Arsenal kept their vague Premier League title Hoop alive with a Gutsy 2-0 win over Fulham.
Match report
Saka has been a hamstring injury since December, but marked his comeback with a goal from the bank.
Gabriel Martinelli hit Mikel Merino's 73rd minutes cross to Saka, whose header of the close-range turned out to be decisive.
Arsenal lost Gabriel Magalhaes early on injuries but went through Merino in the 37th minute.
Saka doubled the benefit of the Gunners when he went home for seven minutes after he came halfway through the second half.
It looked comfortable for the Gunners who followed Saka's goal, until Rodrigo Muniz widely went when she presented a glorious opportunity after good work by former Arsenal playmaker Alex Iwobi.
Muniz, however, made things interesting, when he dragged home in the 94th minute, although it was a case of too little, too late for the visitors, who collected only 0.81 goals everywhere compared to Arsenal's 2.31.
The second place Arsenal moved within nine points from Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Fulham remains a very real opportunity with European football on the eighth, four points outside the top four.
Back-to-back victories in n5 pic.twitter.com/oywhmsy8oo
– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) April 1, 2025
Data Debrief: Immprovised Merino fills in, but Saka's return in time
With Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and, until recently, Bukayo Saka all sidelined with injury, Merino has been raised as a competent deputy in front.
The Spain International plays an improvised Center-Forward role for Mikel Arteta and has now scored its sixth Premier League goal for Arsenal this season, his most in a single campaign in its competition career.
Of the seven Premier League goals from Merino (six for Arsenal, one Newcastle), six have given his side in a match, while he scored the winning goal in four of the five Premier League matches in which he scored at least once, the only exception this season is the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
With Saka now back from injury, Arteta's attacking misery are considerably relaxed. His 68th goal for Arsenal in all competitions was his first for the club as a replacement.
He is now involved in 23 goals in all competitions this season (10 goals, 13 assists). He is indeed the third Premier League player who takes 10+ goals and 10+ assists in each of the last three seasons, together with Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes.
Match -Events
0 'The game is about to start!
6 'Martinelli is bursting past the defender, but Pedey's shot is poor and flies wide
15 'Gabriel cannot continue if he bumps and is replaced by Jakub Kiwior
24 'Applause around the Emirates while Bukayo Saka starts to warm up on the touchline
27 'Nwaneri has a shot that is saved by Leno
32 'Jurrien Timber gets some treatment and will be fine to continue
37 'goal! Merino opens the score of the Assist of Nwaneri! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
47 'Cuenca is down and seems to be in a certain effort when Parey caught his leg
51 'Highlight of Arsenal vs Fulham
52 'Raul Jimenez picks up the ball and hits a low hard shot, but it is reserved
55 'Wood removes its shot, but Bernd Leno makes the rescue on the distant pole
57 'Sasa Lukic is in the book for a few shocks on myes lewis-skelly
58 'Martinelli leads it on the rear post, but it is blocked for a corner
60 'Highlight of Arsenal vs Fulham
66 'A first performance of 2025 for Bukayo Saka and he replaces Ethan Nwaneri
73 'What a dream returns! Saka doubles the lead with a header! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
79 'Wood is replaced by Leandro Trossard and he looks like injured
82 'How Muniz missed that! The Brazilian heads wide for an open goal
89 'Martinelli thinks he scored Arsenal's third, but he was Miles Bantside
94 'goal! Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (Rodrigo Muniz)
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Partey, David Raya, Ødegaard, Merino, Rice, Gabriel, Martinelli, Saliba, Timber, Nwaneri, Lewis-skelly
Subs: Neto, Trossard, Sterling, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Tierney, Saka, Kiwior, Jimi Gower
Fulham XI: Leno, Jimenez, Andersen, Traore, Lukic, Castagne, Diop, Berge, Antonee Robinson, Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca
Subs: Willian, Tom Cairney, Iwobi, Pereira, Harrison Reed, Steven Benda, Sessegnon, Calvin Bassey, Rodrigo Muniz
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