Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s draw with Fulham (Photograph by Ryan Pierse/Getty Pictures)
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has closely criticised Gunners ahead Gabriel Martinelli for failing to remain onside as Bukayo Saka’s late aim at Craven Cottage was disallowed after a VAR evaluate.
Saka thought he’d bagged a late winner for the Gunners away to Fulham, however Martinelli had simply crept offside earlier than he crossed the ball to the England worldwide.
Talking on punditry obligation afterwards, Merson was removed from impressed with the Brazilian for his lack of intelligence at this key second.
Arsenal branded “AVERAGE” with out *this* participant!
Watch under as the previous Arsenal man hits out at Martinelli and suggests he’s going to be getting an earful from supervisor Mikel Arteta within the dressing room after the sport…
?? “In soccer phrases it is prison what Martinelli has performed”
Paul Merson shares his ideas on the disallowed Arsenal aim… pic.twitter.com/f8zq7O803g
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 8, 2024
Martinelli is a high-quality participant when he’s on his recreation, however he’s not had the perfect season for Arsenal, and followers will little doubt be pissed off by his actions right here.
The standard of Martinelli’s cross for Saka exhibits the nice facet of the 23-year-old’s recreation, however Merson is correct {that a} participant of his calibre ought to’ve been in a position to wait and maintain his run attributable to his good view of the Fulham again line.
Arsenal miss a giant alternative within the Premier League title race
Arsenal may have actually piled the stress onto Liverpool with a victory at Fulham immediately, getting to simply 4 factors behind the Premier League leaders.
Liverpool dropped factors with a 3-3 draw away to Newcastle in midweek, and their recreation in opposition to Everton this weekend needed to be postponed as a result of harmful stormy climate.
If Martinelli had simply held his run, it may have made all of the distinction, and high-quality margins like this may be what we glance again on on the finish of the season if we as soon as once more see first and second place separated by only a level or two.
Arsenal might want to guarantee they don’t undergo any extra slip-ups and hope that LFC have a poor run of their very own sooner or later, even when there’s not a lot signal of that occuring in the mean time.
