Bukayo Saka scored in his first Arsenal match in more than three months in a 2-0 win over Fulham.
The international England, which was heavily missed after a hamstring injury was in December, went in just a few minutes after he came from the bank to seal a comfortable victory at the Emirates, with Rodrigo Muniz comforting the whites in added time.
The bent strike by Mikel Merino had brought the hosts shortly before the half-time whistle for a victory that reduced the gap behind Liverpool, albeit still a good nine points.
Fulham lost ground in their efforts to qualify for Europe, but remains eighth in the Premier League.
Arsenal convenience beyond Fulham
Arsenal started on the front foot, but struggled to eliminate clear opportunities, with Ethan Nwaneri closest to the first 25 minutes with a volley that was saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
But with 37 minutes on the clock, Arsenal finally made the transparent when an improvised striker Merino shifted before his efforts took a deflection that Leno found the wrong foot and the opposite corner.
– TopandGood (@topandgoods) April 1, 2025
The Gunners started the second half with much more urgency in which Nwaneri almost finished a brilliant movement in which Martin Odegaard was involved, but Leno was again the same as the shot of the young person.
Merino was then close to his second after a typical dangerous corner was beaten to the Spaniard, but his effort was widely deflated.
Saka makes Dream Return Return
Just after the hour, the Emirates marked when they welcomed the favorite of the fan Saka to the field after almost four months.
And it wasn’t long before the 23-year-old had stembed his return with a rubber goal. Gabriel Martinelli was seriously involved when he drove forward before he was a cross on the path of his attacking partner who had the easiest headers.
The Starboy is back. Welcome back, Bukayo Saka (with an insane assist from Martinelli) pic.twitter.com/qlucmf1pmb
– Roberto Rojas (@Robertorojas97) April 1, 2025
Fulham hardly put a glove on the hosts for a large part of the game, but Rodrigo Muniz had to halve the shortage in the last 10 minutes, but the striker was unable to use Alex Iwobi with the goal gap.
Martinelli then thought he had scored a deserved goal to seal the victory, but his Sidefoeted finish was abolished for offside.
The whites finally came to the score sheet when Muniz bundled in the fourth minute of Ryan Sessegnon in the cross of Ryan Sessegnon, but despite a few hairy moments it was too little, too late for the men of Marco Silva while the hosts held for the three points.
