Arsenal take on Fulham this evening when the Premier League resumes following the international break.
A pause in proceedings has allowed the teams to regroup and assess what they need to do to end the season on a high with Arsenal fighting for the Premier League and Champions League titles. The Gunners are 12 points back in the top-flight and will need Liverpool to slip up if they have any chance of winning the trophy in May.
Mikel Arteta’s side will also need a clean sweep of victories to keep the pressure on Arne Slot’s Reds which starts when they host a Fulham team recently knocked out of the FA Cup.
Marco Silva’s men were beaten 3-0 at the weekend by Crystal Palace in a uncharacteristically weak performance. The Cottagers have performed well against teams above them in the table and they have the chance to close the gap to the top four should they beat Arsenal.
Follow all the updates from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below:
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
Some subs after that second goal, with Diop and Jimenez coming off for Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz.
For Arsenal, Timber is replaced by Leandro Trossard.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
GOAL! This is brilliant stuff from the hosts.
Rice wins it back in midfield and ships it off to Martinelli, who beats two challenges before slipping it to Kiwior and making a central run into the box.
The defender makes the cross and it comes to Martinelli, who produces a lovely back-heel to flick the ball on to Saka, who simply has to nod into an empty net!
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Declan Rice is the first Arsenal player in the book as he drags back Diop on the counter.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, there have been a couple of reminders of the Fulham attacking threat.
Plenty in the Emirates will feel like they need a second here, as Saka’s first cross is met by Martinelli at the far post, but his header across goal is cleared.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Huge cheers as Ethan Nwaneri makes way for Bukayo Saka!
Fulham make changes too, as Lukic, Traore and Smith Rowe come off for Andreas Pereira, Willian and Alex Iwobi.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
A pretty big chance for Fulham but it goes to waste!
Kiwior tries to take the ball down but Traore dispossesses him and he’s basically 1-v-1. He leaves the Polish defender behind but scuffs his shot when he should’ve looked up and seen Jimenez alone, unmarked and with a chance at a tap-in!
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
A great corner from Rice nearly ends in a goal but Martinelli’s back-post header is cleared almost off the line.
At the second set-piece, the ball falls to Merino about seven yards out but his half-volley is also deflected behind!
The free-kick is a good delivery from Odegaard, but Saliba can only direct his header over the bar.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
There’s a second yellow card for Fulham as Lukic makes a foul, dragging down Lewis-Skelly near the area.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
CLOSE! Great stuff from Timber. He picks the ball up in the final third and exchanges passes with Odegaard, with the one-two finding him on the overlap and 1-v-1 with Leno.
The Dutchman takes the first-time shot but it’s straight at Leno, who closed the gap down well.