Paul Merson criticizes Arsenal player following draw with Fulham

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has criticized Gabriel Martinelli following the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Arsenal initially fell behind but managed to equalize through William Saliba in the second half. Late drama ensued when Bukayo Saka appeared to score a winning goal in the 89th minute, only for VAR to rule it out due to Martinelli being narrowly offside in the buildup.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson expressed disappointment with Martinelli’s positioning. “He’s offside, but in footballing terms, that’s criminal from Martinelli,” Merson remarked. “He’s got pace, he’s electric—he doesn’t need to play on the edge like that. Looking along the line, it’s a basic thing to ensure you’re not offside.”

Merson suggested Martinelli would likely receive a dressing down from manager Mikel Arteta. “You could see it on his face afterward—he knows he made a mistake. You can’t afford that kind of error.”

Reflecting on the title race implications, Merson was critical of the dropped points. “It’s a poor result, two points dropped at a crucial time. Arsenal need to win at places like Craven Cottage if they’re serious about the title. Liverpool now have a game in hand and a six-point lead—that’s a big advantage.”

Arsenal must quickly shift focus to their Champions League clash against Monaco on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League encounter with Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.