William Saliba’s second-half goal from another Declan Rice corner secured a point in a wet and windy London derby.
The defender was in the correct spot to convert Kai Havertz’s far post header early in the second half.
We trailed at halftime, but Raul Jimenez scored the hosts’ only goal in the first 45 minutes.
Bukayo Saka had the ball in the net late on, heading in a deep Martinelli cross, but it was ruled offside after a VAR review.
Fulham Fire First
We had a lot of the ball in the early stages, forcing a few of corners and driving the hosts back. They had barely left their own half in the first ten minutes.
Fulham, however, scored on their first attack. They transitioned from defense to offense in an instant. Kenny Tete released Jimenez on the right, and the Mexican raced past Jakub Kiwior into the box, finishing well into the bottom corner beyond the diving David Raya.
We picked off where we left off before conceding, maintaining the majority of possession but failing to break through.
Bernd Leno, one of Fulham’s three ex-Gunners, coped effectively with an inswinging Bukayo Saka corner before Declan Rice scrambled him with a first-time shot from Leandro Trossard’s searching pass from deep. His left-footed shot went wide.
Trossard also created our next chance. His cross found Saka at the far post, but the Englishman’s effort was well off target.
Set piece again.
Fulham were content to sit deep, give us the ball, and frustrate our build-up play. With their quickness up front, they were always a threat on the counterattack.
As the rain continued to fall in the second half, we tried to increase the urgency. Declan Rice whipped in an attractive free kick that Thomas Partey failed to connect with in front of the goal. We did, however, win a corner and, for the third time in a week, it resulted in a goal.
Kai Havertz’s header met Rice’s deep pass at the far post, and Saliba was in the proper place to finish it.
The goal stood following a VAR assessment for offside against the Frenchman, who was only onside. It’s game on.
Late Chances
Another great Rice corner found Partey at the far post, but he shot wide when well positioned.
The game began to open up. Fulham attempted another counterattack, but Raya saved Andres Pereira’s low strike with his legs.
Mikel Arteta brought in Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, and Ethan Nwaneri to provide some energy in the second half.
Leno saved Rice’s long-range attempt before Saka scored at the far post from a Martinelli cross. The goal was initially given, but was later overturned by VAR because the Brazilian was slightly offside in the buildup.
The draw puts us six points behind Liverpool, who are second in the table, at least until Sunday’s late game.
What’s next?
On Wednesday, we return to Champions League action, welcoming AS Monaco to Emirates Stadium for matchday six of the league phase. The Premier League calendar returns next Saturday at home against Everton.
