On his first appearance after more than three months out injured, England winger Bukayo Saka on Tuesday scored what proved to be the clinching goal in a 2-1 win over Fulham as Arsenal trimmed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points.
Saka — Arsenal’s star player and easily their most popular — entered as a substitute in the 66th minute to a huge ovation after his long absence because of a serious hamstring problem. Within seven minutes, he was being cheered again after nodding home Arsenal’s second at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the supporters’ thunderous reception toward Saka showed how much “people love him and missed him.”
Photo: Reuters
“He lifted the stadium,” Arteta said, while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice welcomed back “one of the best wingers in the world.”
“He attacks the box and sniffs the goal,” Rice said. “With Bukayo back, it’s a real boost.”
Mikel Merino scored the 37th-minute opener for second-placed Arsenal, who require an unlikely collapse by Liverpool if the London club are to capture their first league title since 2003-2004.
Photo: AFP
Saka, who has been sidelined since sustaining his injury on Dec. 21 in a league match against Crystal Palace, is back in time to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals starting next week.
Whether Gabriel Magalhaes will be available for Arsenal against the European champions remains to be seen. The Brazil centerback went off with an apparent hamstring injury in the 16th minute against Fulham.
“I hope he’s OK because he’s been arguably our best player this season, and we need him for big matches and big occasions,” Rice said.
Rodrigo Muniz grabbed a consolation goal for Fulham in stoppage-time.
Liverpool were to host Everton in the Merseyside derby after press time last night, after which there are eight rounds left in the Premier League.
Arsenal stayed four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest, who beat Manchester United 1-0 thanks to a brilliant solo goal by Anthony Elanga — a former United player — to close in on a remarkable qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Nottingham Forest, who were battling relegation last season, are 10 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle United. The top five are likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Elanga showed Manchester United what they are missing with one of the goals of the season.
The Sweden winger got hold of possession 20m inside his own half in the fifth minute and set off on a run directly toward Manchester United’s goal, first shrugging off backtracking opponent Alejandro Garnacho and then entering the penalty area before shooting left-footed into the bottom corner of the goal.
Elanga, who left Malmo at age 11 to move to Manchester with his mother and sisters, and was soon recommended to Man United, celebrated in muted fashion against the team who brought him into the pro ranks before selling him to Forest in 2023.
“I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there,” Elanga said. “I am enjoying my football [at Forest] and I want to keep on going.”
United substitute Harry Maguire had an effort cleared off the line by Forest defender Murillo in one of the last kicks of the game in a dramatic finish at the City Ground.
United stayed marooned in 13th place in what is set to be their worst Premier League finish.
In the night’s other game, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat West Ham United 1-0 thanks to Jorgen Strand Larsen’s 21st-minute goal to push further clear of relegation danger.
Wolves stayed in fourth-to-last place, but moved 12 points clear of the bottom three.
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