Premier League

ARSENAL 2 (Saka pen, 70; Nketiah 74)

FULHAM 2 (Pereira, 1 Palhinha 87) 

THE Gunners shot themselves in the foot today and then limped around for most of this match on upside down crutches.

Or that’s what it felt like watching what was in the main a disjointed performance that began with a calamitous goal for Fulham in the first minute ended depressingly with a late equaliser from the down-to-ten-men visitors.

Arsenal were all set to run out winners after goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah turned the game around.

But there is a real sense that all is not as well as it should be with Arsenal right now with the manager trying a new system that the players aren’t on board with.

In in the end Fulham had the best chance to win it at the death.

After the match Arteta insisted: “We were ten times better than we were against Fulham last season. At least ten times.”

He added: “In the first minute you give a goal to opponent, after that we controlled the game for all periods but we didn’t score a goal.

“And at the end you have to defend the goal with your life. We conceded two very poor goals today.”

Last season’s well-oiled slick attacking machine looking mildly baffed with Arteta’s new “system” – a kind of constantly evolving 3-2-5.

Players are not in positions where they once were – and this is leading to some bizarre passes being played, sometimes into completely empty spaces or simply the opposition.

Saka looked confused as to why no one was there as he gave the ball away so catastrophically in the first minute.

Andres Pereirra found himself clean through on goal and although his lob was not perfectly executed it was enough to wrongfoot Aaron Ramsdale as he rushed back.

It was no surprise that the comeback came almost immediately after Arteta switched back to last year’s tried and tested formation: with Zinchenko and Ben White playing full backs.

Most of the match took place in torrential rain with flashes of lighting and booms of thunder.

In the first half, Gabriel Martinelli had looked sharp and dangerous.

Saka grew into the game and easily had the beating of his man.

There was a clinical finish from the captain Martin Odegaard in the first half, but Martinelli had just strayed offside before cutting back to him.

But once again the surprise summer signing Kai Havertz looked like a fish out of water.

Chelsea rejects rarely endear themselves to the Arsenal faithful.

But it is hard to understand why this waifish player has managed to walk straight into the first Arsenal first team that ran City so close for the title last year.

He seems like a completely different player to Granit Xhaka – and not suited to any kind of central role in midfield.

Worse still he looks low on confidence, a little lost and confused. His touches and passing were poor in the first half.

He was replaced by Fabio Vieira on 55 minutes, another player who has yet to truly inspire – but who played well today as Arsenal tried their best to win the game.

Asked about whether Havertz would win over the fans, Arteta said: “I think so.

“I saw an action when he played backwards when he could have turned. But he has done really good things today.

“It was tough for him in moments. Sometimes he was there and the ball didn’t arrive.”

Arteta says he has bought “versatility” to the side with his summer signings.

But it is clear not everyone can play every role on the football pitch.

Arsenal are now, when in possession, setting up with three centre defenders – two central midfielders – and a spread of five up front.

The decision to make Partey slot into a right back role just seems to break up what was a fantastic partnership between Ben White and Saka last season.

It is a great mystery also what Gabriel has done to be benched for three games in a row.

He looked to have formed a great partnership with William Saliba last season but was an unused sub on a day the manager made five subs.

Arteta was not asked about this in the press conference.

Saka was made to wait for an age to take his penalty, after Vieira was fouled in the box. But he struck it firmly into the bottom right hand corner.

Sub Eddie Nketiah – on for Leandro Trossard at half time – flashed in what everyone thought was going to be the winner four minutes later.

But Fulham’s Palhinha turned in a corner for the equaliser despite having ten men after Bassey was dismissed for a second yellow for a block on Nketiah.

And in the extra time, Adama Traore raced from his own half straight in on goal one on one forcing a big save from Ramsdale.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Saliba, Partey (Zinchenko 55), White, Kiwior, Saka, Odegaard (Jorginho), Martinelli, Trossard (Nketiah 45), Havertz (Vieira 55), Rice (Jesus 91)
Subs not used: Raya, Gabriel, Rowe, Nelson,

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Jimenez, Wilson (Traore), Cordova-Reid, Pereira (Cariney 63), Palhinha, Luki (Reed 70), Diop, Robinson
Subs not used: Rodak, Adarabioyo, Muniz, Mbabu, Vinicius, Harris

Attendance: 59,961