FUMING FULHAM
Parker heartbroken as VAR allows 97th-minute leveller
SCOTT PARKER refuses to accept defeat in the fight against the drop but must detect fate is conspiring against Fulham. The visitors led after 90 minutes at Arsenal. They were still leading after 95 minutes, when Harrison Reed celebrated making a block on his own goal-line with his goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Then were so close to a historic victory, in fact, that the other keeper was up for a corner and the late twist developed and problems deepened for Parker when Mat Ryan managed to get his head on the ball. Ryan’s flick was collected by Dani Ceballos and his deflected drive was saved by Areola, who excelled throughout. The rebound was pounced upon by Eddie Nketiah, however, and he tucked away the equaliser at the back post.
There was another VAR check in a contest littered with them. This time it was because Rob Holding was offside as Ceballos took the shot which Areola parried. The officials ruled in Arsenal’s favour and Fulham fumed.
‘He’s two yards from my keeper,’ said Parker, exasperated. ‘He’s three yards from our goal-line. I know people will say he didn’t attempt to play the ball, but that’s an irrelevance.
‘My keeper needed to save it. He doesn’t know he’s offside. The players make these decisions in milliseconds. If he isn’t there, my keeper comes and collects the ball and because he’s there he can’t.
‘Maybe it’s the letter of the law but I’ve played football for a long time and deep down, I think it’s offside.’
Fulham conceded a similar goal against West Ham. ‘Exactly the same,’ said Parker. ‘In that case, my defender has to head the ball and the offside player gains an advantage. Have Arsenal gained an advantage by Holding being in an offside position? Definitely. I don’t know how you can say not so. As coaches, we will have to start standing players offside.’
Fulham, having threatened to mount a glorious escape, have taken one point from their last five games. They have won admirers and yet they lurk six points from safety with only five to play, starting on Saturday with a daunting derby fixture at Chelsea.
They really needed to win at
Arsenal for the first time ever and can never have been closer, but the penalty scored by Josh Maja in the 59th minute was their only effort on target.
The home team spluttered after European exertions but were probably the better team, and almost took the lead in the first minute when Gabriel Martinelli was released by Alexandre Lacazette only to shoot wide.
Fulham waited 20 minutes for any sight of Arsenal’s goal, where Ryan was making his first start since February as Bernd Leno took a breather, and then Maja almost scored with an effort that clipped Holding and spun wide.
Arsenal thought they had the lead when Ceballos was denied his first Premier League goal by a tight offside call, spotted by the VAR, five minutes before half-time. Martinelli’s cross from the left was flicked on by Lacazette and collected by Bukayo Saka, who turned and passed to Hector Bellerin on the right. Bellerin lifted the ball towards the back post where Ceballos sprang to head past Areola. The video replays spotted the toe end of one of Saka’s boots had been a couple of centimetres offside and referee Craig Pawson ruled out the goal. Arteta’s side had the ball in the net again before the interval, this time an own goal deflected in at the near post from another Martinelli cross and ruled out for offside against Emile Smith Rowe, who burst through the Fulham back four and ought to have scored himself. This offside offence was more obvious and spotted by the assistant referee. Lacazette fired wide and Saka slammed a cross against the outside of a post as the second half began in a disjointed style.
Players exaggerated contact and Arteta (left) sniped unhappily at the officials, even before referee Pawson called a penalty against centre half Gabriel.
The Brazilian cut out a pass intended for Ola Aina but was beaten to the loose ball by Mario Lemina. There was not a lot of contact. Gabriel tried to pull out of the tackle but seemed to catch Lemina’s toe. The Fulham midfielder launched himself across the turf and Pawson pointed to the spot. The VAR cleared a possible offside against Aina and Maja scored.
Arsenal lost Lacazette to injury but summoned a strong finish. Bellerin headed wide, and Areola made fabulous saves to frustrate Nicolas Pepe and Martinelli, before Nketiah broke Fulham hearts.
They lost a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers in stoppage time on their previous outing. This time three became one.
‘There’s still football to be played,’ said Parker. ‘We’ve shown we can win games. We’ll put the gloves back on and keep fighting.’
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ryan 6; Bellerin 6 (Pepe 68min, 6.5), Holding 6, Gabriel 6, Xhaka 5.5; Elneny 6 (Partey 68, 6), Ceballos 6; Saka 7, Smith Rowe 6.5, Martinelli 7; Lacazette 6.5 (Nketiah 70, 6.5). Subs not used: Leno, Willian, Soares, Chambers, Mari, Nelson. Scorer: Nketiah 90+7. Manager: Mikel Arteta 6. FULHAM (4-4-2): AREOLA 7.5; Aina 6, Andersen 7, Adarabioyo 6.5, Robinson 6; Decordova-Reid 6, Anguissa 6.5, Lemina 6, Lookman 6 (Reed 69, 6.5); Cavaleiro 6 (Bryan 84), Maja 6.5 (Loftus-Cheek 77). Subs not used: Fabri, Hector, Odoi, Mitrovic, Ream, Onomah. Scorer: Maja 59 (pen). Booked: Andersen, Anguissa, Decordova-Reid. Manager: Scott Parker 6. Referee: Craig Pawson 5.