Fulham overcome red card, blown lead to draw Arsenal at the Emirates

Marco Silva is very, very unhappy with officials after Fulham had a man sent off for the second-straight week.

“All the circumstances after the bad result last week and knowing we had to show reaction and we did it as a group in terms of organization, resilience, commitment, attitude, and ambition, too.”

“Second game in a row that we played a long time with 10 men. And if you see the yellow cards that we received. Last week was a clear mistake, penalty for Brentford. Today the first yellow card to Calvin, the yellow card is a joke. Of course we understand, not news but new circumstances are taking all the emotion from the game because it’s going to protect the big clubs because you have to stay consistent in the decisions.”

“See one of the first throw-ins for Partey, on my side. He took much more time than Calvin, but not a yellow card. Why? Because they are losing the game? You are not going to see consistency. And it’s going to be not the big clubs that are going to suffer more.”

Mikel Arteta was succinct in his response to whether this 2-2 draw felt like a loss to his Arsenal.

“Sure, because when you see the way the team plays. The team deserves to win the game. It doesn’t matter if they score three or four, we score five, six, seven, or eight.”

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“All three substitutes changed the game. Fabio [Vieira] was involved in everything we created and I am really happy with that. To see players with the ability to make and take chances with quality. The same with Eddie [Nketiah]. It is my fault that Fabio has not played more and today he gave me reasons to play him more.

“We have to show another level of commitment and desire and ‘over my dead body’. With 10 men, you cannot concede a goal.” (BBC transcription)

Here’s more from Arteta:

Fulham can point to an eight-save day from ex-Arsenal man Bernd Leno, while Palhinha was already on his way to Man of the Match status before he scored the equalizer.

Finally back to starting health, Palhinha had 11 recoveries, five clearances, and two interceptions.

Bukayo Saka’s best game of the season helped in securing a point, as did Declan Rice’s work in the middle.

Arsenal vs Fulham player ratings (Fotmob.com)

Fulham is plucky but Mikel Arteta will know how poor this point looks in a title right.

Arsenal bossed this game — the xG was 3.25-0.53 — but all that and two mistakes give the Gunners a single point.

Manchester United is next for the Gunners and one of those two sides will leave the Emirates Stadium under a lot of pressure.

Fulham should be giddy at its two advantageous moments, and Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale might be looking over his shoulder at David Raya following a single-save day versus the Cottagers.

10-man Fulham is level!

Harrison Reed sweeps a corner kick into the mixer and Palhinha is right there to nod home.

Fulham has stunned the Emirates, and Arsenal is again in danger of losing its perfect record. There’s only a few minutes left.

Who knows if Palhinha, making his first start of the season, would still be a Cottager if he wasn’t injured at the Premier League Summer Series while his name was dancing through the transfer rumor mill.

Eddie Nketiah touches by Calvin Bassey and the Fulham man sets an NBA style pick on the Arsenal man.

That’s a second yellow card and Fulham is down a man and a goal at the Emirates Stadium with very little time left on the clock.

Oh, is it ever a day for Mikel Arteta and his subs?!

Vieira sends a perfect cross into the heart of the box and Eddie Nketiah, who would’ve felt he had earned another start, makes sure he makes it count.

Nketiah’s got Arsenal in front 2-1.

Script flipped, and Marco Silva is fuming. We’d say it could only be with his team, but we’ll have to wait to hear the unpredictable Silva’s thoughts.

Fabio Vieira is behind the line and Kenny Tete can only slide to take him out.

It’s a pen, and Bukayo Saka’s attempt from the spot is well taken.

1-1!

Mikel Arteta removed an ineffective Leandro Trossard for Eddie Nketiah at the break, and he’s making more moves now.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is into the game for Thomas Partey, while Fabio Vieira is taking the place of Kai Havertz.

The Gunners have 33 minutes to claim a point and then all three.

It’s a counter-attacking special from Fulham, who have taken six of the game’s 14 shots despite holding just 28% possession.

Marco Silva will thank Bukayo Saka and to a lesser extent Aaron Ramsdale for the help, because the gilded chance that became 1-0 to the Cottagers has really given this game an edge.

Bernd Leno has four saves at the other end and the ex-Arsenal man will relish the idea of beating his former mates.

Gabriel Martinelli slices and dices his way into shooting position, but his right-footed effort is saved by Bernd Leno.

The former Gunner is going to be a big part of this one, if the opening stages are any indication.

Fulham is still trying to attack with the lead, as expected, and Arsenal will find its chances.

Oh, Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka tries a back pas to Aaron Ramsdale from just inside his half. He’s a little under duress but not enough to make this mistake.

It’s Andreas Pereira on the ball as Ramsdale for a second thought he could get there but darts back toward goal. Wrong move. Pereira fires into the gaping cage.

Fulham, 1-0.

Mikel Arteta delivered some very good news to Arsenal fans on Friday, when he announced that striker Gabriel Jesus is “ready to go” for Saturday’s clash with Fulham. The Brazilian star missed the first two games of the Premier League season after undergoing knee surgery for an injury picked up in preseason.

USMNT star and Fulham captain Tim Ream is suspended after picking up a harsh looking red card in the defeat against Brentford.

Mexico’s Raul Jimenez has been tasked with replacing Mitrovic, for now, as Fulham look to bring in other options in attack.

In midfield Joao Palhinha came off the bench against Brentford last time out so it’s a relief to have him back and he should start this game.

Another former Wolves forward has also arrived, with Adama Traore a great option for Marco Silva to use on the break in this game.

The Gunners are without the duo of Gabriel Jesus and Jurrien Timber due to knee injuries.

Jesus went down just ahead of the season and should be back in the next month or so, while Timber will be out for most of this season after suffering an ACL injury on his Premier League debut.

Timber’s replacement, Takehiro Tomiyasu, is suspended for this game after his two yellows at Crystal Palace last time out. But Oleksandr Zinchenko should come back into the team at left back as he has now recovered from injury.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Folarin Balogun are both absent as Arsenal are hoping to move them on in the final week of the summer window, while Mohamed Elneny remains out after knee surgery.

Expect Arsenal to start with Eddie Nketiah up top again, with Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard and Havertz supporting him. It will be intriguing to see if Gabriel will come into the lineup at center back and Ben White moves back to right back or if Thomas Partey stays at right back.