William Saliba’s goal in the second half, resulting from a corner taken by Declan Rice, secured a draw for Arsenal in a challenging London derby marked by wet weather conditions.
The defender found the back of the net by converting a header from Kai Havertz early in the second half, equalizing the game after Arsenal had gone behind at halftime. Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead with their only shot on goal during the first 45 minutes.
Despite a strong start, where Arsenal dominated possession and created several corners, Fulham took the lead unexpectedly. On their first attack, Kenny Tete set up Jimenez, who skillfully navigated past Jakub Kiwior to score with a well-placed shot past goalkeeper David Raya.
After conceding, Arsenal continued to control the game but struggled to break down Fulham’s deep defensive setup. Bernd Leno, a former Arsenal goalkeeper, made crucial saves, including defending against attempts from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
As rain poured down in the second half, Arsenal raised their urgency and managed to score following a series of set pieces. Declan Rice’s corner was met by Havertz, and Saliba was on hand to finish, confirming the goal after a VAR review showed he was onside.
In the closing moments, Arsenal had further opportunities but faced continued frustration from VAR decisions, including a disallowed goal for Bukayo Saka due to a narrow offside.
The draw leaves Arsenal six points behind second-placed Liverpool, with upcoming matches against AS Monaco in the Champions League and a Premier League clash against Everton next weekend.
In summary, while Arsenal might have hoped for victory, the resilience shown after falling behind is commendable and leaves fans looking forward to the next challenges in both domestic and European competitions. The team’s ability to create opportunities and remain competitive is a positive sign as they aim to climb up the league table.