Fulham 1 Arsenal 1: Bukayo Saka’s late winner ruled out for offside as Gunners drop more points in Prem title race

ARSENAL'S title challenge suffered a huge blow at Fulham - after being hit with a heartbreaking VAR call.

Bukayo Saka thought he has bagged a precious three points to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League in the 88th minute.

But VAR found Gabriel Martinelli had drifted INCHES offside before laying in his team-mate.

And with that huge sighs of relief will have been sounded in the North West.

The new go-to chant for Arsenal fans of "set piece again, Ole Ole", was bellowed once more in the away end at Craven Cottage – William Saliba’s 52^nd minute tap-in providing further clout for their ‘corner kings’ label in the Prem.

On this occasion however, it was not enough for the win – more points dropped in this intriguing and unpredictable title race just when the Gunners were beginning to build some momentum.

Saliba’s second goal in two games – after another corner finish in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in mid-week – cancelled out an 11^th minute strike from Raul Jimenez.

It was a struggling away-day performance from Arsenal, almost saved by Saka only for VAR to heartbreakingly spot the offside.

A run of four victories on the spin in all competitions has been halted. Six points off leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand after their Merseyside derby postponement.

Even boss Mikel Arteta must now concede that the Reds are hot favourites. This is their title to throw away, especially with Manchester City floundering and Chelsea still an unknown prospect.

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They top the set-piece charts – now 23 goals from corners since the start of the 2022/23 campaign and seven this term – but Arsenal are still lacking that extra edge needed to get over the line when it matters most.

Arteta says he wants his boys to be the ‘kings of everything’. They are still some way from achieving that.

As for Fulham, they are now unbeaten in their last nine London derbies and can start to dream of qualifying for Europe next year. What a job Marco Silva is doing in West London.

Jimenez was one of four changes made by the Portuguese coach having been dropped for the 3-1 win over Brighton here in mid-week.

Arteta also shuffled his pack, but not by choice. Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori were absent once more with Oleksandr Zinchenko also dropping out with a knock.

Not for the first time this term, Arsenal’s back four as a result was makeshift. Thomas Partey slotted in at right-back yet again with Jakub Kiwior continuing at centre back alongside William Saliba.

Yet the visitors were riding high from their recent set-piece masterclass to beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates – and got their first corner inside the first three minutes.

The away end sung their set-piece chant, only to watch their dead-ball specialists struggle to produce more golden moments inside the first 45 minutes.

Fulham, unlike United, had done their homework and were prepared, sacrificing three players to stand on the front post as blockers while Adama Traore man-marked a roaming Saliba.

And perhaps the weather from storm Darragh was playing its part, something Arteta claimed pre-match would take some adapting to.

But given Arsenal’s control early on, there was no panic from the bench – that was until Jimenez was put in behind on a rare Fulham foray forward.

Poland international Kiwior was starting successive Prem games at centre back for the first time since May 2023, and has previous at this ground – hauled off at half-time in this fixture 12 months ago in a damaging 2-1 defeat.

And he was at fault again, allowing Mexican big-man Jimenez to chest down a long ball from Leno with little challenge before letting him spin in behind from an unspectacular pass from Tete.

The finish was brilliant, however, with one touch to settle himself and another to fire across a helpless David Raya into the far side-netting for his first goal in seven outings.

In the miserable wind and rain engulfing the Cottage, Arsenal’s initial composure was gone. Their game turned ragged as they tried to orchestrate a comeback.

Partey drove forward and lost possession, giving Traore a chance to nearly sneak Jimenez in again for but a fine recovery tackle by Saliba.

They were soon back in their dominant groove. A Bukayo Saka cross almost found the head of Kai Havertz but for Calvin Bassey’s timely interception.

Leandro Trossard then turned provider, putting balls on a plate for Saka and Declan Rice. The former scuffed his high into the stands, the latter volleyed his just wide.

Fulham appeared content to dig in and hang on as half time approached with Bernd Leno rarely being called into action and their defensive block was doing its job to stifle and frustrate.

Seven minutes into the second half, with the weather worsening, it was Silva’s turn to feel frustrated as at the fifth attempt, Arsenal’s corner routine came good.

Rice’s delivery was whipped and dangerous towards the back post. Havertz glanced it back into the six yard box and Saliba – left unmarked for the first time – prodded into an empty net.

The wild celebrations were briefly cut short by VAR. At first glance, the Frenchman looked to have strayed offside but for the bright white boot of Antonee Robinson keeping him on.

Saliba revelled in the chance for a second celebration, punching the air, while Arteta responded on the hour mark by bringing on Gabriel Martinelli for Trossard.

Arsenal were pummelling Fulham’s box with their one true love – crosses, corners and free-kicks. In the 69^th minute, Partey should have put his side ahead with a free header from a Rice pick-out.

The hosts then gave a little reminder of their strengths on the counter – Andreas Pereira storming away with a shot fired low at Raya’s legs.

It could have been so different in the final few minutes had Martinelli’s foot not been an inch offside before his dinked cross for Saka to slam home at the back post. VAR was the party pooper again.