Nick Ames has filed his match report, so I’ll leave you with that. You can even have your say on VAR BTL! Thanks for your company and emails, commiserations to our Fulham-supporting regulars. Bye.
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Fulham’s players look pretty crestfallen. Scott Parker smiles wryly, in a bugger-my-luck kind of way, then goes to chat with the referee. Seven minutes of added time did feel like a lot. That late Nketiah goal means that Fulham are six points off safety having played two games more than Burnley and Brighton. They need snookers.
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Full time: Arsenal 1-1 Fulham
Peep peep!
90+9 min Fulham can have no complaints about the goal, but they might want to know where seven minutes of added time came from.
GOAL GIVEN!
Holding was in an offside position, but I’m not sure he interfered with play.
VAR is checking for offside! I don’t think this will be ruled out.
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Saka’s corner from the left was headed on at the near post by the goalkeeper Ryan. It ran across the area to Ceballos, whose deflected shot was brilliantly saved at full stretch by Areola. But all he could do was push the ball towards Nketiah, who shinned it into the empty net from two yards.
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GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Fulham (Nketiah 90+7)
A shattering blow for Fulham.
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90+6 min Another corner to Arsenal, conceded needlessly by Decordova-Reid. Mat Ryan comes forward...
90+6 min Fulham are 90 seconds away from a massive victory.
90+5 min: Chance for Arsenal! Xhaka slides a penetrative pass inside the right-back to Saka. He controls the ball on the stretch and cuts it back to Nketiah, whose close-range shot is brilliantly blocked by Reed. Great defending.
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90+4 min Another corner to Arsenal. If Fulham concede now, it will shatter them. Ceballos swings the corner towards the far post, where Areola claims the ball confidently. He’s been very assured today.
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90+2 min When a left-wing cross is headed up in the air, Smith Rowe arrives beyond the far post and heads the ball back across the six-yard box. Robinson clears. Smith Rowe might have gone for goal there.
90+1 min There will be seven minutes of added time.
90 min: Good save from Areola! Nketiah lays the ball off to Martinelli in the D. He scurries to the left, away from a couple of defenders, and cracks a left-footed shot that is blocked at the near post by Areola. His positioning was excellent.
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88 min Saka, the one Arsenal attacker who has turned up, cuts infield from the right and floats a beautiful curling shot towards the top corner on the far side. It beats Areola, flying desperately across his line, and drifts just wide.
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87 min This has been a pretty wretched performance from Arsenal. They’ve been slightly better since going behind, but Areola has only had a couple of saves to make all games.
86 min “Apparently Fulham have never won away at Arsenal,” says Charles Antaki. “It’s losing that kind of record that really eats away at fans, seeing long-standing parts of their identity as a dominant club frittered away in such timid, powder-puff style.”
85 min Saka’s pass is miscontrolled by Nketiah on the edge of the area. That was half a chance, though he had very little margin for error with the touch.
84 min Fulham have brought on Joe Bryan for Cavaleiro, which means a switch to a back five.
83 min Areola takes the opportunity to waste a bit of time after being fouled.
82 min A wicked cross from Saka on the right is put behind by the stretching Andersen. That was brilliant defending because there were two Arsenal players behind him. Saka takes the corner and Areola punches clear.
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80 min Fulham are ten minutes away from their first ever win away to Arsenal.
79 min Saka floats a nice long pass towards Nketiah, who controls it on the run but lofts over the bar under pressure from Andersen. A half chance at best.
78 min Martinelli accidentally kicks Lemina up the trousers. I’m surprised he wasn’t booked for that.
77 min “I was touched by Gary Naylor’s O-level story,” says Ian Copestake, “and have duly reported him to the authorities.”
76 min Another Fulham substitution: Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces the goalscorer Maja.
75 min I didn’t give Areola enough credit for that save. Replays suggest he knew plenty about it - he instinctively flicked his left leg towards the ball to block it.
74 min “Yes, football is a cesspit,” says Phil Crockford. “But surely one thing that helps with the TMO being accepted is that we hear, in real time, the referee and the TMO discuss the incident, so we know exactly what is happening and why - that surely would help VAR.”
I’m not sure it would. I fear the minutiae of the discussion would be twisted to facilitate even more whinging and moaning.
73 min Arsenal have played with much greater urgency since going behind. Teams do that so often, as if it hadn’t occurred them to attack with intensity when it’s 0-0.
71 min: How did Arsenal not score there?! Martinelli went round Areola on the right of the area. The angle was too tight to shoot so he turned and lofted a cross towards Pepe at the far post. He was barely two yards out when he headed towards goal, but Areola had scampered back across his line and made a vital save with his left leg. I’m not sure how much he knew about it, not that he’ll care.
70 min Lacazette limps off to be replaced by Eddie Nketiah.
69 min Fulham bring on Harrison Reed for Ademola Lookman.
69 min Oh dear, I think Lacazette has done his hamstring. He pulled up and signalled to the bench immediately. That’s a big blow - not so much today, but with the Europa League semi-final imminent.
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68 min A double change for Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe and Thomas Partey replace Bellerin and Elneny.
67 min Martinelli’s cross is headed just wide by Bellerin at the far post. It wasn’t the most convincing header, in truth - he looked like a schoolkid heading the ball for the first time. I suspect Areola had it covered anyway.
67 min If Fulham win here, they’ll be four points behind Burnley and Brighton, albeit having played two games more. One of Burnley’s games in hand is at Old Trafford this afternoon.
66 min “It’s interesting that the use of the TMO in rugby union has not caused as much controversy as VAR even though decisions can take even longer,” says Richard Hirst. “Maybe it’s because everybody sees the replays on the big screen, and the final decision is the referee’s, not the men in suits.”
Surely the main reason is that there is much greater respect for authority, among players and supporters, and much less entitlement. Let’s be honest, football is a cesspit.
65 min Lacazette’s free-kick hits the wall.
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64 min Lacazette is fouled on the edge of the D, and he wants to take the free-kick himself. It was actually Decordova-Reid who was booked a few minutes ago, not Anguissa.
61 min Anguissa is booked for something or other.
For a second I thought he’d JaapStammed it, but it rippled the roof of the net and Fulham are half an hour away from their first ever victory away to Arsenal. Ever. Ever.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Fulham (Maja 59)
Josh Maja crashes the penalty high into the net!
PENALTY GIVEN! Yer man was onside, just, and the original decision will stand. What a chance this is for Fulham. Ademola Lookman will take it.
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Lemina anticipated the contact from Gabriel and started to jump. I think it was a foul; it certainly wasn’t a clear and obvious error. But there might also have been an offside in the build up. Oh what fun we have.
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PENALTY TO FULHAM! Gabriel makes a moronic challenge on Lemina, and Fulham have a penalty. It’s being checked by VAR.
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55 min Saka hits the outside of the near post with (I think) a mishit cross. Areola had it covered, so it wasn’t quite as exciting as it sounded.
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54 min Xhaka is going to continue.
53 min “Just to keep rubbing my point in,” says Mark Uribe, “the answer to Colum Farrelly is to make the offside rule that the attacker’s whole torso must be in front of the defender’s.”
Even if they score with the foot?
52 min Decordova-Reid slips and collides with Xhaka, leaving both men on the floor in pain. It looked like a clash of knees. Xhaka is really struggling.
50 min “How do they decide the exact micro-second that the ball was played?” says Andrew. “We always get shown the offside toenail, but the boot making the pass must be in contact with the ball for a certain amount of time. We never see that.”
It’s almost as if they rushed the whole thing through for the last World Cup without trialling it properly!
49 min Andersen clatters Xhaka and is booked.
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47 min “Dump VAR and have two assistants at each end,” says Mick Shawyer. “Both agree and it’s easy. One flag up and one down they have a discussion. Referee has the final word.”
We’re stuck with VAR. If nothing else, it has changed the culture around accepting incorrect decisions too much for it to ever be put back in its box, so we need to find a way to make it be slightly less soul-destroying. I still think that, on offside, there should be a grey area, the equivalent of umpire’s call in cricket.
46 min A half chance from Lacazette, who drags a low shot wide from the edge of the D.
46 min Peep peep! Fulham begin the second half.
“Is there any way,” says Ian Copestake, “we can link VAR to both Brexit and racism?”
And the OCG. It’s all connected.
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“When I did my O Levels (bear with me) there were nine of them, most comprising two separate exams,” says Gary Naylor. “By the last couple, I was concentrating for ten minutes and staring out of the window for ten minutes - repeated for two hours. The brain had been pummelled enough and needed a break - I could do the stuff, but I also couldn’t do the stuff, not then anyway. That’s how too many teams are playing now.”
At least they’ll get a nice long break this su-oh.
“Spurs supporter here just adding to the VAR-is-daft contingent,” says Colum Farrelly. “A few millimetres out of line in a dynamic sport means nothing at all and cannot be a clear and obvious error. That was a decent goal.”
Saka gained no advantage at all having his big toe in front of the defender’s. I don’t know what the answer is, because it’s too late to put VAR back in its box, but it certainly isn’t this soul-crushing shambles.
Half time chitchat
“After these farcical decisions, I’m voting early with my feet and going out to walk the dog,” says Justin Kavanagh. “It’ll be more entertaining than watching these quantity surveyors in refs’ outfits playing with their computers. Enjoy the game.”
“Strange Arsenal line up today I thought,” says David Wagland. “Not a fan of Elneny and Ceballos as a midfield pairing. Soares or Bellerin should fill in a left back so Xhaka can play midfield if you want to rest Partey. Why is Ryan in goal if Leno is on the bench? Consistency has been a massive problem for us this season (a win today matches our longest winning streak this season of three) and I would like to have momentum coming into the Europa semi.”
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
Let us never speak of that first half again.
45+1 min Arsenal have another goal disallowed, though this one was more straightforward. Smith Rowe, in an offside position, missed a good chance just before Xhaka’s low cross hit Andersen and went into the net.
45 min There will be 48 years of added time.
44 min The game has been so crap that it’s easy to lose sight of how important this is for Fulham. The second half is their world entire; if they can pinch a win, with home games against Burnley and Newcastle to come, they will have renewed hope.
42 min “Look, Rob,” says Ian Copestake, “how many times have I got to tell you: Arsenal are a sophisticated team and the lack of energy and intent you perceive is ironic.”
‘Like ray-ay-ain on your wedding day’ ironic?
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NO GOAL! Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
Saka was offside by a whisker. Scott Parker hearts VAR again.
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Saka found Bellerin, whose deep cross was headed emphatically past Areola by Dani Ceballos. They’re checking the offside - it’s a matter of millimetres.
Hang on, I think Saka is offside in the build up.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham (Ceballos 40)
Glory be, a goal!
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39 min The odd thing about this first half is that both teams have pressed vigorously, but then as soon as they get the ball everything slows down.
38 min “One, being on the pitch after the game – whether there is a ruling against that I have no idea, but he had no right to be there. Two, dressed in the manner in which he was dressed. Three, the pictures in the national papers verify the aggression he was showing towards players and staff after the game.”
35 min The pace of the game is so slow. I suppose Fulham are playing the long game, but I’ve been surprised by Arsenal’s lack of energy and intent.
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34 min “In 20 years’ time, FIFA marketing types will have figured out a way to hold a one-minute vote on VAR offside calls,” says Justin Kavanagh. “Crowd-sourced refereeing: It won’t be fair; it won’t be football; but money talks.”
As if it’ll take 20 years.
32 min Not that Fulham will care if they get a mucky 1-0 win. And after a difficult start, they have had an even share of the game in the last 20 minutes or so.
31 min This is muck.
30 min Saka zips past Decordova-Reid and then falls over on the edge of the area. Craig Pawson gives a goalkick. I don’t think it was a foul and it was probably outside the area anyway.
27 min A classic this is not. Yet.
24 min “Is Scott Parker the worst dressed ‘well dressed’ manager in Premier League history?” asks Sean Orlowicz.
Come on now, show some respect.
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22 min At the other end, Smith Rowe thrashes over the bar from 22 yards. A decent effort.
22 min “Come on, then,” says Norrie Hernon. “Let’s fix VAR offsides. Any part is level is onside. This would both remove a lot of the fractional calls and restore a century-old cardinal rule that has somehow been lost in all of this: give the attacking team the advantage. With VAR I’d have something like tennis where each team has one or two chances to review. This would both restore agency to those on the pitch and, crucially, still ensure those egregious injustices didn’t occur.”
I like the principle of having one or two challenges – it works well in cricket – but I’m not sure you can do it in a game as unstructured as football. Who makes the decision? How do you stop somebody on the sideline cheating by looking at a replay?
21 min: Just wide from Maja! Fulham almost take the lead out of nothing. Decordova-Reid’s deflected long-range shot fell kindly for Maja, whose snapshot took another deflection and dribbled just past the near post. Ryan was wrongfooted and wouldn’t have saved it.
19 min Both teams are passing the ball far too slowly, and mostly in the middle third of the pitch.
15 min Fulham have had muych more of the ball in the last few minutes. I don’t know what else to tell you, because very little is happening the noo.
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11 min Good pressing from Fulham, with Lemina stealing the ball just outside the Arsenal area and giving it to Lookman on the left. He wriggles through a couple of challenges but then overruns the ball.
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10 min This looks a bit ominous for Fulham, who have spent the first 10 minutes chasing leather.
7 min: Good save from Areola! Smith Rowe broke into the area from the right, got to the byline and cut the ball back towards the near post. Martinelli, running away from goal, screwed a shot on the turn that was pushed away to his left by the diving Areola.
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4 min Arsenal have made a confident, relaxed start. Fulham haven’t really got into the game yet.
1 min: Arsenal almost score after 30 seconds! Lacazette, 25 yards out, lobbed a lovely short pass over the defence towards Martinelli. He flicked it past Areola and just wide of the far post. He might have been offside, but we’ll never know because he didn’t score so the VAR geometry department weren’t called into action.
1 min Peep peep! Arsenal kick off from left to right.
It’s a gorgeous, sunny afternoon in north London. The players on both sides have gathered round the centre circle to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.
“Hi Rob,” says Rick Harris. “While Charles Antaki is right to mention the Arsenal soap opera with a different plot line every week it seems, surely the imminent return of fans to stadiums begs the question ‘Will we see the return of Gunnersaurus?’”
I do hope so. He’s got a Covid passport and everything.
“Hi Rob,” says Richard Hirst. “Thanks to Charles Antaki for the consoling thought that we only have one thing to worry about, but for some strange reason I’d rather be in Arsenal’s position than ours!”
“Interesting piece on Arsenal being too reliant on Messers Saka and Smith-Rowe,” says Bill Hargreaves. “Of course this isn’t entirely desirable, but it might work in favour of the Woolwich yet, I think. As we know, the average age of the combat soldier in Vietnam was n-n-n-n-nineteen. This is because they have less perception of anxiety, and I suspect that Emile and Bukaya play with less fear than their colleagues. Now if this could take a little heat from the likes of Pepe and Laca, Partey and Ceballos, as well as putting the old farts to shame and thereby motivating them, then more power to their elbows. Mikel must be thinking to himself ‘It didn’t look as hard as this when Pep did it?’”
Inheriting Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Aguero probably helps. I doubt it’ll ever happen, but I’d love Guardiola to take over a limited squad. It’d be fascinating to see whether he could, for example, make a silk purse out of David Luiz and Granit Xhaka.
“This will hardly be any comfort to Fulham fans, but has any club this season been as prone to psychodrama as Arsenal?” says Charles Antaki. “Of course Fulham fans are worried about relegation, but at least that is a single, fixed, uncontentious issue they can all rally around. Whereas, barring two or three players, and not excluding the manager, the board, the goalkeeping coach and the mascot, Arsenal fans have had the great luxury of being able to worry themselves to death over pretty well anybody and anything they like.”
Pre-match reading
Team news
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Ryan; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Xhaka; Elneny, Ceballos; Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Pablo Mari, Partey, Willian, Pepe, Nelson, Nketiah.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Areola; Aina, Andersen, Tosin, Robinson; Lemina, Anguissa; Decordova-Reid, Cavaleiro, Lookman; Maja.
Substitutes: Fabri, Hector, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Loftus-Cheek, Reed, Onomah, Mitrovic.
Referee Craig Pawson.
Preamble
Hello. Most of the time, the teams fighting relegation see games against the Big Six as a free hit, with any points an unexpected bonus. Fulham have exhausted that luxury. They are seven points off safety with six games to go, so it’s now or never if they want to produce a bit of the old escapology. Fulham’s run-in includes trips to Arsenal today, then Chelsea and Manchester United. If they are to have a realistic chance of staying up, they need to win four of those six matches.
It’s not entirely beyond the realms. Fulham have done well in the tougher away games this season – they won at Liverpool, Leicester and Everton and drew at Spurs. And this isn’t the worst time to play Arsenal, who are going nowhere in the league and might still be high on their spectacular win in Prague on Thursday.
That’s the positive spin. The negative view is that, if Fulham don’t win today, their London derbies next season will be against Brentford and Millwall.
Kick off 1.30pm.
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