Viktor Gyökeres scored a brace as Arsenal delivered a strong message in the Premier League, defeating Manchester City with a convincing 3-0 win against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
Bukayo Saka, back in the starting lineup for the first time since Arsenal’s loss to City in the Carabao Cup final on March 22, played a crucial role, assisting Gyökeres’ opener in the ninth minute and then extending the lead just before half-time.
Gyökeres capped off a brilliant first half by heading in from Leandro Trossard‘s cross during stoppage time.
With this win, Arsenal is now six points clear of City, boasting a superior goal difference of four despite having played two additional matches.
Pep Guardiola’s team is set to face Everton next at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, followed by a home game against Brentford, while Arsenal’s next league match will be against relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday next week.
Throughout much of the year, Arsenal has struggled with nerves at the Emirates as they pursue their first league title in 22 years.
However, the Gunners played without restraint here, showing perhaps their finest first-half display of the season, revitalizing their faltering title challenge.
Saka’s return from an Achilles injury has been eagerly awaited, and after two appearances off the bench, he finally started. His influence was immediate, making an impact within the first nine minutes.
From a seemingly innocuous free-kick, Saka received a pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly. He cleverly cut onto his left foot, sidestepping Raúl Jiménez before providing a precise pass across the six-yard box for Gyökeres to finish.
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Just last week against Newcastle, Arsenal also scored in the ninth minute but faltered under pressure. In contrast, this match saw a transformed team, potentially riding high after their 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Fulham found themselves dominated and saw what could have been a two-goal deficit reversed by VAR intervention when Riccardo Calafiori‘s goal was disallowed for offside.
To solidify their lead, Arsenal needed a second goal for both the goal difference and to quell any concerns for securing the win. Saka came through again in the 40th minute, finding Gyökeres with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing the England international to finish past Bernd Leno at his near post.
Just moments later, Trossard was unmarked as he delivered a cross for Gyökeres, who completed his brace with a header across Leno.
With the second leg against Atletico coming up on Tuesday, Saka was substituted at half-time, and Gyökeres nearly added a third on the hour mark, but Leno made a solid save.
Gyökeres and Declan Rice were both taken off, a decision Arteta likely didn’t anticipate before the match.
David Raya made a good save from Timothy Castagne, while former Arsenal player Emile Smith Rowe hit the side netting. Calafiori then had a header that crashed off the crossbar from Madueke’s corner.
Although Arsenal couldn’t add a fourth, they have a renewed sense of hope for their first title since 2004 with just three matches remaining against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace. The pressure is now on City to keep pace with them.