ARSENAL were WINNERS over Fulham at the Emirates, with Bukayo Saka scoring on his return to football.

Mikel Merino opened the scoring for the Gunners in the opening 45 minutes.

However, the biggest blow for the Gunners was the loss of Gabriel through what looked to be a hamstring injury during the opening 20 minutes.

Bukayo Saka then made his long awaited return to action, and within seven minutes was in amongst the goals as he headed home at the back post to put Arsenal 2-0 up.

Rodrigo Muniz pulled one back to give Arsenal something to worry about in added time, but his strike was merely a consolation for the visiting Cottagers.

• Kick-off: 7:45pm BST
• Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Merino
• Fulham XI: Leno, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson, Traore, Smith Rowe, Jimenez

• Attentions turn to Merseyside for Arsenal

  No doubt all of Mikel Arteta’s side will be getting together to watch Liverpool’s game against Everton tomorrow night.

  They will be hoping that David Moyes’ side can do them a big favour.

  However, The Gunners then have to travel north to play Everton in the early kick-off on Saturday knowing they can still not afford to drop any points on this run-in.

• Mikel pulls Mikel out of trouble

  In the first half-hour of this match, The Gunners struggled to break down the visitors and were not creating clear-cut chances.

  It caused The Emirates crowd to go very quiet, at this point, Marco Silva’s side looked very comfortable.

  Nwaneri then did well out wide, getting to byline and picking out Merino whose deflected shot beat Leno and gave the hosts an important lead.

  

• Sub squanders chance to shine

  As Alex Iwobi did well to work space to cross from the byline, his inch-perfect cross picked out Rodrigo Muniz on the back post.

  With David Raya still at his near post, the striker had an open goal to aim for.

  He sent his header inches wide of the far post, despite going on to score later in the game, he could have got The Cottagers so much more.

  

  

• Fulham leave it late at Emirates

  Marco Silva will have been disappointed with his side again in their match against Arsenal.

  Having got themselves to seventh in the table, he has seen his side bow out of the FA Cup and not even put up a fight against The Gunners.

  They only seemed to come to life towards the closing stages and possibly should have grabbed a point after Muniz missed an absolute sitter to score before actually getting his goal.

  

• Gunners open up 13-point gap

  Aside from the small chance of catching Liverpool, the main focus for Arsenal as a football club is securing Champions League football.

  Tonight’s win opens up a huge gap on fifth place, although they do have a game to play this week.

  It is hard to imagine Arteta’s side slipping out of the top four this season but all these small goals help them work towards the bigger ones.

• Madrid match could be key to title

  Facing European royalty such as Real Madrid in the semi-final could have such an impact on Mikel Arteta’s side.

  Not only the physicality of the ties, they could suffer injuries and notoriously English sides drop points in the games following Champions League encounters.

  Confidence plays a big part in form and the difference between winning and losing these games could be crucial.

  

• Boss has say on derby win

  Speaking with the media after the game, Arteta discussed Sako and their win over Fulham:

  I am so happy for him and he fully deserves it. He said thank you to everybody who got him to where he is now. They all helped him with the rehab. It was great see him score. I think we deserve to win the game, we were completely dominant and did not give away anything.

  Mikel ArtetaArsenal

• Big test lies ahead for Gunners

  The next five games may well define Arsenal’s season.

  They have three very winnable games ahead in the Premier League and if they can take all nine points, will pile the pressure on Liverpool.

  Add to that Arteta’s side have two matches against Real Madrid thrown in the middle in the shape of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

  

• Fans need to be twelfth man

  Things can quite easily turn sour at The Emirates.

  When they fail to score early on, the early atmosphere dwindles to a North London library.

  On the road, their fans can be very vocal but they need to make The Emirates a fortress for the remainder of the season.

• No Silva lining for Cottagers

  With things so tight in the Premier League table, no side can afford to lose games at the business-end of the season.

  Defeat for Fulham in the capital this evening will seriously damage their push for qualifying for Europe.

  Both Bournemouth and Aston Villa can take advantage of this result, to leave The Cottagers in tenth spot in the table.

• Physios required, apply within

  Mikel Arteta will be sweating for scan results tomorrow as Gabriel hobbled off clutching his hamstring this evening.

  Given how early on in the game it was, the player must have felt it was quite a severe injury.

  With the Premier League run in meaning they cannot afford to drop a single point, along with a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, they do not want to be without their centre-back for any length of time.

  

• Gabi shows flair in derby

  Gabrielle Martinelli was the stand-out performer for The Gunners this evening against Fulham.

  He was a constant threat, running at The Cottagers’ defence, getting dangerous balls into the box.

  The Brazlian even supplied the cross that saw Saka grab the winning goal to secure all three points.

  

• Although they have played one more game than Liverpool, points on the board are most important at this time of the season.

  The Gunners have cut The Reds’ lead at the top to nine points.

  Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping that Everton can do them a favour at Anfield tomorrow evening.

• Gunners’ fans get timely present

  The return of Bakayo Saka proved to be a huge lift to most of North London in the capital this evening.

  A huge roar greeted him as he walked towards the touchline to come on.

  He immediately brought a real zip to Arsenal’s attack.

  It was the perfect night for the winger as headed home from Martinelli’s cross to immediately get back to scoring ways.

  

• FT: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

  There were plenty of positives for Arsenal this evening.

  The biggest being the return and subsequent goal from Bukayo Saka for The Gunners.

  However, there will be a lot of concerns on the severity of the hanstring injury Gabriel seemed to pick up.

• FT: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  The referee brings the game to an end in North London.

  A big three points for Mikel Arteta’s side.

  Towards the end it was a case of hanging onto what they had but the victory is all that matters.

• Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

  90+6. Most of The Emirates’ crowd missed that goal having already left to beat the traffic.

  Sessegnon did well out wide and crossed into the box.

  Muniz got a shot away that took a deflection and beat Raya in the Arsenal goal.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  90+4. Arsenal force another corner late on.

  Odegaard comes over to take it, Saka not quite back on those duties just yet.

  The Norwegian whips it into the box, half-cleared by Andersen, but Rice volleys it over the goal.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  90+2. Fulham’s night was summed up in one incident there.

  Sessegnon ran at Kiwior and the Arsenal defender kicked it behind for a corner seemingly.

  The assistant then awarded a goal kick to The Gunners.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  90. Arsenal thought they had scored their third goal there.

  Odegaard slotted a lovely ball through the defence for Martinelli to run onto.

  He slotted home but the flag immediately went up for offside.

  We are going to have six minutes added.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  88. The visitors are trying to push forward for a change.

  As the cross comes in, Sessegnon’s header at goal is poor.

  Fulham have had their chances to get something out of this game.

  

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  86. If Fulham are hoping to push for European places, they can ill-afford many performances like this.

  Obviously Arsenal have far greater talent at their disposal but Silva would expect his side to give the hosts more of a game.

  Things do not get any easier for the West Londoners, with a trip to Anfield on the weekend.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  84. Saka does well out wide before switching play with a superb pass out to Martinelli.

  He looks to square up his man but his feet go from underneath him and he ends up on the deck.

  Arsenal are looking a much more potent attacking threat since Saka has come on.

• Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

  82. Everyone is still scratching their heads at The Emirates.

  Wondering how Muniz actually missed that header.

  For the neutral, that would have made for an interesting end to this match.