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5 talking points from Arsenal’s triumph over Fulham
03rd May, 2026 07:21 AM
Arsenal produced a dominant display over Fulham to go six points clear at the summit of the English Premier League on Saturday, May 2, 2026. A brace from Viktor Gyokeres and a goal from Bukayo Saka were enough for the Gunners to collect maximum points at the Emirates Stadium.
Below are five talking points the dominant display showcased by Mikel Arteta’s charges:
Saka back with a bang
Bukayo Saka was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the Carabao Cup final in March, making his 200th Premier League start in the process. Aged 24 years and 239 days, he’s the fourth-youngest player to reach that milestone in the competition behind Gareth Barry, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.
He only played the first half, but it was 45 minutes brimful of action. He set up the opening goal with a fine low cross for Viktor Gyokeres, then finished superbly inside the near post past former teammate Bernd Leno for his 10th goal of the season.
It was also his 150th goal involvement for Arsenal in his Gunners career, consisting of 80 goals and 70 assists from 308 games.
The winger had created four chances during the first half, three more than any other Gunners player, before being withdrawn at the interval, perhaps with one eye on Tuesday night’s May 5, 2026, Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
Gyokeres hits 20
Gyokeres’ opener was the Swede’s 20th goal of the season in all competitions, becoming the first Arsenal player to reach that landmark in his debut season since Alexis Sanchez in 2014/15.
He becomes the second Arsenal player to achieve that particular feat since the turn of the century; Thierry Henry was the previous forward to do it in 1999/2000. In Arsenal’s entire history, only 13 players have ever managed it.
This was Gyokeres’ 50th Gunners appearance; his goals have come in all four competitions: Premier League (14), Champions League (5), FA Cup (1) and League Cup (1).
He added an assist and second goal before half-time, it’s the first time he has had three goal involvements in a single Premier League game. Viktor received a richly deserved standing ovation from the Emirates Stadium faithful when he was withdrawn just after the hour mark.
Lewis-Skelly rules the midfield
Mikel Arteta made five changes from the side that beat Newcastle in the previous Premier League game, the most he had made all season.
One of those changes was to bring Myles Lewis-Skelly into central midfield, for the first time in his senior career, having played most of his academy days in that position. Although he had come on in midfield a few times, all of his previous 40 starts for the first team had been at left-back.
He started the game especially well, helping to set the tone for the performance by winning five of his six duels in the opening 20 minutes, at least three more than any other player on the pitch.
Winning consistency
This was Arsenal’s 41st victory of the season across all competitions, equalling the club record for most wins in a single campaign. That record was set back in 1970/71, club’s first league and FA Cup double-winning season, when they won 41 of their 64 matches.
Arsenal have played 58 games so far in 2025/26, with (hopefully) five still left to play. Their win rate for the campaign is now 70.7 per cent, comfortably the best in our history, beating the 67.3 per cent rate from 2023/24. It was also their 23rd win in the league, the same number they racked up when lifting the Premier League title in 1997/98.
Dominance
It was the win that moved Arsenal six points clear at the top of the league and increased their goal difference to four over second-placed Manchester City, plus extended their excellent run over Fulham.
The west Londoners have now failed to beat Arsenal in all 33 league visits to their home, either Highbury or Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners winning 26 of those games, and drawing the other seven. It is the most any side has faced another without defeat in English Football League history.
