Bukayo Saka scored to complete a fairytale return for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Merino also scoring in a 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League.
The Gunners were made to wait for the breakthrough, but it came in the 38th minute when Ethan Nwaneri found Merino in the box, the Spaniard's deflected effort finding its way into the corner.
It was Saka's first appearance since he was forced off against Crystal Palace in December, and the winger did not have to wait long to get back amongst the goals.
In the 72nd minute, six minutes after his introduction, Merino and Gabriel Martinelli combined down the left, the ball eventually finding its way to an unmarked Saka at the back-post.
**Rodrigo Muniz**made things uncomfortable in the dying minutes by making it 2-1, but Arsenal would hold on to claim the three points.
Story of the game
The energetic Martinelli interrupted a slow Arsenal start, the forward beating Timothy Castagne down the left channel before passing to Declan Rice. The midfielder’s shot was blocked before Thomas Partey shot wide.
And the Brazilian was involved again minutes later, linking up with Nwaneri, who couldn’t quite keep the ball in play.
Arsenal attacks continued to rain down on the Fulham box, with Jurrien Timber’s well-struck cross just evading the onrushing Martinelli.
Momentum was halted in the 16th minute, however, when reliable centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes went down holding his thigh. The defender was substituted and now has serious doubts over his involvement against [**Real Madrid](https://www.vavel.com/en/data/real-madrid)**next week.
Martinelli continued to be a strong force down the left as the half went on, though, and the winger’s cross was met on the volley by Nwaneri, drawing a sharp save from Bernd Leno.
It would take Arsenal until the 38th minute to find the breakthrough – Nwaneri was found well in space by Timber and fed Merino inside the box.
The Spaniard’s first touch was poor, but he managed to get his shot away and a deflection off the Fulham defender helped it on its way into the far corner.
With the deadlock broken, Arsenal pushed on and almost added a second before half-time, with Martin Odegaard’s close-range shot blocked well.
And the Gunners continued in the same vein at the start of the second half, with Odegaard having a great chance in the box, but the Norwegian’s effort went way over the bar.
Fulham still posed a threat, though, and had a brilliant chance through Raul Jimenez after William Saliba’s mistake, but the Mexican was denied by David Raya.
Timber could’ve scored Arsenal’s second in the 54th minute after a great one-two with Odegaard, but he was also denied well by the goalkeeper.
A flurry of set-piece-created chances followed for Arsenal, before Fulham enjoyed a rare attack that almost resulted in a goal against the run of play.
Jakub Kiwior was weak against the rapid Adama Traore and the Spaniard broke into the Arsenal box but could not find Jimenez.
In the 65th minute, a cheer equivalent to one usually heard for a goal rang around the Emirates Stadium. It was for the return of Saka, the Arsenal number seven returning after three months on the sidelines.
And the club's main man did not have to wait long to get back on the scoresheet.
Martinelli did exceptionally well to drive away from his man before exchanging with Merino to flick the ball to the back-post where who else but Saka was, to head home.
Substitute Muniz could have, and should have, given Fulham a fighting chance in the 80th minute, but when presented with a free header from four yards out, the Brazilian shot wide.
Martinelli thought he had added Arsenal's third late on with what would have been a well deserved goal, but the offside flag was raised.
In the 94th minute, Muniz was presented with another chance and, this time, took it, his shot taking a deflection off Kiwior before finding the net.
But thankfully for Arsenal, the final whistle would come too soon for Fulham.
Player of the match - Gabriel Martinelli
The Brazilian enjoyed his best game in an Arsenal shirt for many months, and was a constant thorn in the side of Castagne and Fulham.
His pace and invention drove Arsenal forward from minute one, ultimately collecting a well-deserved assist for his brilliant flick to Saka.
Whilst his goal was taken away by the linesman's flag, Martinelli can be very pleased with his impact.