Paul Merson has criticized Gabriel Martinelli for a costly mistake that saw Arsenal denied a last-minute winner in their 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.
The Gunners found themselves trailing early after Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead. William Saliba’s equalizer offered hope, but the game ended in disappointment when Bukayo Saka’s 89th-minute goal was ruled out by VAR. Martinelli was judged to be marginally offside in the build-up.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arsenal legend Paul Merson didn’t hold back: “Martinelli’s offside, but in footballing terms, that’s criminal. You’re looking along the line. With his pace, he doesn’t need to be on the edge, trying to nick a yard.”
Merson believes Mikel Arteta will address the lapse sternly. “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get a dressing-down. Even Martinelli knew it; you could see it on his face after. You just can’t make that mistake,” he added.
Reflecting on the result’s impact on Arsenal’s title chase, Merson said, “It’s two points dropped. Arsenal were finding form, and this was a chance to close the gap on Liverpool. Now, Liverpool have a game in hand, and it’s advantage to them. If Arsenal wants the title, they must win games like this at Craven Cottage.”
The Gunners now sit six points behind Liverpool in the Premier League standings. Their focus shifts to a midweek Champions League clash against Monaco, where they’ll look to bounce back.