“Saka’s introduction was loudly cheered and the stadium erupted when he scored. The sight of him hitting his stride immediately is a welcome one for those Arsenal fans, with a big test to come against European champions Real.”
BBC
Bukayo Saka made an instant impact on his return from injury, coming off the bench to score Arsenal’s second goal in a 2-1 victory over Fulham. Mikel Merino had given the Gunners the lead in the first half before Saka headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s flick at the far post in the 73rd minute. Fulham pulled one back in stoppage time through Rodrigo Muniz, whose deflected shot wrong-footed David Raya. The win brings Arsenal within nine points of the league leaders, but they suffered a setback with defender Gabriel forced off early due to injury.
Arsenal initially struggled to break down Fulham’s deep defensive setup, a recurring issue in a season marked by injuries to key attackers. Saka’s return energized the team and the crowd, highlighting his importance—Arsenal’s goal-scoring rate dropped significantly in his absence. Meanwhile, Fulham had chances of their own, with Raul Jimenez forcing a save and Muniz missing a clear header. Manager Marco Silva will be frustrated with the loss but hopes it won’t disrupt Fulham’s otherwise solid season.