Arsenal 2-1 Fulham: Bukayo Saka returned from an injury to score a crucial goal in the Premier League victory, but the injury for defender Gabriel will be a great concern for Mikel Arteta
As the old saying is, do you want the good news or the bad news? Firstly, the good news was that Bukayo Saka returned a dream when he scored in his first performance after a three -month injury.
But the really bad news was that Arsenal defender Gabriel swings with a hamstring injury that will certainly come out of both legs of the quarter-finals of the Champions League with Real Madrid. It feels almost typical of the Arsenal season that just when they get one big player back – the other is sidelined.
And there are few worse players to miss than Gabriel when Arsenal has to be confronted against Kylian Mbappe and Co next week. Gabriel's partnership with Williams Saliba is one of the best in the Premier League and seeing him early in the first half was Arsenal's worst nightmare.
That certainly dampened the mood until Saka all changed it with his cameo roll as a replacement of the second half and then an unlikely header in the short distance to complete a fairly comfortable victory. The crowd thought it was great and, after she had given Saka an almighty ovation as a 66th minute replacement, they enjoyed at a magical moment to give everyone a lift.
It was wonderful to see Saka the applause milk and then hurries to the couch to thank the doctors who helped him in his recovery back to fitness. If someone can give Arsenal Hope against Real Madrid, it must be Saka and they even have a goals in the field when you record Mikel Merino.
Merino scored for his second goals, he has five since he became Arsenal's emergency striker and although he may not fill Real Madrid with fear, he really gives it. Arsenal largely drove against Fulham in what felt like sometimes a witness match because the visitors were so flat last weekend after their FA Cup output to Crystal Palace.
Fulham was poor and rarely disturbed Arsenal until replacement Rodrigo Muniz grabbed an injury troost to give a shine on their matte display. By that time, Arsenal was out of sight. They had started rather sloppy when it felt like they had their thoughts on Madrid instead of an end of the season with Fulham with Liverpool already out of sight at the top.
Gabriel bumped away after he returned to his own goal. Jakub Kiwior replaced him but hardly looked convincing. Then Jurrien Timber was hurt, but luckily before Arsenal stood up. Arsenal got a big piece of luck on their opening goal, which came just when you started to ask if anyone had a shot, let alone if they could score.
Timber drove forward, Ethan Nwaneri fed the ball to Merino and his shot took a great deflection of Fulham defender Jorge Cuenha and the ball flashed keeper Bernd Leno. Arsenal had great chances of getting a second, but Martin Odegaard skipped and then Saka pulled the place when he came up for his long -awaited return to action.
Arsenal mourned 24 years since the death of David Rocastle on Monday and, for fans of a certain age, Saka has been closest to the beloved Rocky since then. But every generation of Arsenal fans love Saka, the hero of home.
Gabriel Martinelli started the move, Merino crossed and then Martinelli went through and there was Saka to go home from close up to complete a fairytale return. Fulham took a comfort in the 94th minute when Ryan Sessegnon transferred a cross and bent the shot of Muniz in Saliba.
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