After drawing this week at Atlético de Madrid (1-1), in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, Arsenal scored a victory this Saturday in the league by winning against Fulham (3-0, 35th day). Enough to be six points ahead of Manchester City (but with two games more). And above all to achieve a double blow with a nice gain in confidence with the C1 semi-final return.
Faced with a Fulham team well positioned in the middle of the table, the Gunners took the advantage even before the tenth minute of play thanks to Viktor Gyökeres (1-0, 9th). Dominated, the visitors were saved when Riccardo Calafiori’s goal was refused for offside (29th), but they could do nothing against the cannonball end of the period from the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka thus doubled the lead for his team (2-0, 40th) before Gyökeres scored his double just before the break (3-0, 45th + 4). At the break, the match was already over. Because during the second act, and despite several changes made at the hour mark on the Cottagers side, Arsenal management was not upset. Even though Fulham tried more and held the ball more, nothing changed on the scoreboard.
Arsenal look towards their semi-final second leg
Mikel Arteta took the opportunity to rotate and give some of his usual staff some playing time, just to keep the pace before the next deadline. This success in any case allows Arsenal to give themselves a little breathing room, while waiting to see what Manchester City will do with their two games in hand.
The Gunners can now fully concentrate on their next duel and this Champions League semi-final return to be played against Atlético. It will be this Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium (9 p.m.).
