Bukayo Saka seals comeback with goal as Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 in EPL
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 English Premier League win against Fulham at the Emirates.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Bukayo Saka marked his return from a lengthy injury absence with a goal as Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 on April 1 to cut the gap on English Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points.
Saka came off the bench to head in on his first appearance since Dec 21, after Mikel Merino’s deflected effort had given Arsenal a first-half lead. However, victory came at a cost as key defender Gabriel Magalhaes limped off injured at the Emirates Stadium.
“It was a good opportunity to see how much people love him and missed him. The reception he got was magnificent. He lifts the stadium and I am so happy for him because he fully deserves it,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, on Saka’s ovation before he even set foot back on the field.
Rodrigo Muniz pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but defeat is a blow to Fulham’s ambitions of European football next season.
The Cottagers remain eighth, three points outside a top-five finish that would almost certainly secure Champions League football next season.
Just one week away from the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Real Madrid, the sight of Gabriel pulling up with a hamstring problem added to Arteta’s injury woes.
Jurrien Timber was also forced off late with a knee injury.
“(We are) worried because he never wants to come off and he had to. He felt he could not continue,” added Arteta.
However, the return of Saka is a massive boost to Arsenal’s faint hopes of chasing down Liverpool and a shot at becoming European champions for the first time.
Arsenal’s place in the top five is looking assured as they move 14 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle United.
Arteta’s men are on course to finish second for the third consecutive season given Liverpool’s commanding lead.
But the Spaniard showed no sign of having one eye on a blockbuster Champions League tie against the holders with his team selection.
Gabriel would be a massive miss and the centre-back will now be a major doubt for that tie after pulling up inside the first 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Fulham manager Marco Silva said his team had not been aggressive enough to win the game and push towards a European competition qualification place, although they did have a string of chances in the second half.
“What decided the game was that we conceded two soft goals,” the Portuguese said.
Arsenal never got going as an attacking threat in a first half short on clear-cut chances, but Merino maintained his impressive record as a makeshift striker due to season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
The Spain international now has five goals in eight games in his new role, but had fortune on his side to break the deadlock.
Ethan Nwaneri was Arsenal’s biggest threat in the first 45 minutes and his cross picked out Merino, who needed the benefit of a big deflection to see his shot loop into the far corner.
Mikel Merino scoring the first goal for Arsenal against Fulham.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Saka’s introduction was greeted with the biggest cheer of the night until that point, when he replaced Nwaneri 25 minutes from time.
The England international took just eight minutes to net his 10th goal of the season.
Saka was in the right place to head in from close range after Gabriel Martinelli flicked on Merino’s cross.
Muniz reduced the deficit in stoppage time but it was too little, too late for Fulham. AFP, REUTERS
