William Saliba’s second-half goal, following a corner from Declan Rice, salvaged a draw for Arsenal in a challenging London derby marked by poor weather conditions. The defender capitalized on Kai Havertz’s header to score early in the second half.
Arsenal found themselves trailing at halftime after Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead, capitalizing on their only shot in the first 45 minutes. Late in the game, Bukayo Saka appeared to have secured a win for Arsenal by scoring with a header from a deep cross by Gabriel Martinelli, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
The match began with Arsenal dominating possession and applying pressure on Fulham, forcing several corners in the initial minutes. However, it was Fulham who struck first on a rapid counter-attack. Kenny Tete played a crucial role in releasing Jimenez, who achieved a superb finish past goalkeeper David Raya.
Despite maintaining the bulk of possession after conceding, Arsenal struggled to break through Fulham’s solid defense. Fulham’s Bernd Leno, one of three former Arsenal players in the opposition, made key saves to deny attempts from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
In the second half, the relentless rain seemed to invigorate Arsenal’s urgency. After a series of attacking plays, a corner from Rice finally bore fruit when Havertz’s header found Saliba, who scored after ensuring he was onside, according to the VAR check.
As the match progressed, both sides had opportunities to score; however, it remained a tightly contested affair. Another standout moment came when Rice had a long-range attempt, and Saka’s eventual goal was again disallowed after VAR involvement, confirming Martinelli’s marginal offside.
This draw leaves Arsenal six points adrift of Liverpool, holding onto their third place in the table for now. Excitement builds as they prepare to face AS Monaco in the Champions League next week, followed by a match against Everton in the Premier League.
The resilience shown by Arsenal in securing the draw, even in tough conditions, is commendable and suggests that they have the tenacity to build upon this performance in their upcoming matches. As they navigate this challenging phase of the season, fans remain hopeful for a successful campaign ahead.