Bukayo Saka scored only seven minutes into his Arsenal comeback but the Gunners lost Gabriel Magalhaes to an apparent hamstring injury as they beat Fulham 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Saka headed in an acrobatic flick from Gabriel Martinelli at the back post after coming on as a substitute as the home fans revelled in the return of their hero on his first appearance since December following a hamstring injury. He went to the dugout to embrace a member of the club’s medical staff during the celebrations.
Makeshift striker Mikel Merino had earlier put Arsenal in front with a deflected effort from Ethan Nwaneri’s cut-back for his sixth goal in 10 games for club and country, but that goal came after Gabriel had limped off, making the defender a doubt for next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
Gabriel could be seen pulling up and clutching his hamstring while sprinting back towards his own goal in pursuit of Fulham’s Adama Traore and had to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior in the 16th minute.
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Tim Sherwood reacts to Gabriel’s injury on Soccer Special
It appeared Arsenal’s defence, already without Ben White, who missed out with a niggle, and the injured Riccardo Calafiori, were set to keep a clean sheet in Gabriel’s absence but Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz pulled a goal back in stoppage time having missed a glorious headed chance minutes earlier.
Arsenal were grateful for the final whistle in the end but they dominated the encounter overall, with Martin Odegaard spurning chances to extend their lead, Merino having a second-half effort cleared off the line, and Jurrien Timber forcing a good save from Bernd Leno.
The win reduces the gap to Liverpool to nine points before Arne Slot’s side take on Merseyside rivals Everton live on Sky Sports on Wednesday. Fulham remain in eighth place.
Analysis: Gabriel injury sours Arsenal’s winning night
Saka’s goal, scored with only his fifth touch, seven minutes after his introduction, provided a moment to savour for the home fans but Gabriel’s withdrawal cast a shadow over their night.
The centre-back, whose partnership with William Saliba has become a major asset to Arsenal, looked despondent as he limped around the pitch and down the tunnel. His absence against Real Madrid would be a significant blow to Arsenal’s Champions League chances.
Arsenal’s Gabriel limped off the pitch in the first half
It appears just the latest in a series of hamstring injuries for Mikel Arteta’s side. The Gunners will hope Gabriel’s injury is not as severe as those of Saka, who missed three months, and Kai Havertz, who was ruled out for the season after breaking down in February.
Saka and Havertz’s injuries required surgery, something Arsenal will hope to avoid in Gabriel’s case, but even a grade one hamstring injury, which constitutes a pull or strain rather than a tear, usually means two to three weeks out, which, in Gabriel’s case, would include both Real Madrid games.
Arsenal’s defensive options are already depleted, with White missing the Fulham game due to what Arteta described as a “niggle” picked up in training, and Calafiori facing weeks out with a knee injury suffered on international duty with Italy.
