Expectations for Bukayo Saka to revive Arsenal's season have increased and in the match against Fulham, it took him only 7 minutes to start answering all the questions.
The 2-1 victory over Fulham showed a positive change for Arsenal. The Gunners have struggled for a long time against a Fulham side that needed five changes to refresh their tired squad after their FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
That is a familiar image of The Gunners during the absence of Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. Their only breakthrough came from Mikel Merino's first-half miss shot.
There was a clear feeling of disappointment inside the Emirates Stadium. Even Arsenal's most dreamy fans did not dare to think about a comeback against Liverpool in the Premier League. Therefore, perhaps the focus will shift to the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid next week.
Arsenal need to add strength in attack and confidence after a period of criticism for revealing weaknesses. New sporting director Andrea Berta will address the issue in the summer, watching the Fulham game with chief executive Richard Garlick and executive vice president Tim Lewis.
Until then, the responsibility lies with Saka. And it was a good start, introduced with a resounding fireworks display in the 66th minute. Saka scored with his fifth touch after a 100-day absence from hamstring surgery.
"The most important thing is that Bukayo Saka gives us confidence and inspiration in the team's attacking play. Arsenal are really lucky, because they have one of the best wingers in the world today" - Declan Rice said about his teammate's performance.
The contrast between Arsenal's wastefulness before the international break and when Saka scored with his only shot in the match is very clear. The England striker celebrated with fitness coach Sam Wilson, who oversees Saka's recovery.
Saka's career has been full of memorable milestones and this is another milestone. The 23-year-old has now contributed to 10 goals and provided at least 13 assists in all competitions in each of his last three seasons. He is the first Arsenal player to do so since Alexis Sanchez in 2014-2017.
"This is a beautiful moment to see how Saka is loved, respected and admired. After scoring, what did Saka do? He thanked sports scientists, physical therapists and all those involved in the recovery process for their help over the past time. Saka has been spreading positive energy throughout the pitch. It's great to have him back," said Arteta.
However, when thinking about Real Madrid, the performance against Fulham has sparked debate about what could have a bigger impact on Arsenal's fate. Is it Saka's return or any prolonged absence of Gabriel Magalhaes?
The combination of the Brazilian centre-back and William Saliba is the foundation for Arsenal at the moment. Therefore, having to practice leaving the field with a hamstring injury early in the first half really caused instability. Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo will certainly bring more threats than Fulham's strikers.
Injuries have been a persistent theme for Arsenal this season. So much so that a famous coach who is meticulous and meticulous like Arteta also finds it difficult to plan from week to week.
Saka may need to strengthen Arsenal's attack to compensate for the weak defense if Gabriel cannot play in the match against Real. Overall, Saka's return will bring Arsenal the best hope for a good end to the season.
"Gabriel felt a problem with his bigoted tendon. We don't know how serious it is. As for Jurrien Timber, he had a hard time from a very early age but still tried to continue playing until he could not resist any longer. We will assess the situation tomorrow to know more.
Unfortunately, we lost important players in key positions, affecting the whole system. However, this is also a valuable learning experience for me, the coaching staff and the players" - the Spanish strategist added.
