William Saliba’s second-half goal, from another Declan Rice corner, earned us a draw in a wet and windy London derby.
The defender was in the right place to turn in Kai Havertz’s far post header early in the second half. We had trailed at half-time, Raul Jimenez fired the hosts ahead with their only attempt on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Bukayo Saka had the ball in the net late on, heading in a deep Martinelli cross, but it was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.
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Highlights: Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
Fulham fire first
We saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges, forcing a couple of corners and pushing the hosts back. They had barely left their own half in the first ten minutes.
But with their first attack, Fulham opened the scoring. They went from defence to attack in an instant. Kenny Tete released Jimenez on the right, the Mexican burst past Jakub Kiwior into the box and finished well into the bottom corner beyond the diving David Raya.
We picked up from where we were before conceding, continuing to enjoy most of the possession, but without cutting through.
Bernd Leno – one of three ex-Gunners in the Fulham team – dealt well with an inswinging Bukayo Saka corner before Declan Rice had him scrambling with a first-time shot from Leandro Trossard’s searching pass from deep. His left-footed effort rolled wide.
Trossard created our next chance too. His cross found Saka at the far post, but the England man miscued his volley well off target.
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The best photos from our trip to Fulham
Set piece again
Fulham seemed happy to sit in deep, let us have the ball and frustrate our build-up play. With their pace up front, they always retained a threat on the counter as well.
As the rain continued to fall in the second half, we tried to pick up the urgency. Declan Rice swung in an inviting free-kick that Thomas Partey just couldn’t connect with in front of goal. We won a corner from it though, and for the third time in a week it led to a goal.
Rice’s deep delivery was met at the far post by Kai Havertz’s header, and Saliba was in the right place to prod it home.
The goal stood after a VAR check for offside against the Frenchman, but he was just onside. Game on.
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Watch a full match replay of our Fulham match
Late chances
Another excellent Rice corner picked out Partey at the far post, but he headed wide when well placed.
The game started to open up. Fulham launched another counter, but Raya saved Andres Pereira’s low shot with his legs.
Mikel Arteta sent on Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri for some fresh energy in the second half.
Rice had a long-range shot saved by Leno before Saka had the ball in the net at the far post from a Martinelli cross. The goal was initially awarded, but then overruled by VAR – the Brazilian was marginally offside in the build-up.
The draw takes us six points behind Liverpool, second in the table, at least until the late Sunday game.
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Arteta on ‘emotionally tough’ draw at Fulham
FACTS AND STATS
Fulham are unbeaten in their last nine London derbies in league competition (W4 D5), their longest run since September 2001 (9).
We haven’t won any of our last three Premier League games against Fulham (D2 L1), our longest winless run against them in the top-flight since November 2012 (4). The Cottagers are the only side we haven’t won against in the division since the start of last season.
Since winning 10 of their first 11 Premier League away games in 2024 (D1), we have only won one of our last six league matches on the road (D3 L2).
Fulham scored the opening goal with their first shot, and only attempted one more shot during the rest of the game (2). Only against Manchester City (1 in May 2024) have they had fewer in a Premier League home match on record (since 2003/04).
We have scored 15 goals from corners in the Premier League in 2024, our joint-most in a calendar year in the competition (also 15 in 2023). Indeed, our 20 goals from set pieces overall (excluding penalties) are also our joint-most in a single year in the Premier League (also 20 in 2009).
Since the start of the 2022/23 season, the only defender to have scored more goals from set pieces than William Saliba (6) in the Premier League is Gabriel (10).
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Odegaard: ‘We had the big moments’
What’s next
It’s back to Champions League action on Wednesday, when we welcome AS Monaco to Emirates Stadium on matchday six of the league phase. The Premier League schedule resumes next weekend at home to Everton, on Saturday.
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