Fulham 1-1 Arsenal – Visitors denied late Bukayo Saka winner by VAR in Premier League draw at Craven Cottage

Bukayo Saka was denied a late winner as Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a blow in a 1-1 draw with London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The home side moved ahead with their only real attack of the first half when Raul Jimenez slammed home on 11 minutes from a Kenny Tete pass to earn an unlikely lead at half-time.

Arsenal were the dominant force for most of the match and equalised via William Saliba’s close-range finish on 52 minutes from a corner routine, but could not find the winner with Saka seeing his 88th-minute header ruled out by VAR after sub Gabriel Martinelli was deemed to be offside before delivering the cross for the England winger to convert.

While it is difficult to begrudge Marco Silva’s robust Fulham side a point for a performance high on team spirit and all-round resoluteness, they could not have complained if the VAR call for Saka’s late winner had gone against them.

Indeed, sometimes you have to question how VAR is used with Martinelli gaining no useful advantage when he picked up the ball out wide.

The Brazilian forward actually cut back towards his own goal before turning to stand up the cross for Saka to head home on the blind side of Antonee Robinson with minutes remaining.

Replays showed the desperately fine margins of good fortune in football since VAR was introduced to make the final call.

If Arsenal lose the title by two points, they can look back at this day with some bemusement.

Looked like the only player in the visiting side who had the pace and creativity to unlock a stubborn Fulham defence. And would have if not for that late VAR call.

Fulham: Leno 7, Tete 7, Diop 7, Bassey 7, Robinson 7, Berge 7, Lukic 6, Adama 6, Smith Rowe 6, Iwobi 6, Jimenez 6 Subs: Pereira 6, Cuenca 6, Wilson 6, Muniz 6

Arsenal: Raya 6, Partey 6, Saliba 7, Kiwior 6, Timber 6, Odegaard 6, Jorginho 6, Rice 8, Saka 8, Havertz 6, Trossard 6 Subs: Merino 6, Nwaneri 6, Martinelli 6, Jesus 6

11′ GOAL! (JIMENEZ) FULHAM 1-0 ARSENAL A goal against the run of play as the home side strike with their first real look at the Arsenal goal. Kenny Tete with the supply work and Raul Jimenez with a fine finish low and hard into the corner of the net.

37′ LENO TO THE RESCUE FOR FULHAM Bukayo Saka this time manages to get a shot away from the edge of the box, but Bernd Leno cuts an assured figure for the home team to make the stop. Fine stop.

52′ GOAL! FULHAM 1-1 ARSENAL (SALIBA) The visiting fans are loving that moment as Rice goes deep to the back post with a corner. Havertz heads back across goal and Saliba knocks it home. VAR team are checking the replay.

88′ GOAL! FULHAM 1-2 ARSENAL (SAKA) And there is the winner surely! Saka with the close-range header in the final two minutes in front of the visiting fans. Martinelli with the cross to the back post. Over head of Robinson and Saka arrives on blind side to nod home.

89′ THE GOAL HAS BEEN DISALLOWED! Martinelli deemed to be offside in the build-up to the goal. That is so harsh for Arsenal.