Arsenal legend Paul Merson has not held back in his criticism of Gabriel Martinelli following Arsenal’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. The former Gunners midfielder has singled out the Brazilian winger for his role in the disallowed goal late in the match, which could have secured three crucial points for Mikel Arteta’s side.
In the dying moments of the game, Bukayo Saka thought he had won it for Arsenal with a well-taken header from Martinelli’s cross. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside. Replays showed Martinelli had mistimed his movement and was in an offside position before delivering the cross, nullifying what would have been a dramatic winner.
Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, described Martinelli’s error as a major lapse in concentration, one that cost Arsenal the chance to move closer to Premier League leaders Liverpool. “In football terms, it’s criminal what Martinelli has done,” Merson said. “You CANNOT be offside. I’d be surprised if he’s not on the end of one in the dressing room by the manager. You can’t be offside when you look along that line.”
The offside incident epitomized the fine margins that often define games at the highest level. Arsenal dominated much of the match, generating 1.93 expected goals (xG) compared to Fulham’s 0.14. Despite William Saliba’s equalizer early in the second half, the Gunners were unable to capitalize on their control and turn their dominance into a victory.
Martinelli, who was introduced as a substitute, had the opportunity to make a decisive impact. Instead, his failure to stay onside during a crucial moment added to the growing frustration for Arsenal fans.
Despite the setback, Arsenal remains in a strong position in the Premier League, sitting third with 29 points from 15 games. However, their failure to secure maximum points against Fulham highlights the need for improvement in key areas, including game management and composure under pressure.
As Arsenal prepares for their upcoming Champions League clash against Monaco, Arteta will undoubtedly look to address the lapses that led to the draw at Craven Cottage. While Martinelli’s mistake may have been costly, the Gunners will need to rally as a team to bounce back and ensure such errors do not derail their promising campaign.