SET pieces were key AGAIN, but Arsenal lost ground in the title chase after rallying from down to draw 1-1 at Fulham.

Bukayo Saka believed he had won it at the death, but Arsenal squandered the opportunity to reduce the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Bukayo Saka believed he had won it at the death for Arsenal, but his header was ruled out.

Other corner, another goal as William Saliba equalised early into the second half

Fulham took an early lead in the match, going 1-0 up after capitalizing on a loose ball during a quick counterattack. Arsenal thought they had equalized when Bukayo Saka found the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short after a VAR check revealed that Gabriel Martinelli was offside in the buildup.

The victory would have narrowed the gap to four points behind Arne Slot’s team, who now have a game in hand following the postponement of their match against Everton due to dangerous weather conditions. Despite dominating the early exchanges, Arsenal found themselves trailing thanks to a remarkable run and finish from Raul Jimenez just minutes into the game.

Mikel Arteta faced boos at halftime, but unlike last year’s defeat at Craven Cottage, he opted not to make any substitutions at the break. The Gunners equalized shortly after halftime when William Saliba poked home from close range following a successful corner routine.

However, heartbreak struck in the 87th minute when Saka’s header at the back post was disallowed after Martinelli was ruled offside in the buildup.

Here are the player ratings from SunSport’s Katherine Walsh:

David Raya – 6: He couldn’t do much about the one-on-one with Jimenez and was rarely threatened afterward, except for a crucial save at his near post in the 71st minute to deny Andreas Pereira following a ball over the top from Sander Berge.

Here are the player ratings for Arsenal’s performance against Fulham:

David Raya – 6: Left vulnerable for Jimenez’s opener, he had little to do after that, except for a crucial save at his near post in the 71st minute.

Thomas Partey – 5: Starting as right-back, it quickly became evident how much the team missed his presence in midfield. He appeared disjointed and uncomfortable in his defensive duties against the explosive Adama Traore.

William Saliba – 6: Showed great positioning and tapped in the equalizer following a lengthy VAR check after a back-post header from Havertz. However, he couldn’t get back in time to stop Jimenez’s opener, raising questions about whether he could have done more.

Jakub Kiwior – 4: Had a challenging afternoon stepping in for Gabriel, highlighting why he is typically used only in emergencies. He was easily outmaneuvered by Raul Jimenez, who scored Fulham’s opener, and seemed unsure of his role during corner routines, appearing out of place throughout the match.

Continuing with the player ratings:

Raul Jimenez – 7: He expertly outmaneuvered Jakub Kiwior to score Fulham’s early opener, showcasing his skill and positioning.

Jurrien Timber – 5: Forced to shift to left-back, he was less effective compared to his usual role on the right side. He was quiet by his standards and was pulled narrow for Jimenez’s goal, which exposed the defense.

Martin Ødegaard (c) – 6: Struggled in the first half, limping off at halftime after a tough tackle from Sander Berge. He grew into the game as Fulham sat back, attempting to feed Saka with some intricate through balls, but nothing came to fruition. He was replaced by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri with 10 minutes remaining as Arsenal sought a winner.

Jorginho – 6: Did well to neutralize Emile Smith Rowe before the Fulham player was substituted. However, his wayward long balls frustrated Arteta in the first half.

Declan Rice – 6: Made some lovely runs between the center-backs to push forward and link well with Saka and Ødegaard. He helped cover the makeshift left side of Timber and Kiwior on several occasions and was a threat during corner routines. He received a booking for a professional foul in the closing moments of the match.

Declan Rice was everywhere against Fulham

Bukayo Saka – 7: Saka was a constant threat on the right flank, delivering great corners and crosses throughout the match. He thought he had won it for Arsenal with a back post header in the 87th minute, only for it to be ruled out due to an offside in the buildup.

As the game progressed, he adapted well despite being closely marked by Antonee Robinson and Calvin Bassey, dazzling them with an impressive run at one point. Saka’s presence was a persistent menace for the Fulham defense, leading to Robinson receiving a yellow card in the final five minutes for his attempts to contain him.

Kai Havertz – 6: Havertz struggled to assert himself in the first half, often outmuscled by Issa Diop and failing to test former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno during his 73 minutes on the pitch. However, he did play a crucial role in Arsenal’s equalizer, providing the header from Declan Rice’s corner that William Saliba prodded home. Aside from that moment, he had limited impact on the game.

Kai Havertz failed to threaten Fulham keeper Leno

Here are the player ratings for the remaining Arsenal substitutes:

Leandro Trossard – 5: Trossard displayed an unbelievable piece of skill to bamboozle former Gunner Alex Iwobi, but his stunning cross was unfortunately fumbled by Saka. He posed more of a threat in the second half but appeared disappointed when substituted for Gabriel Martinelli in the 60th minute.

Gabriel Jesus (’73 for Havertz) – 4: Jesus was indecisive during his time on the pitch, notably failing to capitalize on a ball from Rice that ultimately ended up in Leno’s hands.

Gabriel Martinelli (’60 for Trossard) – 6: Martinelli was caught offside in the buildup to Saka’s would-be winner in the 89th minute, but he worked better with Timber than Trossard had. His tricky feet earned him several fouls from Kenny Tete in the final 15 minutes. He delivered multiple good crosses from the left, although Leno was often quick to collect. He received a booking for dissent after expressing frustration over a throw-in decision.

Mikel Merino (’73 for Jorginho) – 5: Merino had a quiet performance and should have been booked for a tug on Pereira but managed to avoid a card.

Ethan Nwaneri (’78 for Ødegaard) – 6: Nwaneri made brave runs during his 15-minute cameo, demonstrating that Arteta clearly trusts the teenager to make an impact.