Bukayo Saka made a sensational return after 101 days out due to injury, scoring just seven minutes after coming off the bench to help Arsenal secure a 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
With the score at 1-0 in favor of Arsenal, Saka entered the match in the second half and quickly demonstrated just how much the team had missed him, heading in a flick from Gabriel Martinelli at the far post in the 73rd minute.
Mikel Merino had given Arsenal the lead with a deflected shot in the 37th minute, finding the corner of the net after Ethan Nwaneri delivered a cut-back.
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz pulled a goal back in stoppage time, scoring with a deflected shot that wrong-footed goalkeeper David Raya after hitting William Saliba.
This victory moved Arsenal within nine points of league leaders Liverpool. However, it was a mixed night for the Gunners; although Saka’s return was a positive sign given his serious hamstring injury, they lost center-back Gabriel early in the first half, raising concerns for manager Mikel Arteta with a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid approaching next week.
Fulham defended deeply throughout the match but had a chance to equalize much earlier when substitute Muniz headed wide from just six yards out with an open goal ahead of him.
Arsenal’s next match is against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, followed by the first leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid at home on Tuesday.
