Joao Palhinha struck within the 87th minute to earn a shock 2-2 draw for Fulham at Arsenal.
The hosts appeared to have accomplished a shocking turnaround when substitute Eddie Nketiah fired previous Bernd Leno to provide them the lead 18 minutes from time, moments after Bukayo Saka’s penalty had made it 1-1 and relieved the strain in north London.
Saka gifted the opening aim to Andreas Pereira after 57 seconds as Arsenal’s behavior of letting in early objectives at dwelling returned to hang-out them.
Calvin Bassey noticed pink for Fulham late on for fouling Nketiah, however Palhinha left dwelling followers surprised for a second time when he struck from a nook as Arsenal’s profitable begin within the Premier League got here to an finish.
Some had been but to take their seats contained in the Emirates when Pereira pounced on a reckless blind ball from Saka to provide Fulham the lead.
There appeared to be no hazard when Declan Rice laid the ball to his England team-mate extensive on the midway line, however in a startling lapse of focus Saka performed a backwards move into the trail of the onrushing Pereira, who with beneath a minute on the clock dinked it past Aaron Ramsdale to stun the hosts.
It was the third time in 2023 that Arsenal had conceded within the first minute of a house sport and, as if aware of the routine, they responded with applicable urgency.
Eddie Nketiah scores Arsenal second aim
(Getty Photos)
First, Kai Havertz spurned an excellent likelihood to degree with a close-range header from Saka’s intelligent back-post flick, then Gabriel Martinelli danced inside Kenny Tete to make room for a low drive that was gathered by Leno.
Martinelli appeared Arsenal’s greatest hope of a fast repair to their predicament. Raul Jimenez was subsequent to disclaim the Brazilian when he flew right into a point-blank interception because the Brazilian formed to shoot from six yards.
Fulham might have been stunned by Arsenal’s early reward however they weren’t content material to relaxation on their success. Jimenez anxious Ramsdale with an formidable scissor kick that dropped a foot extensive of the submit and Harry Wilson threatened with a depraved pushed effort that flew throughout aim.
It appeared more and more like a second aim for Marco Silva’s facet can be required. Martinelli went shut once more for the hosts after he was slipped in to a channel down the left by Leandro Trossard, this time the fingertips of Leno dropping low to his proper squeezed it across the submit.
Saka badly miscued a header which spun up and over the bar from six yards.
Then, because the frustration rumbling across the Emirates intensified, a second-half lifeline got here.
Martinelli slipped a intelligent ball in behind for substitute Fabio Vieira and, as he darted contained in the field, Tete was tempted into going to floor in what proved a deadly error. Saka exorcised his first-half demons and fired Arsenal degree from the spot.
It took beneath three minutes to finish a whirlwind fightback. Vieira, recent from his good run to win the penalty, discovered himself with house to sprint into down the left. He appeared as much as see the charging determine of his fellow substitute Nketiah, who timed his arrival to perfection to steer the low cross past Leno.
Fulham’s hopes appeared to empty away when Bassey was pink carded with seven minutes to go, a second reserving for hauling down Nketiah close to the midway line, and Arsenal may have been forgiven for considering the job was carried out.
However inside minutes Fulham had rescued a point. Harrison Reed’s nook was properly delivered and there assembly it on the half volley was Palhinha to scoop his foot skilfully across the ball into the underside nook.
Vieira had a ultimate go at cementing his quickly rising repute with a strike deep in added time that Leno tipped over. It was to not be this time for the substitute, nor was it for Arsenal.
