Player Ratings: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham – Saka Returns, Martinelli Stars | OneFootball

Arsenal Edge Past Fulham as Saka Makes Scoring Return

Saka’s Swift Impact Sparks Arsenal Win

In football, timing can be everything. After more than three months out injured, Bukayo Saka returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up with a goal that arrived just six minutes after he stepped onto the Emirates pitch. His header sealed a 2-1 Premier League win over Fulham, though the story was anything but straightforward.

Mikel Arteta had hinted that holding Saka back was one of his tougher calls this season. It took just over an hour to release the winger into the fray, and by the time he made his mark, the relief was tangible. “We missed him,” Arteta said earlier this week. He wasn’t wrong.

Stuttering Start Marred by Injuries

For all the anticipation surrounding Saka’s return, the evening began on a flatter note. The Emirates buzzed with optimism but quickly dipped when Gabriel was forced off early with a concerning limp, casting doubt over his availability for Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Fulham, themselves still bruised from a heavy FA Cup defeat, didn’t show the sort of spark one might expect from a side looking to bounce back. Instead, it was a first half marked more by caution than craft, as both teams drifted into a muted contest.

The breakthrough eventually came from Mikel Merino. Introduced up front in an unfamiliar role, he made the most of a clever cutback from Ethan Nwaneri, squeezing a shot that deflected in off Jorge Cuenca. It was more persistence than precision — but it counted all the same.

Martinelli’s Revival Powers Arsenal’s Second

It’s tempting to see this match only through the lens of Saka’s return, but Gabriel Martinelli made a compelling claim for the spotlight. Operating on the left, he ran Fulham’s Timothy Castagne ragged and delivered a delicious back-heeled assist for Saka’s header.

That flick of brilliance was Martinelli’s reward for a relentless display — one that earned him player of the match. His connection with Merino and Nwaneri was a rare bright spark on a night otherwise punctuated by fatigue and fouls.

Late Twist Leaves Arsenal With Mixed Feelings

For all Arsenal’s second-half improvement, Fulham had the last say. Rodrigo Muniz pounced deep into added time, his shot wrong-footing David Raya via a deflection. It wasn’t enough to steal a point, but it did dampen the celebrations slightly.

Worryingly for Arteta, Jurrien Timber also limped off late in the game. Three points may be secured, but with key Champions League ties ahead, the cost could yet be counted.

Arsenal will take the result, but this was no procession. Against a Fulham side still licking wounds, it took the return of a star and a spark from the shadows to seal the win. The Premier League rarely offers comfort, even in victory.

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