Arsenal go six points clear as Gyokeres and Saka dismantle Fulham

Key facts

• Arsenal beat Fulham 3-0 at Emirates Stadium to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
• Viktor Gyokeres scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season, including a header from Leandro Trossard's cross.
• Bukayo Saka made his first start since March after an Achilles injury and scored on his 200th Premier League start.
• Saka assisted Gyokeres for the opener and was then set up by the Swede for Arsenal's second goal.
• Manchester City have two games in hand and face Everton on Monday.
• Arsenal made five changes to the starting lineup and rested Saka at half-time ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
• Riccardo Calafiori hit the crossbar and had a goal ruled out for offside.
• Fulham remain in 10th place after the defeat.

Arsenal seize control of title race with dominant first half

Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Fulham at Emirates Stadium, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice and Bukayo Saka marking his return from injury with a goal and an assist. The result piles pressure on title rivals Manchester City, who have played two games fewer and face Everton on Monday. Mikel Arteta's side took full advantage of the opportunity to extend their lead, delivering a brilliant first-half display that effectively sealed the points before the interval.

Saka and Gyokeres combine to break down Fulham

Arsenal went ahead in the ninth minute when Saka, making his first start since March after an Achilles injury, easily beat Raul Jimenez down the right and picked out Gyokeres to tap in from close range for his 20th goal of the campaign. The Swedish striker then turned provider five minutes before the break, slipping a pass into Saka, who curled a quality low finish past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno at his near post. Gyokeres claimed his second of the night in first-half stoppage time, heading home Leandro Trossard's cross to wrap up the three points.

Arteta rotates squad with Champions League in mind

Having made five changes to his starting lineup, Arteta was also able to take off Saka at half-time and rest other key players as focus shifted to Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second-leg tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The game is finely poised at 1-1 for the return leg at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners almost added a fourth when Riccardo Calafiori headed on to the crossbar, with the Italian having had an earlier strike ruled out for offside. Despite the missed chances, Arsenal had done enough to continue to heap pressure on their title rivals.

Gyokeres silences critics with 21-goal season

Viktor Gyokeres has now scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, answering his critics with a clinical display against Fulham. The Swedish striker, who has been much-maligned at times this campaign, demonstrated his finishing ability and link-up play, setting up Saka for the second goal before adding his second of the night. His first-half double took his Premier League tally to 20 goals, making him one of the league's most prolific scorers. The performance will boost confidence ahead of the crucial Champions League tie.

Title race advantage swings to Arsenal

Arsenal's victory puts them six points clear of Manchester City, but the title race is far from over. City have two games in hand and could reduce the gap to three points with a win at Everton on Monday. The Gunners have three games remaining, while City have five left to play. The result at Emirates Stadium means Arsenal have done all they can to apply pressure, forcing City to win their matches in hand to keep the title race alive. The psychological advantage now lies with Arteta's side, who have shown resilience and depth in their squad.

Focus shifts to Champions League semi-final decider

With the Premier League victory secured, Arsenal's attention now turns to Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. The tie is level at 1-1 after the first leg in Spain, and the Gunners will have home advantage at Emirates Stadium. Arteta's decision to rest key players, including Saka, demonstrates the importance of the European fixture. Arsenal will need to be at their best to overcome Diego Simeone's side and reach the final. The depth of the squad will be tested as they compete on two fronts.

The bottom line

• Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Fulham, but Manchester City have two games in hand.
• Viktor Gyokeres scored twice to take his season tally to 21 goals, answering his critics with a dominant display.
• Bukayo Saka made a successful return from injury, scoring and assisting on his first start since March.
• Mikel Arteta rotated his squad with five changes and rested Saka at half-time ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg.
• Arsenal face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday with the tie level at 1-1, needing a win to reach the final.
• The title race remains undecided, with City able to reduce the gap to three points if they win their game in hand against Everton.