Bukayo Saka returns in style but Arsenal suffer injury woe against Fulham - 5 talking points

Bukayo Saka scored seven minutes into his Arsenal return after 101 days on the sidelines, but the Gunners lost two key men in their win over Fulham.

England star Saka came off the bench to score a close range header in the 73rd minute at the Emirates Stadium, but after pulling up with a hamstring injury just one week before the first leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Makeshift forward Mikel Merino scored the first goal of the game , although his first half strike took a heavy deflection off Jorge Cuenca before finding the corner of the net.

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Raul Jimenez brought a smart save from and Adama Traore wasted a good opening, but after Arsenal brought on Saka in the 66th minute he was soon on hand to head home Gabriel Martinelli's flick from Merino's cross.

Jurrien Timber then became the second Gunners defender to limp off, and despite Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz pulling a goal back in injury time, Arsenal held on for a victory which takes them within nine points of leaders Liverpool. Here are the game's talking points.

1. Bukayo's back after a damaging 101 days

The biggest cheer pre-match was reserved for one man, and then there was an even bigger one upon his arrival into the game in the 66th minute, and then an even bigger one again when he scored. It would be tempting to say that Saka's return to the Gunners squad has come at the perfect time, but then you look at the league table and the gap to and you realise they could really have done with him a lot earlier.

Saka spent three months on the sidelines for the Gunners, missing 19 games in all competitions including 12 in the . This time next week it'll be visiting the Emirates and not , and how they'll want him in the starting line-up.

2. As one door opens, another closes

One man who may not be in that starting line-up is defender Gabriel though, with the centre-back pulling up with what looked to be a hamstring issue as he chased back to defend early on.

We know all about Gabriel's importance when attacking set-pieces, but if are to beat Real then they are obviously going to have to defend well, and so if the Brazilian did miss one or both legs then that would severely impact his side's chances of getting a result. Jakub Kiwior is a competent defender, but the thought of him up against Kylian Mbappe is enough to make you shiver.

3. Mikel Merino might be worth that new contract

During the international break Merino joked that by his manager after his recent heroics in front of goal. But there's many a truth in jest.

Merino has been vital in recent weeks and months as the Gunners have been down to the bare bones in attacking areas, and his approach is a reminder that things don't always have to be pretty to be effective. His goal in the 37th minute was scruffy, as good work from Timber and Ethan Nwaneri ended with the ball at his feet in the box but surrounded by Fulham players.

Showing an instinct that he has come to perfect in his new role, Merino stroked the ball towards a goal that it almost certainly wouldn't have found if it hadn't clipped off Cuenca before finding the corner of the net. As many a scratchy batsman would say though, there are no pictures in the scorebook.

4. Passive Fulham are punished

You could see what Fulham's gameplan was in the first half, and for the vast majority of it it succeeded. Arsenal's lack of creativity in attack is something which was affecting them even before the injuries, and Fulham played on that by keeping compact.

There was nothing really going the other way though. Emile Smith Rowe might have been back at his old stomping ground but he completely failed to impact the game, while Arsenal's skill at stopping counter-attacks made Traore completely ineffective. It was a passive night for the Whites until their triple change midway through the second half which saw Muniz, Willian and Alex Iwobi add some impetous.

5. Your move, Liverpool

So is the title race over? Yes, probably. But Liverpool still have to amass the points they need, and so the very least Arsenal can do is make them play for them. The Reds do, after all, face the cauldron of a Merseyside derby on Wednesday, and while most will expect them to beat at home, there will be a nagging doubt after recent performances.

Arsenal will play before Liverpool in each of their matches over the next month or so, and so they are going to have to make Arne Slot's side earn this. This was the first step in the run-in, and now all they can do is wait.

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