Arsenal can reduce the gap behind Liverpool to nine points by beating Fulham at the Emirates this evening.
The Premier League title looks out of reach for Mikel Arteta’s men but they will still be eager to keep up their good form ahead of a Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid.
Bukayo Saka’s imminent return hands the Gunners a further boost ahead of the season run-in, with the England star last featuring in a 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December.
But despite his lack of recent action, Arteta has suggested he is ready to throw him straight back into the fold.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. “All the careful things he’s already done, so now it’s about putting him on the grass in the right moments.
“He’s pushing because he really wants it. We have respect the timeframe, but we have done everything and we have had to hold him back even, so he’s ready to go.
“It’s another massive weapon that we have. We know the impact that he’s had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success, so great to have him back.”
Fulham also have plenty to play for with the eighth-placed side well in the hunt for a European spot this term.
Check out the confirmed team news for tonight’s 7.45pm clash below.
Arsenal team news
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
💪 Saliba partners Gabriel
©️ Odegaard in the middle
⚡️ Nwaneri on the wingLet’s go, Gunners ✊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 1, 2025
Arteta has resisted the temptation to start Saka as the 23-year-old is named on the bench for the North Londoners.
Mikel Merino starts up front alongside Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli with Myles Lewis-Skelly making his first Arsenal appearance since making his first two starts for England.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Merino
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Saka, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Sterling, Gower
Fulham team news
Marco Silva’s Fulham. 💜#ARSFUL pic.twitter.com/9M28KI8Uhm
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) April 1, 2025
Marco Silva has made five changes from the Fulham side that lost to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Adama, Smith Rowe, Jimenez
Subs: Benda, Bassey, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Iwobi, Pereira, Willian, Sessegnon
