Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Fulham despite scoring from another corner as the Gunners missed the chance to reduce the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points.

For the second time in four days, Arsenal awarded a free kick just after half-time when William Saliba saved Kai Havertz’s header from a Declan Rice corner, leveling the game at 1-1 – the Gunners’ 23rd goal from a corner since the start of last season.

The Gunners were frustrated throughout at Craven Cottage, dominating the game and giving Fulham little – apart from Raul Jimenez’s opener after 11 minutes after the Mexican striker broke Jakub Kiwior’s cover and fired past David Raya.

Saliba’s goal survived a lengthy VAR check for offside – but technology denied Arsenal just before stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli ruled out Bukayo Saka’s late winner for an earlier offside call.

“(Liverpool head coach) Arne Slot’s heart would have been in his throat when he saw those last few minutes and the biggest VAR decision of the season so far,” he said Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp full-time.

“It was absolutely incredible, but Martinelli just had to stay offside.”

“What a weekend for Liverpool. Man City have lost points, Arsenal have lost points and they have put themselves in an even better position.”

Arsenal had a lot more chances to score more than just a goal at Craven Cottage – their best chances came from, you guessed it, corners. Saliba should have scored from Arsenal’s first shot of the game but his header went wide, while Thomas Partey missed a chance from another Rice corner.

The Gunners thought they had won after Martinelli’s cross was headed home by Saka, but the VAR recognized the former had left too early in the build-up.

“He’s offside, but from a footballing point of view it’s criminal on Martinelli’s part,” says Paul Merson. “You can’t be offside. You look at the line.”

“He’s got speed, he’s electric, so he’s not someone who’s trying to get a yard and make a play right at the rim. I would be surprised if he didn’t get a warning from the manager at the end of a minute in the dressing room because he even knows.

“You could see it on his face afterwards, he knows you can’t do something like that. Looking this way, there’s one thing: don’t be offside. It’s that simple.”

The draw – plus yesterday’s postponement of the Merseyside derby due to Storm Darragh – means Arsenal have reduced Liverpool’s game at the top to four points – but Mikel Arteta’s side will view this as a missed opportunity.

More to come…

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