Arsenal produced their finest Premier League performance in weeks, dismantling Fulham 3-0 at the Emirates to open up a six-point lead at the top of the table. Bukayo Saka returned as captain, Gyokeres scored twice, and all the damage was done before half-time.
THE GOALS
Saka announced his return immediately. He cut inside from the right in the opening minutes, left Raul Jimenez on the turf with a drop of the shoulder, and crossed low for Gyokeres to tap home at the near post. It was a statement of intent. Saka then turned scorer in the 40th minute — Gyokeres slid a simple pass through after more calamitous Fulham defending down the left, and Saka stroked a low finish into the near corner. Gyokeres got his second right on the stroke of half-time, rising highest to loop a header from Trossard's floated cross over Bernd Leno. Three-nil at the break. Gyokeres went close to a hat-trick in the second half but Leno raced off his line to deny him. The game was already done.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT
A Fulham squad hit by a virus this week were woeful, particularly in the first half. Their defending for all three goals was culpable — they outnumbered Arsenal on each occasion and still conceded. Calafiori started at left-back on his first start since returning from injury and completed 90 minutes without alarm. Lewis-Skelly made his first senior start in midfield and impressed with his composure. A Calafiori goal was disallowed shortly after the second for offside. The second half was complete game management — Arsenal rarely broke sweat.
LINEUPS
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres. Subs: Mosquera (for White), Dowman (for Eze), Zubimendi (for Lewis-Skelly).
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez. Subs: Cairney, Bobb, King (all 64'), Muniz (73').
WHAT IT MEANS
Arsenal go six points clear of City with four games remaining. City play Everton on Monday. If City win, the gap returns to three. Arsenal's remaining fixtures: West Ham (A), Burnley (H), Crystal Palace (A), and the UCL semi-final second leg vs Atletico on Tuesday. The title is firmly in Arsenal's hands — but only if they keep winning.
