Mikel Arteta of Arsenal and Scott Parker of Fulham met on Sunday, April 18, for a Premier League game which ended 1-1. After the game, the two coaches had reasons to lament over the outcome of the match.
In the game which was played at Arsenal’s Emirate Stadium, Fulham took control in the 59th minute, thanks to the club’s Josh Maja who made no mistake from the spot-kick.
Afterward, Arsenal began to press for a goal which earned them 70 percent of the ball possession, 18 shots, and 5 shots on target. Despite such a dominant performance, Arsenal could not score any goal until in the 7th additional minute.
Mikel Arteta’s team earned a point in the dramatic match, thanks to a very late goal, Eddie Nketiah scored for the team. The goal forced the game to a 1-1 finish.
After the game, Scott Parker, Fulham manager whose team is on the verge of crashing out of the Premier League argued that the goal didn’t suppose to stand.
Records show that Arsenal’s defender Rob Holding was slightly offside when his teammate, Eddie Nketiah scored the goal. But the referee counted the goal to the dismay of Fulham’s coach.
The coach said: “That was a real painful one. “I don’t know how the goal stood. I don’t understand it. I am a little bit confused but we are all confused of late.
“We all scratch our heads a bit, people who have played the game for a long time. Whether he [Holding] attempts to go for the ball or not the ramifications of his position affect my goalkeeper.
“What is factual for us is we’ve come to another place and the difference between one point and three points is a decision with the last kick of the game.”
While the coach of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, recalled how Arsenal scored but was not allowed and insisted that Arsenal deserved to beat Fulham.
“We started really well, controlling the game and creating chances, scoring a goal that was disallowed, in a very disappointing way, we kept going and didn’t allow any shots on target and suddenly we concede a penalty and the game changes completely”, he told Sky Sports.
“We took risks in the right way, we could have scored three or four, we totally deserved to win the match but put ourselves in a difficult position.
“We have to just focus on the boys playing away in Europe and arriving here with the desire to go all the way to the 97th, 98th minute.”
💬 "In recent weeks, I've not played as much as I would've liked to. It's been disappointing but I always work hard and prepare well in training to make sure I'm ready."
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 18, 2021
📺 Hear from @EddieNketiah9 after #ARSFUL 👇
The 1-1 draw only helped Arsenal to remain on the 9th spot on the league with 46 points in 32 games. While the draw pushed Fulham closer to the end of their resign in the Premier League.
Sheffield United are already relegated. Two clubs from 17th placed Burnley, 18th placed Fulham and 19th placed West Brom could go on relegation before the end of the season.
