to finish, following our plan perfectly.
Unfortunately, we conceded from their only shot, but the team’s performance and will to win were outstanding.”
He emphasized the frustrating nature of Premier League football, where small details can determine the outcome. “It’s frustrating that such fine margins decide games. That’s the toughest part to accept tonight,” he added.
Arteta also praised his team’s resilience after conceding early and their effort to push for a winner. “We equalized right away and kept fighting until the end. The players gave everything, but sadly, we didn’t get the result we deserved,” he said.
The Arsenal boss acknowledged the missed opportunity to capitalize on Liverpool’s inactivity, calling the draw a setback.
“We came here looking to build on our recent success. The performance was there, and the chances were clear, but football is all about fine margins,” he concluded.
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson also criticized Martinelli’s positioning during the lead-up to the disallowed goal. Speaking on *Sky Sports*, he said, “Martinelli was offside, and in football terms, that’s unacceptable.”
