Arsenal Edges Fulham in London Derby as Saka Strikes on Return

London, April 1, 2025 — Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Fulham in a tightly contested London derby at the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka scoring just minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The Gunners opened the scoring in the 37th minute through Mikel Merino, who found the net after a well-timed assist from Emile Smith Rowe. Earlier in the match, Jakub Kiwior replaced Gabriel Magalhães in the 16th minute following an injury to the Brazilian defender.

Fulham struggled to create clear chances in the first half, and their situation worsened after Saka doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 73rd minute — only seven minutes after coming on for Gabriel Martinelli.

Despite a late surge, Fulham’s efforts to get back into the game only resulted in a stoppage-time goal from Rodrigo Muniz (90+4’), assisted by Ryan Sessegnon. The visitors had introduced Muniz in the 77th minute, along with Sessegnon, in an attempt to salvage the game.

The match featured a flurry of yellow cards, including bookings for Andersen, Lukic, Lukic again (after another foul), Pereira, Willian, Iwobi, and Rice, mostly for time-wasting and minor fouls during an increasingly tense second half.

Key Match Stats:

• Final Score: Arsenal 2–1 Fulham
• Goals:
  • Merino (37’)
  • Saka (73’)
  • Muniz (90+4’)
• Substitutions: Kiwior for Gabriel (16’), Saka for Martinelli (66’), Muniz and Sessegnon for Jiménez and Diop (77’)
• Yellow Cards: 9 total

Player Spotlight: Bukayo Saka

The England international made an immediate impact after being subbed on, scoring within just 7 minutes of his return to the pitch. Known for his sharp attacking instincts, Saka has become one of Arsenal’s most influential players in recent seasons.

With this win, Arsenal continues to push forward in the Premier League standings, aiming to stay in the title race. Fulham, meanwhile, will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.