Arsenal restored their six-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over European-chasing Fulham.
Here are the player ratings from the Gunners’ sensational performance
In truth, David Raya did not have that much to do; his key moment was a save with his midriff to deny Timothy Castange. However, his 17th clean sheet of the Premier League season ensured that he will win a third consecutive Golden Glove before Arsenal next play in the league, if Gianluigi Donnarumma concedes against either Everton or Brentford.
Yesterday was the first league game that Riccardo Calafiori has started since a 2-0 win over Everton on March 14th, and he showed what the Gunners had been missing, particularly in build-up. He finished the game with a 92% passing accuracy (24/26) and made six defensive contributions.
The Italian was also unlucky to have not recorded his first Arsenal goal at the Emirates, a wonderful header into the top corner ruled out for offside, while another header from a corner in the second half was denied, hitting the back of the net by the crossbar, and a deflection off the head of Bernd Leno.
Gabriel had another solid performance at the back alongside William Saliba, winning his battle with Raul Jimenez. The Brazilian also managed the most touches out of anyone, with 88.
William Saliba was also extremely solid and composed at the back against Fulham - as he has been for the majority of the season. He completed the most passes with 71, but also showed his brilliance on the ball, particularly in the second half.
Saliba almost created a goal for his backline partner as well, chipping the ball, which was cut back to him by Calafiori, but Gabriel was unable to get any sort of meaningful contact on the ball.
Ben White did not have his best game in an Arsenal shirt, but still showed his quality in the final third , particularly in his link-up with Bukayo Saka, which Arsenal fans have become very accustomed to over the years. He managed 83 minutes before being replaced by Cristian Mosquera.
In his 51st appearance of the season for Arsenal, Declan Rice put in another top performance.
Interestingly, he played more towards the right of midfield in the few chances he did get to advance as a number eight, though, like against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night (April 29th), Rice was playing as a 6, picking the ball up from Gabriel and Saliba.
What will be good for Mikel Arteta ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg is the fact that he did not have to play the whole game, being subbed for Martin Zubimendi after 64 minutes.
It was a very big call from Arteta to start Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield; it is a decision that many Arsenal fans have been calling for for the large part of the season now, considering that it is his primary position rather than at left-back, where he broke into the team.
He repaid that faith with a sensational performance, completing 64/66 passes (97%). He also attempted four passes into the final third, and it is that ability to almost punch the ball forward that Arsenal have been missing in recent weeks; it is also a skill that Lewis-Skelly is brilliant at.
In the first half, he played predominantly as a number 8, switching between the left and right sides of midfield. In the second half, particularly when Zubimendi came on for Rice, Lewis-Skelly began to drift into the number 6 role, highlighting his composure in midfield.
There was to be no goal contribution this week for Eberechi Eze, but his impact in that number 10 role was key, particularly in the first half. Managing two passes into the final third, and also having a shot fly just past the post from range.
Eze was key in the second goal, his pass from deep played Viktor Gyokeres into the right channel, before the Swede played the ball inside to Bukayo Saka, who fired into the bottom right corner.
Leandro Trossard has not been in the best of form since the turn of the year, but Saturday’s performance against Fulham was a reminder of the player who was so key for Arsenal for the first half of the 25/26 season.
It was the Belgian’s first goal contribution in the league since January; it was also arguably his best performance since then, completing the most dribbles out of anyone with six. Trossard also won all of his eight ground duels.
If Arsenal can have him at his best for the remainder of the season, then they will have a brilliant chance of winning the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s Hale End superstar has had some sort of a layoff since the Carabao Cup Final defeat, but in his first start for a while, Bukayo Saka showed his quality with a goal and an assist in just 45 minutes.
He also created the most chances (4), and almost came to adding a second goal - dragging an effort just wide of the left post.
Viktor Gyokeres is starting to find the goalscoring trail in the Premier League, his second domestic brace in an Arsenal shirt making it four goals in the last five league games.
It wasn’t just the goalscoring, though; it was also up there with his best overall performance of the season, managing four shots on target and getting that assist for Saka’s goal.
Managed to create one big chance in his 45 minutes on the pitch, that being Calafiori’s header, which rattled the bar.
Zubimendi was rested in the Premier League for just the second time this season, though this time managed to get a much longer stint on the bench, coming on with 25 minutes to go for Rice
Only managed six touches in the 26 minutes he was on the pitch, and he was offside on a couple of occasions.
Created a good opportunity for himself, driving away from 3 Fulham players before dragging his shot wide from the edge of the box.
He also completed the five appearance quota, which means if Arsenal do go on to become Premier League champions, Dowman will be the youngest ever player to have lifted the trophy.