It only took 45 minutes for Bukayo Saka to give Arsenal their smile back.
On his first start since mid-March, the England international scored one goal and created another as Arsenal surged into a 3-0 lead over Fulham.
First, his quick footwork left Raul Jimenez in a heap, allowing Saka to square for Viktor Gyokeres to open the scoring. Then Gyokeres returned the favour, turning the ball around the corner for Saka to finish expertly inside Bernd Leno’s near post.
Saka’s cool finish ended a run of 11 games without a goal, and was the 24-year-old’s first at the Emirates Stadium since early December.
“He certainly made a difference,” Mikel Arteta said. “He made two actions that decided the game.
“We know what he’s capable of. He’s come back in the most important period of the season, and now he’s fresh, his mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height, and he needed a performance like that to impact the team.”
Bukayo Saka scores Arsenal’s second against Fulham (Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Saka’s goal gave Arsenal something they have been desperately short of recently: comfort. It was the first time they have taken a two-goal lead in a game since the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen on March 17. In the intervening eight games, the best they had managed was a one-goal advantage.
Arteta made five changes from the team that drew 1-1 in Madrid. The introduction of 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly — making his first Arsenal start as a central midfielder — provided some fresh impetus. With Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori in the side, this was an Arsenal selection with considerably more swagger than recent iterations.
Saka signalled his intentions early on by crashing into a one-on-one duel with former team-mate Emile Smith Rowe. With a Premier League title at stake, this was no time for cosy reunions.
Crucially, Saka looked to have his burst back. He has been struggling with an Achilles injury, but Arteta said that the issue appears to be behind him.
“I think the pain is gone,” the Arsenal manager said. “That was always something that was restricting his capacity to deliver certain actions. Today he felt loose, he felt relaxed, and we had the Bukayo that we know back.”
Saka was not the only attacking player to impress against a poor Fulham side, laid low by a training-ground virus. Trossard delivered his most imaginative display in months, while Gyokeres turned in one of his most complete performances of the season.
The Sweden international profited from Arsenal’s first-half display with two goals, the first a simple tap-in and the second an excellent header from Trossard’s clipped cross. In between, Gyokeres’ hold-up play — including an unexpectedly deft pass — created the goal for Saka.
“He scored two great goals — position-wise, timing-wise as well, it’s something that we’ve been working on,” Arteta said. “It’s going to give him a big boost of energy and confidence to the team as well.”
The double took Gyokeres beyond the 20-goal mark to 21, the most an Arsenal player has scored in a season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (29 goals) in 2019-20. A week ago, a misplaced pass that killed a counter-attack drew howls of derision from the home crowd. This time, Gyokeres was substituted to a rapturous standing ovation.
One of Arteta’s recurring challenges this season has been finding the right balance in attack. Deploy technicians around Gyokeres and his limitations fade while his strengths come into focus: a wrecking ball among the lock-pickers.
It is rare that a half-time whistle is celebrated like a full-time result. Instead of darting for the concourse to grab a drink, the Emirates crowd rose as one to salute a blistering first 45 minutes. Arsenal’s substitutes and staff, who typically would head for the tunnel, entered the pitch to slap hands with the starters. Everyone present recognised the significance of the 3-0 scoreline: Arsenal would be six points clear, add a healthy boost to their goal difference, and make an emphatic statement of intent.
The interval presented Arteta with a dilemma. With a Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, was this an opportunity to rest some key players? Or should Arsenal go full throttle in a bid to extend their goal-difference advantage?
Arteta compromised by leaving most of his team intact, but replacing Saka with Noni Madueke. Ultimately, Arsenal failed to maintain the same level of intensity. With Atletico looming large, Declan Rice and Gyokeres were also afforded some well-earned off the pitch.
Saka’s withdrawal was about protecting him. This was his first start since the Carabao Cup final on March 22 — and Arteta recognises he will need him on Tuesday.
This result was another big stride towards Arsenal’s goal of a Premier League and Champions League double.
Their attempt to make history remains on course. Arsenal’s manager has spoken repeatedly of the need for his players to face the challenge with joy and excitement. Buoyed by Saka’s return, the smiles Arteta craves finally returned.
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