Arsenal opened a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Fulham on Saturday, thanks to a first-half double from Viktor Gyokeres either side of a Bukayo Saka goal.
The Gunners started brightly and with purpose, taking a deserved lead in the ninth minute when Saka put Raul Jimenez on his back and plated the ball for Gyokeres to fire home.
Gyokeres returned the favor shortly before half-time, finding Saka who beat former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno at his near post to double the lead.
The Swedish forward then ended the match in extra time, heading in Leandro Trossard’s cross, putting in an impressive performance with his 21st goal of the season in all competitions.
With one eye on Tuesday’s second leg of the Champions League semi-final at home to Atletico Madrid, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could afford to take Saka off, making his first start at half-time since the League Cup final on March 22.
Gyokeres was denied his hat-trick by a good save from Leno before he too was replaced in a sedate second half with the victory long overdue.
Arsenal climbed to 76 points from 35 games, while second-placed Manchester City managed 70 points from 33 games – and perhaps crucially, the Gunners now have a four-goal lead on goal difference.
Fulham are 10th with 48 points from 35 games, three points behind west London rivals Brentford in sixth.
ARSENAL MAKES LIGHT WORK OF FULHAM
Arsenal made five changes from Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid – whose manager Diego Simeone named a very different team for his trip to Valencia – with Saka leading the Gunners in the absence of Martin Odegaard.
They made a fast start in a raucous atmosphere, in stark contrast to the nervousness at the Emirates Stadium during last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Trossard rifled an early shot across goal, moments before Saka left Jimenez behind and played a simple ball across the six-yard box, which Gyokeres duly converted.
Fulham could barely get near their rampant hosts and Leno was repeatedly called into action, saving Gabriel’s header from close range and a low effort from Gyokeres.
Riccardo Calafiori had a goal disallowed for offside before Arsenal got their second in the 40th minute after a good hold-up from Gyokeres, who played for Saka to shoot in and then headed over Leno just before half-time.
The second half was a non-event, with a marginally improved Fulham showing more fight, but without laying a glove on Arsenal, who almost added a fourth when Calafiori’s header bounced off Leno’s head and hit the crossbar with ten minutes to play.
Published on May 3, 2026
