Arsenal delivered a straight-forward 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday, keeping their dim Premier League title hopes alive but suffering a potentially-costly injury to their Champions League hopes.
The Emirates Stadium saw goals from Mikel Merino and a returning Bukayo Saka off the bench, but an apparent hamstring injury to star defender Gabriel Magalhaes could affect their hopes of beating Real Madrid in the upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal round.
WATCH – Arsenal v Fulham full match replay
Jurrien Timber picked up a knock early and played through it before subbing off late in another defender injury for Arteta to monitor moving forward.
Fulham missed one big chance in the second half but otherwise struggled to generate much of anything before Rodrigo Muniz scored in the fourth of six minutes stoppage time.
Arsenal pull within nine points of first-place Liverpool before the Reds play Wednesday. Fulham’s 45 points climb above ninth-place Aston Villa for the moment.
Saka moment very nice but Gabriel injury critical
The post-match interviewer told Mikel Arteta that the game will be all about Bukayo Saka’s goal upon return and nice celebration with the training staff. Don’t get us wrong, it was an awesome moment. But a muscular injury to Gabriel Magalhaes and a less-notorious injury exit for Jurrien Timber about a week before the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg with Real Madrid is screaming from this recap. Arsenal is strong from back-to-front but the team’s success in knockout round matches is focused around the twin towers that comprise elite center back duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes (especially since the Gunners remain without a lethal striker). Saka’s return is massive and the moment was great but the medium and big pictures loom large over Tuesday’s win.
Arsenal vs Fulham player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
How to watch Arsenal vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:45pm ET Tuesday (April 1)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Arsenal vs Fulham final score: 2-1
Mikel Merino 38', Bukayo Saka 73', Rodriugo Muniz 90+4'
Arsenal vs Fulham live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Now it is, in fact, done.
Rodrigo Muniz goal — Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (90+4')
Not done yet!
Rodrigo Muniz skewers golden chance
What a chipped pass from a driving Alex Iwobi, who puts his teammate Rodrigo Muniz dead center for an open headed goal.
Muniz drops the header wide of the far post. Unreal miss.
2-0 Arsenal, 81'.
Bukayo Saka goal! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham (73rd minute)
He’s back on the score sheet as well as the pitch, and it’s straight-forward.
Lots of good stuff from Gabriel Martinelli, who could use a goal himself but will take this.
The Brazilian comes down the left and lays off for Merino, who slides to cross the ball toward the near post.
Martinelli leaps and his touch turns it to the back post, where Saka nods over the line.
Bukayo Saka makes his return
The England star returns after a three-month absence, a smile on his face as he takes the place of Nwaneri, who assisted Merino’s goal.
Still 1-0 Arsenal, 66'.
Halftime — Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
The Gunners deserve their lead, though of course the game is far from settled and Gabriel’s injury continues to loom over the scoreboard.
Fulham have only managed 0.03 xG and a single shot. Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi, Willian, and Rodrigo Muniz must be itching to get on the pitch.
Arsenal’s front three have been bright but will certainly feel like they could’ve grabbed a second goal and made halftime a bit more comfortable.
Mikel Merino goal — Arsenal 1-0 Fulham (38th minute)
It’s a deflected strike, but Arsenal’s makeshift striker won’t care one bit.
Timber releases Ethan Nwaneri into the right side of the box, and the youngster’s cutback finds Merino.
The Spaniard gets his sixth of the Premier League season when his shot bounds off the right leg of his countryman — Fulham’s Jorge Cuenca — and inside the far post.
Multiple Arsenal injury scares, one causing a sub
Jurrien Timber took a boot to the knee and is able to play on, but another injury moments before will cause a great deal of anxiety around the Emirates stadium.
Gabriel Magalhaes pulled up with a possible hamstring injury after 15 minutes, and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior. With Real Madrid coming up next week, well, oof.
Fulham have started well
This is a 50:50 affair for sure.
Arsenal have rattled off the first couple of shot attempts in this game but Fulham are contesting every thing.
The Gunners now have to deal with a prone Gabriel, who is being treated by trainers.
0-0, 15'.
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Merino
Fulham lineup
Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Adama, Smith Rowe, Jimenez
Arsenal vs Fulham preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Mikel Arteta’s side are 12 points behind Liverpool with nine games to go and it would be an almighty turnaround for them to win the title from here. But there’s still a chance. Bukayo Saka is ready to return after three months out following hamstring surgery in December, so that’s a massive boost for the Gunners as they aim for Champions League glory in the final months of the campaign. They did beat Chelsea 1-0 before the break as they’re hanging in there in the title race.
Marco Silva and Fulham will be smarting after they were beaten 3-0 at home in their FA Cup quarterfinal against Crystal Palace at the weekend. Fulham started well but were punished ruthlessly by Palace. Still, the Cottagers are having a fine season and are in the hunt for European qualification, so they won’t be feeling too down.
Arsenal team news, focus
Saka is likely to be given some minutes in this game as Arsenal try and build him up for the massive Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid. Aside from that, this Arsenal side picks itself at the moment with Trossard on the left, Merino up top and Nwaneri on the right with Gabriel Martinelli an option wherever needed. Rice, Partey and Odegaard have midfield locked down and teenage left back Lewis-Skelly will return full of confidence after his superb performances for England (including a debut goal) during the international break.
OUT: Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Kai Havertz (hamstring - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (torn ACL - out for season), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)
Fulham team news, focus
The Cottagers have so many options in attack and Silva will likely start Jimenez, Smith Rowe and Traore after leaving all three on the bench against Crystal Palace. In hindsight that was perhaps not the right decision as they lacked a cutting edge in the final third. USMNT left back and Fulham captain Antonee Robinson missed the international break and was subbed off late on against Palace, so that’s something to watch as he may not be fully fit.
OUT: Harry Wilson (foot), Kenny Tete (knee), Reiss Nelson (hamstring)
Arsenal vs Fulham prediction
The Gunners should win but this will be tighter than most people think. Saka off the bench could be the difference late on. Arsenal 3-1 Fulham.
