At the end of the game, Martin Odegaard of Arsenal displays a defeated expression (PA).
Following Arsenal’s third home loss this season in the opening minutes against Fulham, Mikel Arteta insisted that it has not turned into a psychological problem for the team.
After the team’s shaky starts against Southampton and Bournemouth last season, Bukayo Saka’s careless pass allowed Andreas Pereira to score for the visitors after just 57 seconds in front of a stunned Emirates.
18 minutes from the end, Eddie Nketiah, a substitute, converted a cross from Fabio Vieira and beat Bernd Leno to give the home team a thrilling comeback victory.
When Vieira charged into the box after receiving a pass from Gabriel Martinelli, defender Kenny Tete was called for tripping him, and Saka converted the ensuing penalty to tie the score two minutes later.
Fulham’s hopes appeared to be lost after Calvin Bassey received a second yellow card for bringing down Nketiah close to the halfway line. However, in the 87th minute, Joao Palhinha found space inside the box and hooked Harrison Reed’s corner past Aaron Ramsdale.
Arteta bemoaned the fact that his team had given Fulham a point by allowing them to score two unimpressive goals, but he praised the way the players recovered their composure and attacked their opponents after yet another shaky start.
“The game becomes much more difficult when you make a mistake like we did in the first minute and give the opponent a goal,” said Arteta.
“The response after that, even the first half, the number of circumstances and opportunities we created, we didn’t give anything away. Despite having complete periods of control, we were unable to score.
“We changed a few things in the second half. Our relationships improved as the dynamic changed. (Nketiah and Vieira) I believe they had a significant impact. I admired the tenacity and assurance they brought to the group.
“After we go up 2-1, you must defend the box with your life. After everything we’ve done, you cannot give up a goal, as we ought to have scored five, six, or seven goals.
“We made a significant mistake here against Fulham last year, allowing (Aleksandar) Mitrovic to score. It is a component of football.
“I have not witnessed it (playing with the players’ minds).”. After watching how the team played, I don’t see that. In any other sport, you would triumph by a score difference of one hundred, but this is football.
“We drew, and we gave up two dreadful goals. When you give something (away) in the Premier League, you’re going to pay for it, and that’s what happened to us today.
“We were at least ten times better today than last season if I compare the game we played against Fulham this season and last season.
We significantly improved from the previous year.
In the final seconds of the previous season, we prevailed 2-1, but today we drew 2-2. “.
Despite exerting nearly constant pressure on Fulham after falling behind, Arsenal had trouble getting back into the game.
Their situation did not change until Nketiah and Vieira entered the game halfway through the second half.
Vieira displayed quick thinking to anticipate Martinelli’s deft ball in the back to earn the penalty, and his expertly timed cross allowed Nketiah to slam home their second goal and send the Emirates into raptures.
Arteta defended the decision to keep Gabriel Jesus in reserve until being introduced during extra time after his return to training this week.
In his words, “I didn’t think it was necessary (to bring on Jesus earlier) the way we generated chance after chance.”.
He had only a few training sessions after the surgery, so we only decided to bring him in at the last minute. The way the subs arrived, however, makes me very happy.
Since he hasn’t played any minutes this season, I’m happy for Fabio. It’s challenging to witness a player who joins the team with grit and positivity and has the impact he did. Both for him and myself, I’m overjoyed. “.
Fulham manager Marco Silva thought back on a point that was fought for as his team moved past the disappointment of their most recent 3-0 home loss to Brentford.
It was described as “really emotional and tough.”. After our most recent loss to Brentford, which was a harsh outcome for us, we felt the need to respond.
“People claimed that the Emirates wasn’t the best place to express emotion. It was the ideal location for us to express a reaction, in contrast to our completely different perspective.
“Arsenal will likely be even stronger than they were last season, in my opinion.
They are of impressive quality.
They will once again be competitors, I have to say. “.
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