AP:
BUKAYO SAKA stood with his arms outstretched and a wide, cheeky grin on his face as he took in the acclaim of the Arsenal fans.
It was like he’d never been away.
On his first appearance after more than three months out injured, the England winger scored what proved to be the clinching goal in a 2-1 win over Fulham, as Arsenal trimmed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points on Tuesday.
Saka — Arsenal’s star player and easily their most popular — entered as a substitute in the 66th minute to a huge ovation after his long absence because of a serious hamstring problem. Within seven minutes, he was being cheered again after nodding home Arsenal’s second at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the supporters’ thunderous reception toward Saka showed how much “people love him and missed him”.
“He lifted the stadium,” Arteta said, while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice welcomed back “one of the best wingers in the world”.
“He attacks the box and sniffs the goal,” Rice said.
“With Bukayo back, it’s a real boost.”
Mikel Merino scored the 37th-minute opener for second-place Arsenal, which requires an unlikely collapse by Liverpool if the London club is to capture their first league title since 2004.
Liverpool hosts Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, after which there are eight rounds left in the Premier League.
Arsenal stayed four points clear of third-place Nottingham Forest, who beat Manchester United 1-0, thanks to a brilliant solo goal by Anthony Elanga — a former United player — to close in on a remarkable qualification for the Champions League.
Forest, who were battling relegation last season, are 10 points clear of sixth-place Newcastle. The top five are likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Saka, who has been sidelined since sustaining his injury on December 21 in a league match at Crystal Palace, is back in time to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals starting next week.
Whether Gabriel Magalhaes will be available for Arsenal against the European champions remains to be seen. The Brazil centre back went off with an apparent hamstring injury in the 16th minute against Fulham.
“I hope he’s OK, because he’s been arguably our best player this season,” Rice said, “and we need him for big matches and big occasions.”
Rodrigo Muniz grabbed a stoppage-time consolation goal for Fulham.
Elanga showed Man United what they are missing with one of the goals of the season.
The Sweden winger got hold of possession 20 metres inside his own half in the fifth minute and set off on a run directly toward United’s goal, first shrugging off backtracking opponent Alejandro Garnacho and then entering the penalty area before shooting left-footed into the bottom corner.
**YESTERDAY’S RESULTS**
Wolves 1-0 West Ham
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
Forest 1-0 Man Utd