William Saliba salvaged a point for his team with a second-half goal during a challenging London derby affected by poor weather conditions. The goal came from a set piece orchestrated by Declan Rice, as Saliba reacted swiftly to convert a header from Kai Havertz at the back post early in the second half.
The match began with the Gunners dominating possession, but it was Fulham who struck first. Raul Jimenez capitalized on their initial attack, finishing neatly into the bottom corner after beating a defender. Despite the setback at halftime, Arsenal continued to control the ball, but struggled to break down Fulham’s sturdy defense.
The hosts, with former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno in goal, stood firm against several attempts, including efforts from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, with Leno making crucial saves. Fulham’s defensive strategy of sitting deep and counter-attacking kept Arsenal on their toes.
In the second half, as the rain poured, the Gunners increased their attacking urgency. A key moment came when Rice’s corner led to Saliba’s equalizer, which survived a VAR check for offside. The match opened up in the final minutes, with both teams pressing for a winner. Arsenal had two significant chances to clinch the victory, yet a disallowed goal from Saka due to a marginal offside decision left them frustrated.
With the draw, Arsenal stands six points behind Liverpool, who occupy second place in the league, creating an interesting context as the team prepares for upcoming fixtures.
Next on the agenda is a Champions League clash against AS Monaco at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League match against Everton on Saturday. This presents an excellent opportunity for the team to regroup and showcase their resilience in the face of disappointment from this derby.
This match illustrates the team’s determination and fight, ensuring that fans remain hopeful for future victories as they aim to close the gap on the league leaders.