Bukayo Saka’s dream return lifts Arsenal, but Gabriel and timber’s injuries leave Arteta in crisis mode

The Emirates erupted as Bukayo Saka made his long-awaited return, marking it with a crucial goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham. But just as the Gunners celebrated their star winger’s comeback, their defensive crisis deepened with Gabriel Magalhães and Jurriën Timber both limping off injured—a devastating blow with Real Madrid looming in the Champions League.

Saka, out for three months with a ruptured hamstring, wasted no time in delivering a moment of magic. His 66th-minute substitution sent waves of excitement through the crowd, and just minutes later, he buried a header to double Arsenal’s lead after a brilliant assist from Gabriel Martinelli.

The match had started in a tense fashion, with Fulham setting up defensively to frustrate Arsenal. Mikel Merino’s scrappy opener in the 37th minute—thanks to a huge deflection off Jorge Cuenca—gave Arsenal control, but their night would soon take a painful turn.

Gabriel’s injury struck first. The Brazilian centre-back sprinted to chase down Adama Traoré on a Fulham counterattack but pulled up sharply, immediately signalling to the bench. With Ben White also struggling with a knee issue and Riccardo Calafiori injured on international duty, Arsenal’s backline is now threadbare at the worst possible moment.

Then came another gut punch. Timber, just returning from a long-term layoff, attempted to block a Raúl Jiménez shot but was caught in the follow-through. He soldiered on but was eventually forced off, leaving Arteta with a massive headache ahead of the Real Madrid showdown.

Despite the injury woes, Saka’s return injected fresh energy into Arsenal’s attack. The England star combined seamlessly with Martinelli, who had tormented Fulham’s defence all night. When Martinelli received the ball from Merino and flicked it into the box, Saka was there—his precise header sending the Emirates into delirium.

However, Fulham refused to roll over. The visitors nearly pulled one back when Rodrigo Muniz missed a golden header in the 81st minute. Moments later, Ryan Sessegnon went close. Finally, deep into stoppage time, Muniz found the net after a deflected effort off William Saliba, giving Arsenal a nervy finish.

Arsenal held on for the three points, but the final whistle did little to ease concerns. Gabriel is now a serious doubt for the Real Madrid clash, while Timber’s knee problem could sideline him again just as he was regaining fitness.

Fulham boss Marco Silva, despite the loss, was pleased with his side’s second-half fightback. “We started too passively,” he admitted. “But in the second half, we pushed them, and on another day, we could have taken a point.”

For Arsenal, the night should have been about Saka’s triumphant return, but the sight of Gabriel and Timber hobbling off overshadowed the celebrations. With their Champions League ambitions at stake, Arteta now faces his biggest selection crisis of the season.