Saka returns to the XI as Arsenal try to push the lead over City to six
The room around the Premier League title race has shrunk again, and Arsenal would like some of it back this evening. They host Fulham at the Emirates on Saturday with the chance to push their gap over Manchester City from three points to six, with each side's run-in still to be settled.
Mikel Arteta's side sit on 73 points after 34 games. City have 70 from 33, the game in hand kept alive by a 2-1 home win over Arsenal on April 19. Rayan Cherki put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, Kai Havertz hit back almost immediately, and Erling Haaland struck the winner just past the hour. Arsenal have since reclaimed top spot, but the lead does not look like the lead it used to.
Saka, finally back in the XI
The most useful piece of news this week is that Bukayo Saka is fit and pencilled in for his first Premier League start since the March international break. He last featured in the Carabao Cup final defeat to City before pulling out of England's camp with an Achilles complaint. Arsenal's points-per-game rate has dropped from 2.36 with Saka in the side to 1.64 without, a number that captures the gap between two different Arsenal teams. Arteta has spoken about wanting to err on the side of caution, with the World Cup still to come this summer, but with four matches and a title to play for there is no holding him in cotton wool now.
Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber are also pushing for a return to fitness. Mikel Merino remains out with a foot issue.
Why Fulham are not coming for the cones
Fulham travel to north London 10th in the table on 48 points, four games left, and still in the conversation for European qualification. They have lost only two of their last six in all competitions, with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa and draws against Brentford and Nottingham Forest among recent results. Marco Silva will not pretend the trip is easy. Fulham have played 33 away matches at Arsenal in all competitions and never won. The 32-game unbeaten home league run Arsenal hold against the Cottagers, 25 wins and seven draws, is the longest one team has ever held over another in English Football League history.
Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Kevin Mbabu are out for the visitors. Kenny Tete is expected to be available.
What Saturday actually settles
If Arsenal win, the title is back in their hands in a meaningful way. City still have five games to Arsenal's four, including a trip to Everton on May 4 and a home meeting with Brentford the following weekend. The season closes on Sunday May 24. The two clubs would finish level on points if both win out the rest of the schedule, and on goal difference City would take the title because they collected four head-to-head points off Arsenal this season.
Three points tonight, then, is not the title. Three points lost would, almost certainly, be it.
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