In a dramatic draw at Fulham, Gabriel Martinelli’s costly offside moment denied Arsenal a victory. The Brazilian winger, who had been brought on as a substitute, was involved in a disallowed goal late in the game when his cross to Bukayo Saka was ruled offside. This incident led to harsh criticism from pundits and even frustration from his teammates, notably Paul Merson, who branded it “criminal” for Martinelli to be caught offside in such a critical situation.
Martinelli’s Crucial Mistake
With just two minutes left in the match, Martinelli was in a promising position to assist Saka for what could have been the winning goal. However, by stepping ahead of the last defender, he positioned himself offside. This error led to an immediate VAR review, and the goal was ruled out. Merson expressed his disbelief, stating that a player of Martinelli’s pace should have been more aware of his positioning.
Martinelli appeared to recognize the mistake immediately after, with his disappointed expression indicating that he knew he had let down his team. It’s now expected that manager Mikel Arteta may not take kindly to the mistake and could have a stern conversation with the young winger.
Frustration from Arsenal’s Players
Despite the mistake, Arsenal managed to fight back from an early goal down, thanks to Raul Jimenez’s opener for Fulham. Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, reflected on the frustration of not securing all three points, acknowledging that while Arsenal dominated the game, their lack of energy in the first half and missed chances in the second half cost them the win. Odegaard stressed the importance of learning from this draw and focusing on their next match to stay in the title race.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
With Liverpool leading the Premier League, Arsenal will need to improve their consistency to remain competitive. The Gunners have shown signs of promise but must sharpen their finishing and be more aggressive in future matches. Arteta’s response to Martinelli’s costly mistake will be a key moment for the young player’s development, as Arsenal pushes for the top of the table.
