Arsenal had a late goal disallowed as they missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points with a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka thought he had given the Gunners all three points when he headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s cross two minutes from time, but the goal was disallowed after the Brazilian was found to be offside during the build-up.
Raul Jimenez, with his sixth goal of the season, put Fulham in front against the run of play when he latched on to Kenny Tete’s ball down the line to fire past David Raya from a tight angle.
Arsenal, looking to capitalise on the postponement of Liverpool’s Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday, struggled to carve out opportunities from open play in the first half and managed just one shot on target from Saka.
But Mikel Arteta’s side were level within six minutes of the second half after a well-worked corner kick routine saw William Saliba convert Kai Havertz’s knockdown.
It was one-way traffic after that as Arsenal pushed to find a winner but they struggled to break down a resolute Fulham side.
The draw means Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more
Arsenal have completed the signing of Omar Rekik from Hertha Berlin.
The 19-year-old will join the Gunners’ Under 23s side after penning a professional contract with the club.
Bild reports Arsenal have agreed to pay Hertha around £540,000 to land the centre-back, who had periods in the youth academies of Feyenoord, PSV, Manchester City and Marseille before joining the German side.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Thursday that the defender’s arrival was all but complete, telling reporters at a press conference: “He’s a young talent that we’ve been following for a while that we believe has a really bright future.”
The Tunisia Under 21 international is yet to make his senior debut, having played regularly in the fourth-tier of German football with Hertha Berlin II this season, but he was an unused substitute in three Bundesliga matches last season.
“It feels great to be here after a long time of hard work. It feels great. I moved in three weeks ago and I’ve been in quarantine, so I can’t wait to get started,” Rekik told Arsenal’s website.
“The warmth of the people and the interest that they showed in me, and of course, when a club like Arsenal is interested, I don’t think anyone needs to think twice.
“I’m a winner. I always want to win, and that’s with everything, not only football, ever since I was a kid. My style of play? I’m a central defender and I like to play with the ball, I like to play out from the back, and I think this is also the structure of the club. It fits perfectly.”
Rekik says Arsenal’s playing style played a key role in his choosing to continue his career in north London.
“With Mikel Arteta, if you watch the games, he’s not a coach who thinks quickly to play a long ball. Of course, when needed, you have to do it, but I think the style of play fits,” he added.
“As a young player, you need to play somewhere where they’re not afraid to give you a chance and you can see a lot of youth players have broken through here, and I want to be the next one.”
Rekik, who is the north London side’s first signing of the January transfer window, was linked with a move to the English capital in the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise.
