Arsenal opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Fulham, thanks to a first-half double from Viktor Gyokeres either side of a goal from Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners started brightly and with purpose, taking a deserved lead in the ninth minute when Saka put Raul Jimenez on his backside and laid the ball on a plate for Gyokeres to slot home.
Gyokeres returned the favour shortly before halftime, finding Saka who beat former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno at his near post to double the lead, before Gyokeres headed in Leandro Trossard's cross in added time.
Arsenal played within themselves in a sedate second half having wrapped up a win that puts them on 76 points from 35 games, with second-placed Manchester City on 70 points from 33 games. Fulham are 10th with 48 points from 35 games, three points behind west London rivals Brentford in sixth.
Follow all the reaction from the Premier League with our live blog below:
Arsenal vs Fulham live
- Arsenal host Fulham in crucial Premier League clash
- The Gunners move six points clear of Manchester City with the win at the Emirates
- Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres
- Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez
- GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham (Gyokeres, 9 min)
- GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham (Saka, 40 min)
- GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Fulham (Gyokeres, 45+3 min)
Full-time: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:39 , Lawrence OstlereThanks for reading. I’ll leave you with the match report on a huge win for the Gunners:
Arsenal boost title hopes as Viktor Gyokeres double helps see off Fulham
Full-time: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:34 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s the Arsenal hero, Viktor Gyokeres, speaking after the game:
"We never stopped believing and we're not going to"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 2, 2026
Viktor Gyökeres reacts after scoring two goals and grabbing an assist against Fulham 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ROWI1YOlti
Full-time: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:25 , Lawrence OstlereTwo goals by Viktor Gyokeres either side of one by Bukayo Saka earns Arsenal all three points. It doesn’t get much more routine than that.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:23 , Lawrence Ostlere90+2 min: Trossard lifts the ball into the box but it’s too long for his teammates in the middle. Halfway through four added minutes...
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:21 , Lawrence Ostlere89 min: Heading towards added time at the Emirates. Not too much happening out there right now.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:16 , Lawrence Ostlere85 min: Almost a brilliant goal by Dowman, who dribbles from the halfway line before some sharp footwork on the edge of the box opens space to shoot with his right, but it drifts wide.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:14 , Lawrence Ostlere82 min: Mosquera replaces White.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:12 , Lawrence Ostlere80 min: Crossbar! Calafiori rises highest at the corner and hits the woodwork via Leno’s unsuspecting head. So unlucky for the full-back, who has already had a goal ruled out today.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:09 , Lawrence Ostlere77 min: A couple more changes. Dowman replaces Eze for Arsenal, and Kusi-Asare replaces Smith-Rowe for Fulham.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:04 , Lawrence Ostlere73 min: Jimenez is replaced by Muniz.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:04 , Lawrence Ostlere72 min: Another chance for Fulham, as Castagne pounces on a dropping ball on the edge of the box. He fires a half-volley at goal but it’s too close to Raya and the keeper pushes it away.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 19:02 , Lawrence Ostlere70 min: Fulham have a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, which Jimenez fires straight into the Arsenal wall.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:59 , Lawrence Ostlere67 min: Arsenal are currently six points and four goals better off than Man City, although City have two games in hand.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:55 , Lawrence Ostlere63 min: Arteta makes two changes of his own, replacing Gyokeres and Rice with Jesus and Zubimendi.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:54 , Lawrence Ostlere62 min: Three changes by Marco Silva as King, Cairney and Bobb replace Wilson, Reed and Chukwueze.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:49 , Lawrence Ostlere59 min: Madueke does really well to keep the ball from Robinson and earn a free-kick, which Rice can whip in from the right side...
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:47 , Lawrence Ostlere56 min: Big chance for Gyokeres to secure his hat-trick as he races through on goal, but Leno rushes out to deny him.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:46 , Lawrence Ostlere53 min: Madueke has had a couple of threatening runs down the right wing but is yet to pick out a teammate.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:42 , Lawrence Ostlere50 min: I stand corrected because there has in fact been a half-time change – Madueke is on for Saka, who Arteta is understandably looking to protect.
Arsenal are back on the ball and on the attack.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:41 , Lawrence Ostlere48 min: Close! Fulham full-back Castagne gets up and heads a corner towards goal, but Calafiori gets a crucial touch to deflect it wide. Better from the visitors.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:38 , Lawrence Ostlere46 min: No changes at the break, from either side, but will we see a more adventurous Fulham in this second half? A early chance for Jimenez is lashed wide from 25 yards.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:37 , Lawrence OstlereBack under way.
Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:29 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal are flying at the Emirates:
Half-time: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:21 , Lawrence OstlereThe perfect half, and perhaps now Arsenal’s attention turns to goal difference.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Fulham (Gyokeres, 45+3 min)
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:19 , Lawrence OstlereIt’s another! Trossard travels upfield and floats a delicious cross to the back post where Gyokeres rises to head back the other way across Leno and into the net. Wonderfully taken.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:15 , Lawrence Ostlere43 min: The Gunners are enjoying themselves here. Saliba tries to flick a cross to Gabriel arriving at the far post, but the Brazilian can’t convert the chance on the slide.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham (Saka, 40 min)
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:12 , Lawrence OstlereA huge goal from the captain! Gyokeres races on to Eze’s throughball and then tees up the arriving Bukayo Saka, who takes a couple of touches before firing past Leno.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:09 , Lawrence OstlereA look at why that Calafiori goal was ruled out earlier:
#ARSFUL – 29’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) May 2, 2026
VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Calafiori was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed. pic.twitter.com/1YSWWgUqDS
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:06 , Lawrence Ostlere35 min: Fulham venture forwards but they can’t find a way through Arsenal as a wall of red shirts rushes back into formation.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:05 , Lawrence Ostlere32 min: Arsenal are hunting that second goal, and they look very confident and relaxed. There isn’t any sign of tension, yet.
Offside!
Saturday 2 May 2026 18:00 , Lawrence OstlereRiccardo Calafiori thinks he’s scored with a back-post header, but he’s clearly offside and VAR steps in to deny the goal. Still 1-0.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:58 , Lawrence Ostlere24 min: Arsenal fly forwards and Saka jumps on a rebound in the box, but can’t hit the target! That was a great chance.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:52 , Lawrence Ostlere20 min: Leno punches Rice’s free-kick clear and Eze’s follow-up shot is blocked by a Fulham body.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:51 , Lawrence Ostlere18 min: Raya pumps a long ball to Gyokeres, who earns a foul from Joachim Andersen. Free-kick wide on the left for the Gunners...
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:50 , Lawrence Ostlere15 min: A bit of lull, with neither side creating much in the past few minutes. Arsenal have most of the ball and Fulham are just containing them.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:44 , Lawrence Ostlere12 min: The Gunners look in full control right now, and the crowd are in good voice. The perfect start for the league leaders.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Fulham (Gyokeres, 9 min)
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:40 , Lawrence OstlereThe breakthrough! Saka wriggles on the right side of the box before drilling a low cross for Viktor Gyokeres to tap home.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:37 , Lawrence Ostlere5 min: There’s a buzz of excitement as Saka gets the ball for the first time, and he dribbles inside while being marshalled by Robinson on Fulham’s left side.
Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:34 , Lawrence Ostlere2 min: Fulham have started confidently, popping the ball around as Arsenal try to press high.
Kick-off! Arsenal 0-0 Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:31 , Lawrence OstlereThey’re off!
Arsenal v Fulham – live
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:27 , Lawrence OstlereHere come the players. In the tunnel, Fulham’s mascot beside captain Harrison Reed looks excited to meet... Arsenal captain Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal v Fulham – live
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:21 , Lawrence OstlereNearly go-time at the Emirates. A reminder of the two line-ups today:
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Zubimendi, Dowman.
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez.
Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Cuenca, Diop, Cairney, Bobb, King, Muniz, Kusi Asare.
Arsenal v Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:15 , Lawrence OstlereSome pictures as the players gear up for kick-off at the Emirates...
Arteta speaks to Sky Sports before kick-off
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:09 , Lawrence Ostlere"We need to do what is in our hands, in our hands to perform at the highest level and then the right to win the game."
Arteta speaks to Sky Sports before kick-off
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:05 , Lawrence OstlereOn his faith in Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is playing in midfield today: "Big - I think he's been very patient, extremely understanding about the situation and he deserves another chance because every time he's played, he's done really well."
Time for 'siege mentality', says Arteta
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:49 , Lawrence OstlereMikel Arteta is ready to draw on Arsenal’s “siege mentality” for their Premier League title charge following the perceived injustices against his side in Madrid.
read more:
Mikel Arteta ready to use Arsenal’s ‘siege mentality’ in Premier League title fight
Premier League latest scores
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:41 , Lawrence OstlereThere are about 10 minutes left in the Premier League’s 3pm kick-offs – here are the scores on the doors this afternoon:
Brentford 2-0 West Ham
Newcastle 2-1 Brighton
Wolves 1-1 Sunderland
Fulham team news
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:33 , Lawrence OstlereHarrison Reed and Antonee Robinson come into the Fulham team, while Emile Smith Rowe starts against his former club.
Arsenal team news
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:25 , Lawrence OstlereSo Bukayo Saka starts a Premier League game for the first time since mid-March. Riccardo Calafiori returns at left-back, while Myles Lewis-Skelly appears to be playing in midfield alongside Declan Rice – Martin Zubimendi is on the bench.
Confirmed line-ups
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:18 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Zubimendi, Dowman.
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez.
Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Cuenca, Diop, Cairney, Bobb, King, Muniz, Kusi Asare.
Arsenal v Fulham – live
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:12 , Lawrence OstlereConfirmed teams will land shortly...
Arsenal vs Fulham prediction
Saturday 2 May 2026 16:01 , Lawrence OstlereTips and odds ahead of the game:
Arsenal vs Fulham prediction: Premier League betting tips & odds
There has been an edgy atmosphere at the Emirates in recent times, with Arsenal losing to Bournemouth just under three weeks ago before picking up an unconvincing 1-0 win over Newcastle last weekend.
Despite their recent struggles with finding their best form, Silva is still expecting a formidable challenge as he acknowledged Arsenal's quality.
"Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league,” he said.
“They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition."
Silva aims to capitalise on Arsenal nerves
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:40 , Lawrence OstlereFulham manager Marco Silva hopes his side can capitalise on any potential nerves and anxiety that could spread around the Emirates Stadium during Saturday’s visit to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners are currently in pursuit of their first Premier League title in 22 years, and sit three points clear at the top of the table, having played a game more than closest rivals Manchester City.
Fulham manager Silva, whose 10th-placed side harbour their own ambitions of European qualification, vowed his team would battle fiercely to secure a shock result amid what he anticipates could be a tense atmosphere in north London.
"Let’s hope we can use that," Silva stated during a press conference, referring to the potential for tension.
Arsenal v Fulham – predicted line-ups
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:31 , Lawrence OstlereHere is how the two sides could line-up. We’ll have confirmed team news at 4.15pm GMT...
Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez
Havertz to miss Fulham game
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:23 , Lawrence OstlereThe Spaniard confirmed attacker Kai Havertz and centre back Jurrien Timber will miss the Fulham clash. Havertz has been sidelined since picking up an injury against Newcastle United last weekend, while Timber has been out since March.
Arteta added that Havertz could be back for the second leg fixture against Atletico.
"He's (Havertz) been a huge miss. We're talking about one of the most important attacking players that we have and he's been out for seven or eight months," Arteta said.
"He cannot do this game but hopefully for Atletico he will be available. He is pushing every boundary to achieve that."
Arteta calls on players to focus on title race
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:15 , Lawrence OstlereHaving led the standings for much of the campaign, Arsenal's occasional dropped points have allowed Manchester City to close the gap, with Pep Guardiola's side applying pressure by stringing together a sequence of late-season victories.
The gap between leaders Arsenal and second-placed Man City is three points, with City having a game in hand.
"We have only four games to play now and everything is at stake, so it doesn't get better than that," Arteta said.
Arteta calls on players to focus on title race
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:07 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to refocus on their Premier League title push as they prepare to host Fulham today, days after being held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Arsenal's pursuit of a first Premier League title in more than two decades has entered a tense final stretch, with Arteta's side attempting to end a drought that dates back to their unbeaten 'Invincibles' campaign of 2003-04.
"Focus on Fulham. And hunger. Hunger to play, hunger to compete, hunger to win, hunger to be closer to achieve our dream," the Spanish coach told reporters on Friday.
"We are playing to win the Premier League. It's exactly where we wanted to be. Four games to go. It's game two. Ready to go."
Arsenal v Fulham
Saturday 2 May 2026 15:00 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal host Fulham in a crucial Premier League encounter this afternoon that will have ramifications on the title race.
The Gunners currently sit top of the table with a three point lead over Manchester City though Pep Guardiola’s men have a game in hand on their title rivals. And it is Mikel Arteta’s side who play first this weekend with the Gunners taking on Marco Silva’s impressive Fulham in a London derby that can increase the pressure on the title challengers.
Arsenal know they cannot afford to drop points in any of their remaining matches but must also win convincingly as goal difference could yet play a part in deciding if the Premier League trophy ends up in London or Manchester this year.
But their task won’t be easy as Fulham come into the match on the back of a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory over Aston Villa proving that they have the quality to challenge the teams near the top of the table.
