Mon Dec 09 02:36:27 UTC 2024: ## Arsenal’s Late Goal Ruled Out as Fulham Hold Gunners to 1-1 Draw
**London, England** – Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool were dashed on Sunday after a late VAR decision denied them victory in a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead in the 11th minute with a composed finish following a swift counter-attack. Arsenal responded after the break, William Saliba equalizing in the 52nd minute with a tap-in from a Kai Havertz header. Late drama ensued when Bukayo Saka appeared to have scored a winner in the 88th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to Gabriel Martinelli being offside in the build-up.
The result leaves Arsenal third in the table, six points behind Liverpool (who have a game in hand) and two points behind Chelsea. Fulham, meanwhile, remain in contention for a top-six finish, extending their unbeaten run in London derbies to nine matches.
Arsenal dominated possession and created numerous chances, particularly from set-pieces, but Fulham’s resolute defense and Jimenez’s clinical finishing proved a difficult hurdle to overcome. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment, highlighting his team’s dominance despite the draw. Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his team’s commitment and defensive resilience. The match also saw noteworthy individual performances, including Jimenez’s fifth league goal of the season and Saliba’s continued scoring prowess from set-pieces.
First Piper 