Arsenal 2-1 Fulham: Bukayo Saka scores seven minutes into comeback but it’s a not all good news for Mikel Arteta as attention turns to Real Madrid

With Liverpool disappearing into the Premier League sunset, Mikel Arteta would have come back from his international break with Real Madrid on his mind.

He wasn’t going around admitting to that, of course. It’s strictly one game at a time in Artetaland.

But he would have prepared for this game against Fulham and Saturday’s trip to Everton hoping for cohesive attacking performances from his team, ideally coupled with victories, goals for his forwards and a gentle return to action for Bukayo Saka.

More than anything else though, the Arsenal boss would have been praying for no fresh injuries ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against holders Real, which starts at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Gabriel Magalhaes pinging a hamstring inside 15 minutes was certainly not on the wish list, after injuries to Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and concern around Jurrien Timber, who hurt his left knee and came off in the 77th minute.

Gabriel, back from World Cup qualifiers in South America with Brazil, trudged off with the dejected expression of a player who knows he needs a miracle if he is to take part in this illustrious fixture.

So, all those other things came in for Arteta.

Arsenal won to move within nine points of Liverpool at the top and, perhaps more importantly, reinforce their grip on second. They rode their luck at times at the back but were fluent going forward and creative against Fulham’s five-man defence.

Mikel Merino hit the net again with his fifth goal as a makeshift centre-forward.

And Saka made a sensational return from injury. Off the bench to an incredible ovation and on the score sheet within five touches and seven minutes, in just the right place to apply a simple finish, nodding into an open goal after Gabriel Martinelli flicked on a cross.

Saka basked in the adoration with a little smile and a shrug, and it is wonderful to see him back after more than three months injured, but the lasting impact of the night revolves around Gabriel’s injury.

If he is out, Arteta has lost his defensive bedrock as he plots to keep out Real’s embarrassment of attacking riches, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Vinicus Junior and Jude Bellingham.

Gabriel was racing back towards his own goal as Fulham sprang out of defence on one of their lightning breaks when pulled up, hobbled back into shape and sank down onto the turf when the ball went out of play.

He seemed to know immediately that was the end of the night for him, and he was replaced by Jakub Kiwior.

Arsenal had dominated the opening quarter of an hour and swiftly resumed control as Gabriel trudged off to a ripple of sympathetic applause.

Ethan Nwaneri forced Bernd Leno into his first save, connecting sweetly on the volley with a cross delivered from Martinelli, who was sharp and incisive on the left.

Leno was one of two from Fulham’s former Arsenal collection to start. Emile Smith Rowe also started with Willian and Alex Iwobi coming on. Reiss Nelson was ineligible because he is on loan and injured in any case.

There was further defensive alarm for Arteta when Timber was kicked on the left knee by Jimenez in the first half. The Dutch defender required treatment but excelled at right back until he was forced off and he was involved in Merino’s goal.

Timber released Nwaneri with a pass slid behind wing back Antonee Robinson. Nwaneri’s cutback found Merino, who dug out an early shot in a crowded penalty area and earned his good fortune as it clipped Jorge Cuenca and swerved away from Leno.

Merino’s fifth goal in eight games since he was first shoved up front to cover the injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal created plenty of chances despite their absent strikers. Leno saved at his near post from Timber after a slick exchange with Martin Odegaard, Saliba headed over from a corner and Merino went close to a second.

Saka came on and lifted the mood with the second goal, and Martinelli saw a goal ruled out for offside, but Fulham were much improved in the second half and always dangerous on the counterattack.

When the score was 1-0, David Raya foiled Jimenez and Adama Traore pounced on a mistake by Kiwior only to drag his shot wide when Jimenez was square pass before an open net.

At 2-0, they started to cut through Arsenal more frequently. Rodrigo Muniz headed a sitter wide at the back post when he should have scored, and Ryan Sessegnon planted a header straight at keeper Leno.

The missed chances seemed even more costly when Muniz pulled a goal back in the fourth-minute of stoppage time, but the home side had done enough to claim the victory on a night of mixed emotions.