Key Takeaways
- Arsenal defeated Fulham 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
- Viktor Gyokeres scored two goals and Bukayo Saka returned from injury to add another.
- The Gunners now sit six points ahead of Manchester City, who have played two fewer matches.
Arsenal produced a commanding first-half performance to beat Fulham 3-0 on Sunday. The victory moves them six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Viktor Gyokeres scored twice for the Gunners. Bukayo Saka also found the net on his first start since the Carabao Cup final.
Saka has been recovering from an Achilles injury. The winger looked sharp from the start and created the opening goal. He beat Raul Jimenez before delivering a low cross for Gyokeres to finish. The England international then scored the second himself, striking the ball powerfully past Bernd Leno at his near post.
Gyokeres headed home Leandro Trossard’s cross to make it 3-0 before the break. This was his twenty-first goal of the season in all competitions.
Manager Mikel Arteta rested both Saka and Gyokeres during the second half. Arsenal face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday. The Gunners drew 1-1 in Madrid last Thursday.
Arteta was pleased with Saka’s physical condition. “I think the pain is gone,” he said. “That was something that was restricting his capacity to deliver certain actions. Today he felt loose, he felt relaxed.”
Young midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly also caught the eye. The academy graduate made his first senior start in his natural midfield position and played alongside Declan Rice.
Fulham struggled during the first forty-five minutes. Manager Marco Silva explained that a virus had affected several players and staff members during the week. However, he refused to blame this for the defeat.
The visitors improved after the interval but created few clear chances. Leno saved well from Gyokeres to deny him a hat-trick. Arsenal could have added more goals, but Gabriel saw a shot blocked, Riccardo Calafiori hit the crossbar, and Max Dowman fired wide.
The result boosts Arsenal’s goal difference. They now lead second-placed Manchester City by four goals in that column. City remain six points behind but hold two games in hand.