Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after a dominant 3-0 home win over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice and setting up another as the Gunners continued their charge for the title.
Gyokeres broke the deadlock in the ninth minute when Bukayo Saka twisted past Raul Jimenez and squared into the middle for the Swedish striker to tap into an empty net. It was his 20th goal of the season across all competitions, making him the first Arsenal player to reach that milestone in their debut season at the club since Alexis Sanchez managed 25 in 2014/15.
Saka then turned scorer in the 40th minute, collecting a brilliant lay-off from Gyokeres before firing beneath Bernd Leno into the bottom corner. The England winger has now been involved in 150 goals for Arsenal across all competitions, contributing 80 goals and 70 assists.
Gyokeres completed his brace just before half-time, hanging in the air to meet Leandro Trossard’s cross and direct a header into the far corner, leaving Fulham with nothing to show heading into the break. The visitors had not registered a single shot on target in the first half and managed just one touch inside the Arsenal penalty area.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was delighted with his side’s display, saying: “It was a great team performance right from the beginning. We started the game like we wanted, very aggressive, very lively, great combinations, a lot of attacking actions. We got the crowd going and when the stadium creates that kind of atmosphere, we can make it very difficult for opponents.”
Arteta added: “We showed authority and determination and composure. We delivered a great performance to the stadium and they responded. That was a big win. Game two done, three to go, that’s all I can say. The team has been so consistent throughout the whole year, we’ve won the most games in the history of this club for one season and the season isn’t finished.”
Gyokeres himself was bullish about Arsenal’s title prospects, saying: “We never stopped believing and we’re not going to do it. That’s how it is. We’re not going to stop now and it’s on to the next one. We’re on a good path, we have to stay there and keep going like this. It’s not so many games left now and we’re in a good position.”
Pundit Ian Wright praised Gyokeres for solving a longstanding problem for the club. “I’ve said for many, many years that we need a striker,” Wright said. “21 goals, 12 in the Premier League, says he’s done the job for us. If he only scores against those teams, that’s what Arsenal have always needed. We’ve always had no problems scoring against the top six, it’s the other teams, the Fulhams, teams like that we’ve had problems scoring against, he’s solved that for us.”
The second half was a far more controlled affair, with Arsenal managing the game comfortably. Gyokeres came close to a hat-trick when Leno got down quickly to deny him, while Riccardo Calafiori also rattled the crossbar from a corner.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva acknowledged his side fell well short of the required standard. “We should have performed much better. It’s a disappointing afternoon and a disappointing result. We weren’t at the level that opposition like Arsenal demands,” he said, adding that the second half represented “the minimum we should have done.”
The result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten home record against Fulham to 33 matches in English football league history, winning 26 and drawing seven. Arsenal have also now scored one more league goal than title rivals Manchester City, who do not play until Monday, while holding a superior goal difference. With three games remaining, the title race is firmly in the Gunners’ hands.
Leave a comment