After 101 days impatiently waiting on the sidelines, Bukayo Saka needed just six minutes to mark his return to fitness with a goal, nodding in Arsenal's second in a 2-1 Premier League victory at home to Fulham on Tuesday night.
"We missed him," Mikel Arteta admitted this week. The Gunners boss also conceded that it had been "a hard decision" to resist the urge to start his star player against the Cottagers. After a particularly tepid opening 30 minutes, it looked as though Arteta had made the wrong call.
There was plenty of concern that Fulham - even with the over-populated enclave of former Arsenal players - would be detrimentally deflated by their FA Cup quarter-final humbling at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. In reality, the hosts were just as flat as the visitors.
The burgeoning positivity bouncing around the Emirates at kick-off following Saka's return to the squad was rapidly punctured by an injury for Gabriel. The Brazilian centre-back lasted 16 minutes before limping off to cloud his involvement in next week's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in doubt.
Ethan Nwaneri started in place of Saka and teed up Mikel Merino's opening goal in the 37th minute. Arsenal's stopgap striker tamed the teenager's low cutback in a crowded penalty area, bundling forward and firing a weak, right-footed effort off Jorge Cuenca's knee which deflected kindly into the far corner.
The Gunners were much improved immediately after the interval, creating a pair of clear chances before eventually getting their second goal through - who else? - Bukayo Saka. On a night that will be remembered as the winger's perfect return, spare a thought for Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian who lives in Saka's shadow enjoyed a rare return form on Tuesday, terrorising poor Timothy Castagne throughout. Martinelli provided the audacious back-heel flick which diverted Merino's cross into the path of Saka, who only had to stoop and keep his eyes open to head in Arsenal's second of the night in the 73rd minute. The eminently affable forward celebrated his first goal after three months on the sidelines by hugging Sam Wilson, the fitness coach who helped Saka recover from his hamstring injury.
Despite Saka's best effort, it was a night of mixed fortunes for Arsenal. Rodrigo Muniz evaded David Raya with a deflected effort in second-half stoppage time. The Brazilian sub had already squandered an even clearer opening after repeatedly getting the better of Jakub Kiwior - Gabriel's unconvincing replacement. Jurrien Timber also limped off in a game where three points were won, but it still felt as something had been lost.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: David Raya | 6.9/10 |
RB: Jurrien Timber | 7.2/10 |
CB: William Saliba | 7.3/10 |
CB: Gabriel | 6.3/10 |
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 6.7/10 |
CM: Martin Odegaard | 7.1/10 |
CM: Thomas Partey | 7.7/10 |
CM: Declan Rice | 6.9/10 |
RW: Ethan Nwaneri | 7.7/10 |
ST: Mikel Merino | 7.7/10 |
LW: Gabriel Martinelli | 8.1/10 |
SUB: Jakub Kiwior (16' for Gabriel) | 7.0/10 |
SUB: Bukayo Saka (66' for Nwaneri) | 7.2/10 |
SUB: Leandro Trossard (78' for Timber) | 6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jimi Gower, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling.
Fulham player ratings (5-4-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Bernd Leno | 6.4/10 |
RWB: Timothy Castagne | 6.6/10 |
CB: Issa Diop | 6.2/10 |
CB: Joachim Andersen | 6.1/10 |
CB: Jorge Cuenca | 6.6/10 |
LWB: Antonee Robinson | 7.1/10 |
RM: Adama Traore | 6.3/10 |
CM: Sasa Lukic | 6.0/10 |
CM: Sander Berge | 7.1/10 |
LM: Emile Smith Rowe | 6.6/10 |
ST: Raul Jimenez | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Andrea Pereira (67' for Lukic) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Alex Iwobi (67' for Smith Rowe) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Willian (67' for Traore) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Ryan Sessegnon (77' for Diop) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Rodrigo Muniz (77' for Jimenez) | 7.1/10 |
Subs not used: Steven-Andreas Benda (GK), Calvin Bassey, Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney.
Player of the match - Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
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