Former Gunner blasts Gabriel Martinelli | OneFootball

Arsenal’s frustrations continued to mount after a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage, a match that saw VAR deny Bukayo Saka an 89th-minute winner due to a marginal offside by Gabriel Martinelli.

Former Gunner Paul Merson, never shy of criticising his old club, labelled Martinelli’s positioning as “criminal” during his punditry on Sky Sports.

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Merson, who enjoyed an illustrious Arsenal career but has become known for his pointed criticisms of the club, didn’t mince his words: “In footballing terms, it’s criminal. I cannot tell you how criminal it is for Martinelli to be offside there. You can’t be offside. You’re looking along the line. He’s got pace, he’s electric, he’s not someone who has to nick a yard – he can give someone the edge.”

The incident occurred late in the game when Martinelli crossed for Saka to head home what seemed to be the winner, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out. Merson added: “I’d be surprised if he isn’t on the end of one in the dressing room from the manager, honestly. You can see it on his face, he knew. You look down the line, do not be offside. It’s as simple as that.”

Arteta rues missed opportunity

The result left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta visibly frustrated. Speaking after the match, Arteta expressed his disappointment: “[I’m] gutted that we didn’t win it because I think we deserved to win from the beginning to the end. We did almost everything that we had to do to win it. This is the quality of the opposition and the league. For millimetres, we could have been here with a really dominant win.”

Despite dominating the match with 12 shots and 66% possession, Arsenal struggled to break down a resolute Fulham defence. Declan Rice’s involvement in William Saliba’s equaliser was a rare bright spot, but Arteta said, when asked if the team’s reliance on set-pieces has become a concern: “It’s never enough if you don’t score three, four or five. If they play 11 direct balls I want to win 11. We want to win 100%.”

Merson’s Arsenal career and lingering bitterness

8 Dec 1996: Paul Merson of Arsenal rubs his eyes, during the FA Carling Premier league match between Arsenal and Derby County at Highbury in Londo…

Paul Merson’s sharp critique of Arsenal has long puzzled fans, given his history with the club. A product of Arsenal’s youth academy, Merson made over 300 appearances for the Gunners between 1985 and 1997, scoring 78 goals. He played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s First Division title wins in 1989 and 1991, as well as their FA Cup and League Cup triumphs in 1993 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup victory in 1994.

However, Merson’s departure from Arsenal to Middlesbrough in 1997, instigated by Arsène Wenger, left a sour taste. The move, seen by Merson as a slight, has contributed to his reputation as a harsh critic of the club. Over the years, his allegiance to Chelsea, a club he never played for but supports , has further fuelled perceptions of bias.

Following his time at Middlesbrough, Merson’s career included stints at Aston Villa, Portsmouth, and Walsall, where he also served as player-manager.