Arsenal failed to make any major inroads into Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League following a 1-1 draw at Fulham this afternoon.
The Gunners thought they had won it late on only for Bukayo Saka’s goal to be ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up to Gabriel Martinelli.
Saka puts the ball into the net but Arsenal’s celebrations are cut short after a VAR review shows Martinelli was offside! ❌ pic.twitter.com/fZUSp3UAHu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 8, 2024
Raul Jimenez had earlier put the hosts ahead, firing past David Raya from a tight angle, only for Arsenal to score from a corner for the fourth successive game six minutes into the second half.
Kai Havertz knocked down Declan Rice’s delivery and William Saliba was on hand to push the ball over the line.
Despite yesterday’s Merseyside derby being postponed due to Storm Darragh, it was a good weekend for Liverpool with Arsenal and Manchester City drawing.
Arsenal sit six points behind Arne Slott’s side with City a further two points adrift.
Odegard disappointed
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard told Sky Sports: “We dominated most of the game. The first half was not great. We were a bit sloppy and lacked energy and strength. The second half was much better. It’s disappointing not to win. We were close to the end with the goal.
“They are a good team. They know how to defend themselves. A solid block. We didn’t do enough today. We have to learn from it and get straight back for the next one.
“We have to focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams (in the title race).
“We did a lot of good things. We need to do more and put the ball in the box more often. Maybe it’s a little more direct and aggressive. We could have won it in the end.
“The road is very long. We’ve said hundreds of times that we have to go game by game.”
Vardy inspires Leicester comeback
Brighton missed the chance to go fifth after a late collapse at Leicester.
The Seagulls led 2-0 and looked in control thanks to goals from Tariq Lamptey and Yankuba Minteh, but Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men hit back with two tries in the last five minutes.
First, Jamie Vardy converted James Justin’s cross to halve the deficit, before the former England striker then slipped a cross past Bobby De Cordova-Reid to equalise.
It’s not over until it’s over 💙 pic.twitter.com/pPYdd55doh
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 8, 2024
Slow heart for Ipswich
Bournemouth also staged a late escape to secure a 2-1 win at Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys looked set to claim their first home win of the season – and first since 2002 – after taking an 87th-minute lead thanks to Conor Chaplin’s first-half strike.
But Enes Unal equalized before Dango Ouattara scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola told the BBC: “We certainly didn’t deserve to lose, we had big chances but we just didn’t take them, especially in the first half. Even in the second half we had momentum from the start. You start to think it’s not your day, but luckily we got it in the end.”
The win moved Bournemouth up to eighth, while Ipswich remain 18th.
