* EXCLUSIVE: By Alessandro Schiavone
* 13 minutes ago
* 2 min read
Photo and report by Alessandro Schiavone at Emirates Stadium
**Goals**: Merino 37', Saka 73', Muniz 90+4
Bukayo Saka made a goalscoring return and was on target in Arsenal's laborious 2-1 win over Fulham at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
That was the young Englishman's 68th goal for the Gunners as he extended Mikel Merino's first-half opener only seven minutes into his introduction after three months out.
Rodrigo Muniz pounced late on to erase his early stinker when he guided a free header wide with the goal gaping.
But with the Brazilian's consolation goal coming in the fourth minute of additional time Marco Silva's men had to rely on a miracle to get something from this game.
The Cottagers have never gotten the better of Arsenal away from home in 121 years and their dreadful goes on.
Arsenal were at it from the word go with Thomas Partey dragging his effort wide. Ex-goalkeeper Bernd Leno then produced an instinctive save to keep out Ethan Nwaneri's volley. But like so often at the Emirates you can delay Arsenal's opener but not halt it.
And five minutes after Jakub Kiwior replaced the crocked Gabriel Magalhaes, Mikel Merino put Arsenal ahead with his curling effort taking a deflection off Cuenca before nestling in the far corner.
After the restart Odegaard blazed Gabriel Martinelli's cutback over before Leno denied Jurrien Timber one-on-one.
David Raya also had a hand on Arsenal's win when he denied Raul Jimenez at his near-post before ex-Wolves specimen Adama Traore dragged an effort wide after robbing Kiwior in possession.
But on came Saka to a raucous reception. And it took the fan favourite seven minutes before nodding home Martinelli's outrageous flick-on from Merino's delivery into an open net.
Then came the moment that could have changed the game. But Muniz did not exactly himself in glory when he missed the open goal with his head at the far-post. Ryan Sessegnon should also have done better when he directed a header at Raya in the dying minutes.
Muniz found the breakthrough in the 94th minute.
But his and Fulham's damage had already been done.