FOOTBALL can be a cruel game sometimes, as evidenced after Fulham drew 1-1 against Arsenal at the Ashburton Grove on Sunday afternoon.

Gunners substitute Eddie Nketiah’s late goal dashed the visitors’ hopes of a first-ever victory in north London, after they led through Josh Maja’s second-half penalty.

The last-gasp equaliser also takes the Cottagers a step nearer to relegation — with the west Londoners once again ruing their inability to close out a game.

Over the course of a 38-game season you cannot claim to be unlucky if you ultimately fall through the relegation trapdoor — and Scott Parker’s side have an unfortunate habit of conceding late goals that weakens their cause considerably.

Sunday was no different as Gunners substitute Nketah notched his sixth goal of the season, and only his second league strike, in the sixth minute of time added on, to leave the battling Cottagers crestfallen on the Emirates turf.

Parker made five changes from the side who played Wolves last Friday in his 100th game in charge as Maja, Tosin, Frank Anguissa, Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro made the starting XI.

Kenny Tete was missing after returning a positive Covid test, while Terrence Kongolo was also sidelined after sustaining a season-ending injury last time out.

For Arsenal, Mat Ryan made his home debut in place of No 1 Bernd Leno, who was rested, after Mikel Arteta revealed the Brighton loanee “trains like a beast.”

After a minute’s silence for Prince Philip, who officially opened the Emirates in 2006, Arsenal started the livelier in bright sunshine, with Alex Lacazette playing in Granit Xhaka, who fired wide in the opening moments.

Shortly afterwards Emile Smith Rowe cut the ball back towards Gabriel Martinelli, whose hook towards goal was saved by Fulham keeper Alphonse Areola.

In a game full of endeavour if not end product, Arsenal thought they had taken the lead five minutes before the break, when Dani Ceballos headed home in a crowded box.  

That was prior to a VAR review that ensured the goal was disallowed for offside by the tightest of margins on Bukayo Saka in the build-up.

Ten minutes after the interval the lively Saka thudded the post from an acute angle.

Yet, moments later VAR found in Fulham’s favour after Mario Lemina’s surging run was checked by Gabriel to leave referee Craig Pawson no option but to award a penalty.

Following an inordinately long wait the infernal technology decided it was a foul, and that there was no offside on Ola Aina in the build-up.

Up stepped on-loan Bordeaux forward Maja. The 22-year-old calmly rifled the ball into the roof of the net to put Parker’s side 1-0 up and boost hopes of survival.

Worse was to come for Arsenal after the in-form Lacazette hobbled off with what looked like a serious hamstring injury.

As the clock ticked down, Saka fired a curling left-footed strike just past Arelola’s apex.

However, in a hectic finish, which saw keeper Ryan head the ball in Fulham’s box, Nketiah broke Fulham hearts with his late leveller.

Arteta said afterwards that his team “deserved three points without a doubt. The chances we created, two goals disallowed — we conceded one shot on target.”

Next up for Arteta’s Arsenal are Everton this Friday evening, even if all eyes are already on the crucial Europa League semi-final tie with former boss Unai Emery’s Villarreal at the end of this month.

Barring a miracle, Parker’s side are destined to return to the Championship after a season in the top flight.

With Chelsea awaiting in a crucial west London derby next week, hope is all Fulham have, for surely Parker’s side will not be able to turn around a six-point deficit with Newcastle with six games to play.