They came to see him. Arsenal fans poured into the [Emirates Stadium](https://youaremyarsenal.com/arsenal-vs-fulham-match-preview-premier-league-2025/) on Tuesday night with hope that the name on the teamsheet — or more precisely, the substitute bench — meant what they thought it did. Bukayo Saka, out since December with a torn hamstring, was back. And what unfolded against Fulham wasn’t just a routine Premier League win; it was a snapshot of everything that still makes Arsenal tick, even with their Premier League title hopes slipping further into the distance.
In the end, it was a 2-1 result that did the job. But it was also a tale of shifting momentum, both on the night and in Arsenal’s season. Mikel Merino, continuing his stunning form as a makeshift striker, scored his sixth goal of the season — aided by a deflection — before Saka, on in the 66th minute, brought the Emirates to its feet with a back-post header to double the lead. Rodrigo Muniz’s late goal for Fulham made things nervier than they needed to be, but Arsenal held on.
As much as the points were welcome, this game was about far more than just the scoreboard.
### **Bukayo Saka’s Return Could Be Arsenal’s Turning Point**
Football can be cruel, but sometimes it writes itself like a Hollywood script. Saka came on after 101 days away from the pitch. Seven minutes later, he scored with his fifth touch.
The goal was vintage Arsenal: Martinelli, buzzing down the left, combined with Merino, whose flick landed perfectly for the unmarked Saka to nod home at the back post. The roar from the Emirates was probably the loudest it’s been all season.
More importantly, Saka’s impact was about more than a goal. His movement stretched Fulham’s back five, which had largely smothered the central channels until then. Even with limited touches (9 passes, 2 in the final third), his gravity on the pitch opened space for Ødegaard and Martinelli, helping Arsenal play more fluidly down the right side.
There’s no overhyping this: if Arsenal are going to beat Real Madrid next week in the Champions League quarterfinals, they need Saka. His return shifts Arsenal from “competitive” to “dangerous” again.
And it’s not just one game. Saka’s now reached 10 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season, becoming only the third player — alongside Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes — to register 10+ goals and 10+ assists in each of the last three Premier League campaigns.
### **Mikel Merino Isn’t Just a Makeshift Striker Anymore**
When Arsenal passed on signing a center-forward in January, eyebrows were raised. But Merino’s form has all but silenced the critics. The Spaniard, primarily a central midfielder, has adapted to a false-nine role with stunning effectiveness.
His opener against Fulham — deflected though it was — marked his **sixth goal in 10 games** for club and country. He has now scored **four of Arsenal’s last five Premier League goals**, and his movement continues to resemble a seasoned No. 9 more than a midfielder filling in.
Merino’s heatmap shows a player smartly occupying central spaces, dragging defenders with diagonal runs, and combining with Ødegaard and Nwaneri between the lines. He took two shots, completed 88.2% of his passes, and made 3 touches inside the opposition box — all metrics that speak to a player growing in confidence and execution.
Arsenal’s staff deserves credit for identifying a skillset in Merino that fits the role. And Merino himself deserves massive praise for delivering under pressure.
### **Gabriel’s Injury Overshadows the Night**
As brilliant as Saka’s return was and as efficient as Arsenal were for most of the game, the night’s most defining moment might have occurred just 13 minutes in.
Gabriel Magalhães, sprinting back to cover a Fulham counterattack, pulled up clutching his hamstring. The body language said it all — his night was over. His Champions League first leg? Almost certainly as well.
This is no small issue. Gabriel and Saliba have started every Champions League match together this season, anchoring Arsenal’s best defensive record in the competition in over a decade. They’ve formed arguably the best center-back pairing in Europe over the past 18 months.
Replacing that balance will be difficult. Jakub Kiwior filled in and was serviceable, but he had nervy moments, including one instance where Adama Traoré dispossessed him deep in Arsenal’s half. With Timber also leaving the pitch late with a knock and White and Calafiori nursing issues, Arsenal could face Madrid with a patched-together back four.
That’s a scary thought when your next opponent features Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham.
Arteta downplayed the crisis post-match, saying, “You don’t feel sorry for yourself. You move forward.” But privately, he’ll be sweating over Gabriel’s fitness for the second leg.
### **BONUS TAKEAWAY: Ethan Nwaneri Is Ready for the Big Stage**
There’s always a risk in overhyping young talent, but Ethan Nwaneri is making that difficult to avoid.
Against Fulham, he was one of Arsenal’s sharpest attacking outlets in the first half. He connected on a sweet volley early (saved well by Leno), set up Merino’s goal with a sharp cutback, and routinely found pockets of space behind Fulham’s midfield line.
Statistically, he finished with 2 key passes, 5 progressive carries, and an 87% pass completion rate — impressive for a player still just 18 years old.
Nwaneri is now the second-youngest player in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season to reach **10 goal involvements (8 goals, 2 assists)** — behind only Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
It’s becoming clear: Nwaneri isn’t a rotation player anymore. He’s part of Arsenal’s attack, and with Saka being eased back, he might even start the first leg against Madrid.
### **Arsenal Player Ratings**
Player
Rating
Comments
**David Raya**
6.5
Saved well from Jiménez, no chance on the deflected goal
**Jurrien Timber**
7.0
Lively until injury, created chances down the right
**William Saliba**
7.0
Calm, composed — deflection on goal not his fault
**Gabriel**
6.0
Looked solid before injury, but his early exit changes things
**Myles Lewis-Skelly**
6.8
Steady in buildup, managed Fulham’s wide play well
**Thomas Partey**
7.5
Outstanding defensively — 3 interceptions, 5 recoveries
**Declan Rice**
7.0
Box-to-box energy, a bit loose in duels but effective overall
**Martin Ødegaard**
7.2
Sharp combinations, excellent vision between the lines
**Gabriel Martinelli**
8.3
⭐ Player of the Match — assist, off-ball threat, created chaos
**Mikel Merino**
7.8
Scored again, key linkup play, growing confidence up front
**Ethan Nwaneri**
7.6
Created the first goal, confident display throughout
**Jakub Kiwior**
6.5
Filled in admirably, but shaky under pressure at times
**Bukayo Saka**
7.9
Fairytale return, great movement, scored the winner
**Leandro Trossard**
6.0
Late sub, little impact
### C**onclusion: Hope Rises, But Reality Bites**
Arsenal took care of business against Fulham. They kept their momentum going, extended a remarkable home record against their west London neighbors, and most importantly — saw the return of their talisman in Saka.
But this wasn’t a win without complications. Gabriel’s injury casts a long shadow over the week ahead, and Fulham’s late surge exposed how fragile Arsenal can still be without their first-choice back line.
Still, with Saka back, Merino red-hot, and a confident Nwaneri playing beyond his years, Mikel Arteta’s side has belief — even if it will be tested more than ever when Real Madrid roll into town next week.
And you know what? They might just be ready for it.