Bukayo Saka scored minutes after coming on for his first appearance in more than three months, as Arsenal held on for a 2-1 win over Fulham. This was the Gunners’ first match in 16 days, when Mikel Merino earned them a narrow victory over Chelsea, and it looked like being the same story here in another London derby. The Spaniard, once again playing as a striker, opened the scoring before half-time with the help of a big deflection, in what had otherwise been a frustrating opening period for the hosts.
Chances were limited and Arsenal lost Gabriel in the opening 15 minutes, the centre-back limping off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Saka was back in the squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury of his own in December, one that required surgery, and he was introduced with 25 minutes remaining to huge cheers.
Barely five minutes later, he was on the scoresheet and the roars grew even louder. Merino’s cross was flicked on by Martinelli, leaving Saka with a simple finish at the back post to mark his return in style. Rodrigo Muniz, who had earlier somehow headed wide from point-blank range, beat David Raya with a deflected strike in stoppage-time to set up a nervy couple of minutes. Fulham then won a corner to pile on the pressure, but Arsenal held on for victory to move to within nine points of Liverpool, at least for 24 hours.
Arsenal vs Fulham latest news
- GOAL! Muniz gives Fulham late hope
- GOAL! Saka off the bench to double the lead
- GOAL! Merino's deflected strike puts Arsenal in front
Good company to keep!
21:52 , Matt VerriAnother strong night for Ethan Nwaneri...
10 - Ethan Nwaneri (18y 11d) is the second-youngest player across Europe's big five leagues to reach 10 goal involvements across all competitions this season (8 goals, 2 assists), only behind Lamine Yamal (17y 77d). Producing. pic.twitter.com/4a3d0wdt3a
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 1, 2025
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
21:43 , Matt VerriArsenal hold on!
Really shouldn’t have been that nervy in the end, but they get the job done.
Bukayo Saka scores on his return, brilliant moment for him.
Concern for Arsenal will be what appeared to be a hamstring injury for Gabriel.
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
21:41 , Matt Verri90+6 mins: And they win a corner!
This has turned into a bit of a mess in defence from Arsenal...
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
21:40 , Matt Verri90+5 mins: Martinelli has it out wide - Arteta points straight to the corner.
He instead loses it. Fulham have a minute to get this forward...
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Fulham | Rodrigo Muniz 90+4'
21:39 , Matt VerriWell then...
Muniz’s strike takes a big deflection, and Raya can’t change direction in time.
Two minutes still to play.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:38 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: Corner for Arsenal - fair to say they’re not rushing to take this.
Headed out to Rice, space for the volley but he smashes it over the bar.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:35 , Matt Verri90 mins: Match almost done but Arteta still very animated in shouting some instructions at Kiwior.
Six minutes added on - Arsenal not quite there yet.
GOOO.... OFFSIDE!
21:34 , Matt VerriNot to be for Martinelli.
His performance has deserved a goal, but he’s not going to get it here.
Lovely pass from Odegaard to play him in, cuts through four Fulham defenders.
Curled into the bottom corner, but the flag is up. Just off.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:33 , Matt Verri88 mins: Decent chance now for Sessegnon.
He’s in space in the box, should do more with the header but he nods it straight at Raya.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:32 , Matt Verri87 mins: Arsenal just seeing this out now, happy to let Fulham have the ball.
Sessegnon swings in a cross from the right wing, Saliba there to head it out.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:29 , Matt Verri84 mins: Iwobi has been bright since coming on, looks capable of making something happen.
It’s otherwise been pretty lifeless from Fulham in attack tonight.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
21:26 , Matt VerriThat, from Muniz, is a contender for miss of the season. Point-blank range. He heads wide.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:26 , Matt Verri80 mins: Chance for Iwobi to break, Partey out of position at right-back.
The former Arsenal man makes space for the cross, picks out Muniz perfectly... and it’s an astonishing miss from Muniz!
Four yards out, completely free. Wide.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:22 , Matt Verri77 mins: Timber unable to continue this time.
Trossard on to replace him, so it will be Partey to right back and Merino dropping back into midfield.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
21:20 , Matt Verri75 mins: Timber has gone down off the ball, not for the first time tonight.
Robinson kicks it out to let him get some treatment.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
21:19 , Matt VerriWell, wouldn't you just know it?
Saka scored minutes into his return, and he looks delighted as he wheels away in celebration. It surely wraps up the points for the Gunners.
A more popular goalscorer never existed on this particular night.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham | Bukayo Saka 73'
21:18 , Matt VerriHAD TO HAPPEN!
Back on the pitch and back in the goals!
Martinelli makes it all happen on the left, and he then flicks a cross into the path of Saka, who has a tap-in at the back post.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:16 , Matt Verri71 mins: Saka whips a cross to the back post, Partey nods a header back across the face of goal.
Comes to Rice, doesn’t really catch the strike and it’s blocked.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:14 , Matt Verri69 mins: Every Saka touch is going to be cheered like a goal.
He holds off Robinson and lays it back to Timber - good enough for another roar.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:12 , Matt Verri67 mins: And those Fulham changes have also taken place.
Iwobi, Willian and Pereira on. Smith Rowe gets a nice ovation from the home supporters as he makes way.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:11 , Matt Verri66 mins: Huge roars from the Arsenal fans, as Saka gets ready to come on for his first appearance in more than three months.
And it gets even louder as he steps onto the pitch to replace Nwaneri!
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
21:09 , Matt VerriAndreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi and Willian will shortly be coming on for Fulham.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:09 , Matt Verri64 mins: And for all that dominance, it could very easily be 1-1.
Kiwior doesn’t deal with a bouncing ball, Traore can pounce.
Jimenez waiting for a tap-in, but Traore doesn’t square it. Scuffed shot is bad enough that it nearly turns into a pass anyway, but it bobbles out of play.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:07 , Matt Verri62 mins: Martinelli continues to roast Castagne at every opportunity. Flip-flap through the legs as he skips past the defender, wins another corner.
Rice puts it right on top of Leno, who punches it away.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:06 , Matt Verri61 mins: Fulham hanging on for dear life from these corners. Look so uncomfortable.
Merino this time very nearly has a second of the night, but his strike is deflected just over the bar.
It’s not convincing from Fulham from the next corner either, but they scramble it away.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
21:06 , Matt VerriArsenal have their feet firmly on the accelerator now. They're seeking to have this match wrapped up as soon as possible.
In the lead and on the hunt for a second goal.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:05 , Matt Verri60 mins: Rice swings a corner to the back post, where the usual mass of Arsenal bodies are.
Drops for Martinelli, his header is deflected behind. Not sure Leno would have kept that out.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:03 , Matt Verri58 mins: Great ball in from Odegaard, Saliba gets up well in the middle.
But he can’t keep the header down - Leno watches it over the bar.
That was a very decent chance.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
21:02 , Matt Verri57 mins: Lewis-Skelly fouled about four times, keeps driving forward.
Eventually he can’t continue and Lukic is booked for one of several hacks at the defender.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:59 , Matt Verri54 mins: Lovely move from Arsenal.
Timber drives forward, brilliant one-two with Odegaard and he’s in on goal.
Leno produces a good save to deny the full-back.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
20:59 , Matt VerriIt was a fierce effort, that, from Jimenez, forcing a good save from Raya, but there were men in the middle for Fulham.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see Rodrigo Muniz emerge from the bench in the next 20 minutes or so for Silva's side.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:57 , Matt Verri52 mins: A mess at the back from Arsenal, but they survive.
Long ball forward, Saliba goes down but the whistle doesn’t come.
Timber slows Jimenez down, but the striker gets the shot away.
Raya parries it straight into the six-yard box, luckily for him it’s Lewis-Skelly there in front of Smith Rowe.
Andersen then booked for hacking down Merino.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:56 , Matt Verri51 mins: Traore loses it and Arsenal can break.
Martinelli once again gets past his man on the outside, cut-back is a good one.
But Odegaard balloons the first-time effort miles over the bar.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:55 , Matt Verri50 mins: Merino scoops a ball over the top of the Fulham defence.
Nwaneri knows he’s offside, eventually decides he should get on the end of the pass anyway... and then the offside flag goes up.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:52 , Matt Verri47 mins: Partey lunges in on Cuenca, referee waves play on.
Definitely got the ball, but the referee then halts play 20 seconds later, with Cuenca still down.
You can take a wild guess at how that’s received in the stadium...
Back underway!
20:50 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half!
Saka decision...
20:46 , Matt VerriHow long does Mikel Arteta want to give Bukayo Saka tonight?
This match and then the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday, before the focus shifts to Real Madrid.
20 minutes here, 60 minutes against Everton, start against Real Madrid?
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
20:37 , Matt VerriHalf-time, and Arsenal will be pleased.
Dominating the match and leading thanks to a well-worked goal finished off by their auxiliary No9.
Fulham a bit limp and lifeless and in need of some inspiration.
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:35 , Matt VerriThat’s half-time in north London.
Not a particularly great watch, but Arsenal lead through that deflected Merino strike.
Imagine both managers will want a lot more.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:34 , Matt Verri45+3 mins: Nearly disastrous from Partey.
He goes to head it back to Raya, but Jimenez is standing right there and is so, so, so close to being put clean through on goal.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:30 , Matt Verri45 mins: Not hugely convincing from Raya.
Ball pinged into the box, he comes off his line and can only tip it behind for a corner with Traore lurking.
Lukic over to take this, Kiwior’s flicked header clears it away.
Four minutes added on.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:28 , Matt Verri42 mins: Space starting to open up for Arsenal.
Martinelli brings it forward on the left, cuts the ball back for Odegaard and he catches the strike really well. Good block to deny him.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
20:27 , Matt Verri41 mins: Raya splits the Fulham press and Arsenal can drive into space.
Switched out to Lewis-Skelly, he dinks a cross in but Andersen is there to head clear.
Dom Smith at the Emirates
20:25 , Matt VerriThe nick that strike took off Cuenca undoubtedly helped it past Leno, but that was fine work by Merino, who is becoming something of a poacher for Arsenal.
It's just what the Gunners needed to settle the nerves before the break
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham | Mikel Merino 37'
20:23Big slice of luck but Arsenal don’t care!
Nwaneri gets in behind, picks out Merino in the box.
He digs out a shot, it takes a huge deflection off Cuenca and beats Leno.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
20:20 , Matt VerriIt doesn't feel to me as though Fulham are doing enough to get close to Arsenal who, invariably, have the ball at their feet.
The visitors need more aggression in their pursuit of possession or this match will simply pass them by just as Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Crystal Palace did.
Marco Silva filing quickly through a range of emotions from his technical area, as per.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:18 , Matt Verri33 mins: Timber appears to be moving fine.
Not a lot of momentum in the match for Arsenal, it’s all very slow. Fulham comfortable in their shape.
Familiar story for the Gunners this season...
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:16 , Matt Verri30 mins: Timber stretched to block a Jimenez shot, and that seemed to have tweaked something.
He’s back up and getting some instructions from Arteta, though. Looks like he’s going to continue for now.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:14 , Matt Verri29 mins: This... is not going well for Arsenal.
Timber has now gone down off the ball, and Smith Rower is the one to eventually kick it out.
On come the medical staff again.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:13 , Matt Verri28 mins: Fulham dropping deeper and deeper.
Arsenal, as is often the case, not really looking to go through the middle.
Relying on the wide players to make something happen.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:10 , Matt Verri24 mins: More of the same from Martinelli as he skips to the byline, can’t dig out a cross this time.
Huge cheers from the Arsenal fans... nothing to do with that.
Saka has gone skipping down the touchline to warm up for the first time tonight.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:06 , Matt Verri21 mins: Martinelli has another run at Castagne, again he’s got the better of him.
Stands up a cross to the back post, Nwaneri catches the volley really nicely and it’s a good save from Leno.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:04 , Matt Verri18 mins: Kiwior wins the ball back 25 yards out, scuffs an effort at goal.
Falls for Rice, but he can’t sort his feet out in time. Fulham then threaten to break but Partey slides in perfectly to halt the counter.
Dom Smith at the Emirates
20:02 , Matt VerriShaking his head and locks in some pain, Gabriel.
Kiwior is on and it's a real shame for the man he replaces.
With the Real Madrid first leg just a week away, Arteta will be praying it isn't serious.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
20:01 , Matt Verri15 mins: Gabriel needed treatment, but Arsenal played on.
They lost it, Gabriel goes down and Fulham ignore the pleas to kick the ball out - that’s fair enough.
The Arsenal man isn’t happy at all... eventually the ball does go out.
He looks in a fair bit of trouble as he gets treatment.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
19:59 , Matt Verri13 mins: Nice play out on the right from Arsenal.
Flicked pass plays in Timber, who whips in a brilliant low ball across the face of goal.
Nobody there in a red shirt.
Dom Smith at the Emirates
19:55 , Matt VerriBerge with a not-so-subtle giveaway of Fulham's game-plan there, controlling from Robinson's throw-in, pivoting, and then hammering the ball as far away as he could.
Gotta respect the brazenness of it
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
19:55 , Matt Verri9 mins: Martinelli has been the bright spark for Arsenal, the one injecting some pace.
Goes under the radar now that it’s happened for a fair while, but Merino again playing up front for Arsenal.
Desperate times...
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
19:52 , Matt Verri6 mins: That’s much more like it.
Martinelli absolutely burns past Castagne on the outside, gets to the byline.
Cut-back to Rice, can’t get enough on the shot. Falls for Partey, who drags his effort a long way wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
19:51 , Matt Verri5 mins: Fulham getting pretty much everyone back behind the ball when Arsenal do have it.
The Gunners have struggled to break teams down for large periods of the season.
Patient build-up so far, but not really going anywhere.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
19:48 , Matt Verri2 mins: It’s Fulham with all of the ball in the opening couple of minutes.
Timber and Odegaard have both already been caught on it early on.
KICK-OFF!
19:45We’re up and running at the Emirates!
Dom Smith at the Emirates
19:44 , Matt VerriReasonable temperature in north London tonight.
An almighty roar from the Arsenal fans as Bukayo Saka's name is called out among the substitutes.
Here we go!
19:42 , Matt VerriPlayers are out at the Emirates.
Fulham actually unbeaten in their last three matches against Arsenal - those dropped points cost the Gunners the title last season.
Not long now!
19:38 , Matt VerriTeams will be in the tunnel in the next couple of minutes.
Arsenal haven’t played for more than two weeks, Fulham coming into this off the back of a painful FA Cup defeat...
Who knows what to expect!
Saka to pick up from where he left off?
19:29 , Matt VerriNine goals and 13 assists for Bukayo Saka this season... and he hasn’t played since December 21.
He was in such impressive form in the first half of the campaign, Arsenal will be desperate to get him back to those levels.
Reminder that this time next week, it will be Real Madrid at the Emirates for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie.
White absence explained
19:21 , Matt VerriBen White is not in the Arsenal squad tonight, which Mikel Arteta has put down to a “niggle” picked up in training.
"He had a little niggle two days ago," Arteta says.
"Yesterday we tried, he wasn’t feeling right, so we decided not to put him in the squad today."
How it stands...
19:13 , Matt VerriIt does feel like Arsenal’s season is now centred on the Champions League.
The Gunners trail Liverpool by 12 points in the Premier League with nine matches to go - the title race is surely over.
Arsenal are ten points clear of Man City in fifth, so it would take a significant collapse of their own to fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
As for Fulham, they are still in the hunt for European football.
They are eighth in the table, but only three points off Man City. All to play for.
In the building!
19:06 , Matt VerriThe Gunners arrived at the Emirates a short while ago...
Ready to represent.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 1, 2025
Shot on Google Pixel 🤳 pic.twitter.com/cfwXinwIrH
Why is Arsenal vs Fulham not on TV in UK?
18:59 , Matt VerriUK-based fans not going to the game who wanted to watch on television have been left disappointed, with it not being broadcast live on these shores.
Instead, it’s Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United at the City Ground that will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate on Tuesday night.
Arsenal vs Fulham could have been available to show having remained in its original slot amid a full midweek round of top-flight games, only two of which are being televised live in the UK, but it was overlooked.
Arsenal’s final-ever trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton next weekend was though moved to a lunchtime slot for live TNT Sports broadcast, while their games coming up against Brentford, Ipswich and Bournemouth are all on Sky Sports.
Free highlights of Arsenal-Fulham will be available shortly after the game via the Sky Sports app and website, while there is a special midweek Match of the Day that airs on BBC One at 10:40pm BST on Wednesday night.
Dom Smith at the Emirates Stadium
18:50 , Matt VerriHave to think Saka will feature at some point off the bench...
"Bukayo Saka is back - that is the big news."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 1, 2025
🗣 @MrDomSmith gives his pre-match thoughts as the Arsenal star returns to the squad after more than three months out.
LIVE: https://t.co/C1s7wirdNc #ARSFUL pic.twitter.com/rdVgqjOMVe
Saka back in the squad!
18:40 , Matt VerriBukayo Saka makes his return to the Arsenal squad after more than three months out.
Mikel Arteta said he was ready to start, but opts to name him on the bench tonight. Probably wise, particularly with that Real Madrid clash only a week away.
Ethan Nwaneri starts on the right wing, while Jurrien Timber has recovered from illness and keeps his place at right-back.
Fulham team news
18:35 , Matt VerriFulham XI: Leno, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson, Smith Rowe, Traore, Jimenez
Subs: Benda, Bassey, Reed, Cairney, Pereira, Sessegnon, Muniz, Iwobi, Willian
Arsenal team news
18:31 , Matt VerriArsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Gower, Saka, Sterling, Trossard
Arteta predicts big summer for Arsenal
18:25 , Matt VerriMikel Arteta says he is excited about a “big summer” ahead in which Andrea Berta will help to improve both the depth and quality in Arsenal’s squad.
Italian Berta was officially announced as the Gunners’ new sporting director on Sunday. He succeeds Edu, who left the role in November.
Arsenal’s hopes of finally getting over the line and sealing the Premier League title under Arteta appear to have passed them by again this season, with Liverpool primed to finish as champions.
That places great pressure on the Gunners’ hierarchy to get their summer recruitment right, including signing an elite striker - something that is top of their to-do list.
“The way we planned the five first summers, they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives because the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows was going to be different,” Arsenal boss Arteta said.
“But now when you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.”
Saka return to galvanise Arsenal
18:15 , Matt VerriReinstating Bukayo Saka to the attack gives Arsenal’s forward line much-needed firepower for the final stretch of the season and allows the development of 18-year-old winger Ethan Nwaneri to be managed at a slightly more tempered pace.
Without Saka, it is difficult to see how the Gunners could conceivably have gone all the way in Europe. With him, especially once he’s back up to speed, they will rightly believe they can.
Arsenal were knocked out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during the three months Saka sat out, but the much grander prize of the Champions League is still in sight — especially now he is back.
In the words of his manager: “Bukayo comes back at the most important time of the season.”
Read Dom Smith’s full preview here!
Silva backs Fulham to respond
18:06 , Matt VerriMarco Silva believes Fulham can "respond very well" to their FA Cup exit.
The Cottagers are still recovering from their 3-0 quarter-final collapse against Crystal Palace on Saturday as they turn their attention back to the Premier League.
The west London side have not lost to Mikel Arteta's men in their last three meetings and Silva thinks his side have what it takes to bounce back from the Palace result despite such a short turnaround between fixtures.
"We had Saturday afternoon to cry and be sad but from yesterday we prepare for Arsenal and the games are coming thick and fast after the international break," boss Silva said.
Arsenal will boast fresher legs than their fellow Londoners having last played on March 16 in their 1-0 win over Chelsea.
"They don't just have individual quality but also collective quality," Silva added.
"They didn't play 48 hours ago and have had all the time to operate. They have this small advantage and play a home game which is different.
"We know their quality and their physicality too, they will press high and cause problems for us, we need to be brave and to play our game."
Andrea Berta - the miracle man?
17:59 , Matt VerriIt’s been a big few days off the pitch for Arsenal, with the arrival of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director.
The story goes that when Andrea Berta told his mother he was leaving his steady job in a bank to work in football, she almost fainted.
Berta is today one of the top executives in football after landing the job of Arsenal’s new sporting director, but his journey began with a roll of the dice and in far smaller surroundings.
Around 20 years ago, he left behind his career at a bank in Brescia to start working for Carpenedolo as a sporting director following a call from local businessman Tommaso Ghirardi.
Under Berta’s watch, the semi-professional side - from a town with a population of just 12,000 - climbed all the way to the fourth tier of Italian football.
Italian press have taken to calling him ‘milagroso Berta’, which translates as ‘Miraculous Berta’.
Read our full in-depth piece on Berta here!
Arteta: No concerns over Saka
17:51 , Matt VerriMikel Arteta has revealed the extent of Bukayo Saka’s workload over the international break.
Saka is “ready to go” when Arsenal host London rivals Fulham and may even start, according to the Gunners boss.
The 23-year-old has not played since December due to a hamstring injury which required surgery.
Saka was pictured in training with Arsenal last week during the international break, and Arteta was asked how involved the England winger has been over the past fortnight with an internal behind-closed-doors friendly also played.
“We played once, but before that he [Saka] had six consecutive sessions with the team, and he was good,” Arteta said.
“We played that game, he felt completely fine. So that's why I'm sure that we have managed to replicate almost every scenario [he could face]. At the end you need that, a 60,000 stadium, a different competitive level, a referee and play that game.”
Asked whether he will be fearful of Saka re-injuring himself once he takes his first sprint of his long-awaited return, Arteta replied: “No, because he has done everything many times already.”
Stage is set!
17:43 , Matt VerriIt’s an absolutely glorious evening in north London!
N5 is ready. Premier League football is back.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 1, 2025
Emirates Stadium 📍 pic.twitter.com/eV4W1CeUUI
Standard Sport prediction
17:35 , Matt VerriIt’s a tough one to call as Arsenal have found it difficult against Fulham in recent meetings. They haven’t beaten their London rivals in three attempts and those issues in attack are still apparent.
Fulham were surprisingly below-par against Crystal Palace but they have secured some impressive results away from home against the so-called bigger clubs this season and may strike another blow to the Gunners’ already faint title hopes.
1-1 draw
Fulham team news
17:30 , Matt VerriEmile Smith Rowe makes his first return to the Emirates after leaving permanently last summer.
However, the game comes too soon for Harry Wilson and Kenny Tete.
Reiss Nelson, on loan from Arsenal, would have been ineligible anyway, but he is in a race to play again this season after hamstring surgery.
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Arsenal team news
17:21Bukayo Saka is tonight in line to make his long-awaited return for Arsenal tonight.
Saka has not featured since suffering a hamstring tear against Crystal Palace on December 21 that required surgery.
But the Gunners appeared to receive a boost last week when the club’s official social media channels shared photos of Saka in training.
And Mikel Arteta replied “yes” when asked whether Saka could start against Fulham.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” Arteta said. “All the careful things are already done. Now it’s about putting him on the grass in the right moments. But he’s pushing because he really wants it. We’ve had to hold him back, even.”
Arsenal suffered their latest concern in an injury-plagued season when defender Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury during a nasty slip while playing for Italy, and he will be out for “weeks”.
Jurrien Timber is available again after illness, but trio Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kai Havertz are out for the rest of the season with long-term injuries.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber; Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
How to watch Arsenal vs Fulham
17:08 , Matt VerriTV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.
Free highlights: In the UK, Match of the Day will air highlights from the game on BBC One at 10.40pm BST tomorrow.
Good afternoon!
17:00 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Fulham!
It’s been 16 days since the Gunners were last in action, with the international break followed by a weekend of FA Cup action.
Mikel Arteta’s side are back tonight and will be looking to build confidence ahead of next week’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here, ahead of kick-off which comes at 7:45pm BST from the Emirates Stadium.
