Fulham outclassed by title-chasing Arsenal
Arsenal 3Gyökeres (9′, 45’+4)
Saka (40′)
Fulham 0
Fulham were well beaten at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable victory.
A clinical first-half display from the Gunners, inspired West Londoner Bukayo Saka, left Marco Silva’s side with too much to do.
Viktor Gyokeres took his tally for the season to 21 goals with a brace, while Saka marked his first start since March with a goal and an assist.
The visitors fell behind after just nine minutes. Saka, showing no signs of the Achilles injury that had sidelined him recently, skipped past Raul Jimenez on the right flank before squaring for Gyokeres to tap in from close range.
Fulham struggled to gain a foothold in the contest and Bernd Leno was kept busy in the Whites’ goal.
While Riccardo Calafiori had a strike ruled out for offside by VAR, the pressure eventually told again five minutes before the break.
Gyokeres turned provider on this occasion, finding Saka, who ghosted into the box and beat Leno with a low, precise finish at the near post.
The game was effectively ended as a contest in first-half stoppage time. Leandro Trossard was given too much space to cross from the left, picking out Gyokeres, who headed home his second of the night.
Fulham showed more fight in the second period and nearly pulled a goal back through former Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who hit the side netting, while Timothy Castagne saw an effort saved by David Raya.
Leno also did well to deny Gyokeres a hat-trick on the hour mark, and Calafiori saw a header strike the woodwork, but the damage had already been done during a one-sided first half.
The Whites will look to bounce back when they host Bournemouth at Craven Cottage next Saturday.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Reed (Cairney 63), Lukic, Wilson (Bobb 63), Smith Rowe (Kusi-Asare 78), (King 63) Chukwueze, Jinenez (Muniz 73)
Subs not used Lecomte, Tete, Diop, Cuenca.
