Nketiah gives awful Arsenal an undeserved point

Arsenal are making a habit of shooting themselves in the foot. Just when you think that they’ve cracked it – they jump to show you that they are pretty much a work in progress. Whenever you expect them to dominate a match – they fold and make their fans wonder what in the world is their problem.

On Sunday they were exposed by relegation candidates Fulham and were lucky to escape with a point when they really needed all three.

EXCLUSIVE Arsenal Kenya banner at Emirates

Dani Ceballos thought he’d given the Gunners a lead just before the break but his goal was denied after VAR had spotted the slightest of offsides in the build-up. Three days after claiming an important and impressive win over Slavia in the Europa League – it looked like it was going to be one of those days in the Premier League.

Nigerian starlet Josh Maja blasted a perfect penalty into the roof of the net to give Fulham a deserved lead just before the hour mark.

Fulham have to be given credit for playing with great desire and discipline in their cross-city visit but, once again they couldn’t keep it up until the final whistle. Scott Parker’s side chances of staying clear of relegation are looking slimmer with each passing week. They looked like they’ll be getting a huge win at Emirates but were kicked in the teeth by a late equalizer.

But what can you say about Arsenal? They needed a win to stay in the running for European places but it’s looking likely that they won’t be able to secure participation in European competition in the next season – at least not by earning it via results in the domestic competition. The late goal didn’t do much to improve the impression left by Mikel Arteta and his team. They still dropped two points they desperately needed. And the way they played today – many would argue that they didn’t deserve to take anything from the match.

An injury-time leveller from Edward Nketiah stood despite being under a long VAR check and the final whistle came shortly as two disappointed-looking sets of players left the pitch with the same question: what is wrong with us?

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 32

Saturday

Newcastle - West Ham 3-2 (2-0)

/Joelington 41, Willock 83 - Diop 36(og), 73, Lingard 80(p)/

Southampton - Crystal Palace - postponed

Wolverhampton - Sheffield United 1-0 (0-0)

/Jose 59/

Sunday

Arsenal - Fulham 1-1 (0-0)

/Nketiah 90+7 - Maja 59 pen/

18.00 Manchester United - Burnley

Monday

22.00 Leeds United - Liverpool

Tuesday

22.00 Chelsea - Brighton & Hove Albion

Wednesday

22.00 Leicester City – WBA