Arsenal 2-2 Fulham - Joao Palhinha scores dramatic late equaliser as 10-man Cottagers earn draw
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Updated 26/08/2023 at 17:07 GMT
A late goal from Joao Palhinha earned 10-man Fulham a draw in a dramatic game away at Arsenal. The visitors took the lead through Andreas Pereira in the first minute before Arsenal hit back in the second half via goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah. Calvin Bassey was then sent off for a second yellow before Palhinha swept home the equaliser to earn a point.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Joao Palhinha of Fulham celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on August 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty I
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal missed out on a comeback win at the Emirates, drawing 2-2 with 10-man Fulham after Joao Palhinha’s late leveller.
The hosts made a poor start when Bukayo Saka played a loose back pass into the path of Andreas Pereira, who proceeded to sprint forwards and scoop a first-time shot beyond Aaron Ramsdale. The Arsenal 'keeper was left stranded and, despite backpedalling frantically, he could do nothing to stop Pereira’s improvised effort from finding the bottom left-hand corner.
Arsenal had plenty of chances to equalise before half-time, but failed to take them. Gabriel Martinelli tested Bernd Leno on several occasions but the Fulham 'keeper was in a determined mood, while, at the other end, Raul Jimenez came within inches of scoring with a spectacular overhead kick and Harry Wilson fired just wide.
Around the half-hour mark, after a cross from Leandro Trossard, Saka sent a header down into the turf only to see it bounce up over the crossbar. Just before half-time Martin Odegaard had the ball in the back of the net, but Kai Havertz was flagged for offside in the build-up.
The second half followed much the same script until, with just over 20 minutes to go, Kenny Tete brought down Fabio Vieira, on as a substitute, in the area. Saka sent Leno the wrong way to level the scores, sending the Emirates into raptures.
The home fans were even more elated two minutes later when, after tearing up the left flank, Vieira thumped a low cross to fellow substitute Eddie Nketiah, who turned in from close range. Marco Silva and his coaches protested over what they felt was a foul from Saka on Calvin Bassey, but the goal stood.
When Bassey was sent off for a second bookable offence late on, it looked like Arsenal would extend their perfect start to the season, but Palhinha turned in at a corner with three minutes of normal time left to play - nabbing a point for the visitors.
TALKING POINT - A wrong made right?
As far as Fulham were concerned, Nketiah’s goal to make it 2-1 should not have stood. Saka had tangled with Bassey just beforehand, briefly trapping his arm, but there was no intervention from VAR.
When a flagging Bassey was sent off minutes later after a tired foul on Nketiah, it felt like a cruel cosmic joke on the visitors. Ultimately, though, Palhinha’s equaliser gave them the last laugh.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Fabio Vieira (Arsenal)
Having come on early in the second half, replacing the struggling Havertz, Vieira had the kind of impact that has been all too rare since he joined from Porto last year.
Not only did he do well to win the penalty, bursting past Tete to draw the foul, his raking ball to set up Nketiah was outstanding.
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Ramsdale 5, Partey 4, White 7, Saliba 6, Kiwior 5, Odegaard 7, Rice 5, Havertz 4, Saka 6, Trossard 5, Martinelli 6
Subs: Nketiah 7, Vieira 7, Zinchenko 6, Jorginho 5, Jesus N/A
Fulham: Leno 7, Tete 5, Diop 6, Bassey 4, Robinson 5, Lukic 5, Palhinha 6, Pereira 6, Wilson 5, Jimenez 5, De Cordova-Reid 5
Subs: Cairney 5, Reed 6, Traore 5, Adarabioyo 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
1’ GOAL! Saka makes an uncharacteristic mistake, giving the ball away to Pereira. He scoots forwards and sends the ball bouncing past Ramsdale and into the bottom left-hand corner for an early opener.
42’ NO GOAL! Odegaard has the ball in the back of the net with a fantastic finish, but Havertz is flagged for offside in the build-up. The Emirates releases a collective groan.
68’ PENALTY! Vieira knocks the ball past Tete and the Fulham defender brings him down in the area. Odegaard steps up, but then swaps out for Saka.
70’ GOAL! After much fussing from the referee, Paul Tierney, Saka smashes the ball into the back of the net to level the scores.
72’ GOAL! Vieria thumps a low cross to Nketiah, who prods in from close range. Silva and his coaches are furious over a perceived foul on Bassey in the build-up, but Tierney is unmoved.
83’ BASSEY SEES RED! Things have gone from bad to worse for Fulham. Bassey blocks off Nketiah as Arsenal look to break, picking up a second yellow.
87’ GOAL! Well, who saw that coming? Fulham win a corner and Harrison Reed sends it in to Palhinha, who beats Ramsdale with a first-time finish.
KEY STATS
- According to Opta, Arsenal have kept four clean sheets from 21 Premier League games at the Emirates since the start of last season. Of the 17 teams to participate in the competition in each of the last two seasons, only Fulham have kept fewer clean sheets at home with three.
- In light of Pereira’s strike, Arsenal have become the first team in Premier League history to concede a first-minute goal three times in a single calendar year.
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