Bukayo Saka marked his return of a 101-day absence by scoring only seven minutes after coming to the field while Arsenal ran to a 2-1 win despite a late fear.
The Gunners will know that their title challenging is all over, but they still have left on Liverpool with absolute professionalism against London Rivals Fulham.
Mikel Merino recorded another goal with a deflected finish to further prove that he is the best option that Arsenal is at the top of their attacking injury crisis.
While Saka's Headed Finish Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans gave confidence, they will have some threat when they are facing Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.
However, the night was marred by injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber – correct that reason for that gigantic quarterfinals on the horizon.
This is how Sunssport's Joshua Hall assessed the men of Arteta on their return to the Emirates after the break …
David Raya – 7
Week to week, Raya draws up a claim as one of the best keepers in the competition.
He does not have to make a barrage of Schoten as part of this Arsenal team, but rarely falters when he is called.
His distribution and preventive high claims are also among the best.
There was little that he could have done to stop the bent goal of Rodrigo Muniz.
Become a member of Sun Club for the Arsenal files every Friday plus in in-depth coverage and exclusive of the Emirates
Jurrien Timber – 6
It seemed that the Dutchman would be demolished around half an hour when he went down with his knee.
Fortunately he was able to play and he even managed to test Leno with a stabbing effort in the second half.
Unfortunately, his earlier knock turned out to be too much and was removed with a lump in the 75th minute.
Arsenal could now be without at least two starting defenders for their collision with Real Madrid.
Gabriel Magalhaes – NVT
Just when Arsenal fans thought they crawl out of their injury crisis with the return of Bukayo Saka, they are still losing a top star.
Gabriel bumped after just 15 minutes to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
Arteta – and every Arsenal fan up and down through the country – hopes that the wall at the back will fight for their Champions League quarterfinals first stage against Real Madrid next week.
William Saliba – 6
Get to the plate in the absence of Gabriel and saw both on and the ball insured.
His frame did wonders to prevent Raul Jimenez from forming the opportunities in dangerous areas.
However, he was unable to do enough to prevent Rodrigo Muniz from doing it against him to withdraw a late goal for Fulham.
Myles Lewis -Skelly – 7
Every time you see Lewis-Skelly playing, you wonder how he is only 18 and not experienced pro with years of experience at the top.
He did not set the world on fire against the cottagers, but looked just as insured and comfortable as he always does – this time without Gabriel by his side.
While he also made an important guy to prevent Muniz after Fulham had withdrawn a late goal.
Mikel Arteta has splashed the money to have an abundance of options left-back, but it seems that the graduated Hale End Academy is now the number one for that position.
Thomas Partey – 7
Almost gifted Fulham a golden chance with a loose header in the first half, but saw David Raya popping up to save the day.
Despite a few loose accents, he did enough to keep the ball moving in central areas.
He has become an important starter for Arsenal this season, but still seems to be on his way to the outside in the summer at the passage of his deal.
Declan Rice – 6
He is not a glamorous football player, but he will always give 100 percent, regardless of what.
Certainly not his worst game in an Arsenal shirt, but certainly not his best.
Martin Odegaard – 5
Another frustrating night for the arsenal captain who has not been able to find the keys to unlock the low block every week.
The Norwegian is certainly one of the best talents in the competition, but has only shown it in a glimpse this season.
Arsenal as a whole sometimes looked a bit difficult, sometimes that is the result of the way Odegaard plays. If he taps, the whole team does that too.
Gabriel Martinelli – 9
Timothy Castagne regularly stupid out during the match and came into hazardous positions due to the name rule.
But despite making many opportunities, the Brazilian – as usual – struggled with his end product in the first half.
It almost seemed as if every shot or the last pass were rushing or grown before the opening for 45 minutes.
That changed in the second half when his wonderful movie perfectly sucked on Bukayo Saka for a dream that returns to action.
He finally looked like he had the goal of filling a spectacular achievement at the dying moments, but was considered marginal offside when his efforts found the back of the net.
Ethan Nwaneri – 7
Clear spark in the opening changes and a volley in the throat of Bernd Leno in the 21st minute, while he looked most likely to find the back of the net in the beginning.
Instead, it was his cutback that helped open the score when he placed it on the boot of Mikel Merino to poke home the first goal of the night.
Replaced by Saka in the second half in perhaps a in advance of what could happen to his role in the team for the rest of the season.
Mikel Merino – 8
Merino has performed the role of Make-Shift Spits with the kind of professionalism that you would like from every player in your team.
He may not make cracks behind the back four, or curly wonderful efforts around the keeper, but he certainly has a talent for goal.
His point to Doel took a healthy deflection from Jorge Cuenca to steer it in the corner, but he doesn't care – now an impressive five goals in eight games like a center forward.
He almost made that six when he wore a different effort from a corner of a corner in the 60th minute.
Subs
Jakub Kiwior (for Gabriel, 15 minutes) – 4
Always a tough task to replace one of the best defenders in the competition, but did not do enough to impress.
Sloppily gave the ball away to give a golden chance to Adama Traore in the second half, but was lucky that the shot was burning.
He was partly the fault of leaving Rodrigo Muniz wide open for his quirky header in the 80th minute – again saved by sloppy finish.
With every game that passes, it seems clearer that the Polish international is simply not at the required level.
Bukayo Saka (for Nwaneri, 66 minutes) – 8
The Emirates broke out in his loudest cheers of the night when Saka returned to action after 21 games and 101 days on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
That was until he nodded home the second of the Gunners, just six minutes after exceeding the line and an even louder roar roared around N5.
Arsenal missed him a lot, and a return just before the largest European game in the Emirates era can be crucial for the side of Mikel Arteta.
Leandro Trossard (for wood, 77 minutes) – 5
Had a very little impact on the game that came up so late, but Nick did the ball from the foot of Captain Odegaard who put a thunderous effort in line.
Comments