Bukayo Saka scored in his first Arsenal sport in additional than three months in a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
The England worldwide, who has been badly missed after a hamstring damage suffered in December, headed in simply minutes after coming off the bench to seal a snug victory on the Emirates, with Rodrigo Muniz netting a comfort for the Whites in added time.
Mikel Merino’s deflected strike had put the hosts forward shortly earlier than the half-time whistle for a victory which diminished the hole behind Liverpool, albeit nonetheless to a hefty 9 factors.
Fulham misplaced floor of their efforts to qualify for Europe however stay eighth within the Premier League.
Arsenal ease previous Fulham
Arsenal started on the entrance foot however struggled to carve out clear-cut possibilities, with Ethan Nwaneri going closest inside the primary 25 minutes with a volley which was saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
However with 37 minutes on the clock, Arsenal lastly made the breakthough as makeshirt striker Merino shifted out and in earlier than his effort took a deflection which wrong-footed Leno and located the other nook.
— topandgood (@topandgoods) April 1, 2025
The Gunners began the second half with loads extra urgency with Nwaneri practically ending off an excellent transfer involving Martin Odegaard however Leno was as soon as once more equal to the teenager’s shot.
Merino was then near his second after a usually harmful nook was knocked all the way down to the Spaniard however his effort was deflected broad.
Saka makes dream return
Simply after the hour mark, the Emirates rose to their toes as they welcomed fan favorite Saka again onto the sphere after nearly 4 months out.
And earlier than lengthy, the 23-year-old had rubber-stamped his return with a purpose. Gabriel Martinelli was closely concerned as he drove ahead earlier than backheeling a cross into the trail of his attacking accomplice who had the best of headers.
The Starboy is again. Welcome again, Bukayo Saka (with an INSANE help from Martinelli) pic.twitter.com/qlUcmF1pMb
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) April 1, 2025
Fulham barely laid a glove on the hosts for a lot of the sport however Rodrigo Muniz ought to have halved the deficit within the ultimate 10 minutes however the striker failed to show in Alex Iwobi’s cross with the purpose gaping.
Martinelli then thought he had scored a deserved purpose to seal the victory however his sidefooted end was chalked off for offside.
The Whites did ultimately get on the scoresheet as Muniz bundled in Ryan Sessegnon’s cross within the fourth minute of stoppage time however, regardless of a couple of bushy moments, it was too little, too late for Marco Silva’s males because the hosts held on for the three factors.
