Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on why Anthony Elanga was allowed to leave: "We are talking about a lot of players who were at Manchester United who are doing right, but they had the chance here. At United, you don't have the time. I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.

"They were here and here the pressure is too big sometimes. Sometimes you don't have time and you should have time for these kids to develop.

"For that you need a strong base. If you don't have it, we are not going to help our kids. They had their chances and sometimes the pressure playing for Manchester United is really big."

The i's back page splash is Anthony Elanga, following his wonder goal which ensured Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United last night.

Elanga spent nine seasons at United, coming through their academy, before joining Forest in 2023.

Image source, i

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest match-winner Anthony Elanga, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. I saw the space and I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league.

"The finish is something I have been trying to work on. Left foot or right foot, I am quite comfortable with both feet this season.

"All you want to do is keep on improving. Coming here is about playing and developing. I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there.

"I am enjoying my football and I want to keep on going."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Nottingham Forest moved closer to realising their Champions League dream as Anthony Elanga's solo strike defeated his former club Manchester United.

The winger, who joined United as a 12-year-old, sprinted 70 yards before finishing into the bottom corner to catch the visitors cold with an early winner.

He joined Forest from United for £15m in 2023, in search of regular football, and continued his excellent season against his former club.

Murillo ensured the win with a dramatic goalline clearance from Harry Maguire in the final seconds.

Forest remain third in the Premier League with an eight-point lead over fourth-placed Chelsea, who host Tottenham on Thursday, and it is hard to see how Nuno Espirito Santo's side fail to secure Champions League football from here.

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on the Football Daily podcast

Arsenal did enough in the first-half, they were fortunate to break the deadlock with [Mikel] Merino's goal, it was a deflected goal nestled into the side netting of Leno's goal and in the second-half, the tempo went up in the stadium. The introduction of [Bukayo] Saka brought in a bit more quality and obviously it was written in the stars that he was going to be the one that scores a goal, put them 2-0 up.

At that point they sat in a bit, they invited Fulham on to them, who replied. Obviously, they had a couple of opportunities. Arsenal have done enough and it keeps the title race alive.

Image source, Getty Images

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

The earliest date Liverpool could win their 20th league title is 20 April, when they play Leicester away.

For that scenario to play out, Arsenal need to lose their next two matches against Everton and Brentford, and third-placed Nottingham Forest need to drop points against either Aston Villa or Everton, with Liverpool beating Everton, Fulham and West Ham in that time.

That would leave Arsenal 18 points behind Liverpool with 18 points left to play for, and a single point against Leicester would be enough for Liverpool to claim the title.

Liverpool would need everything to go their way to equal their own record of winning the title with seven games to go in 2019-20.

But equalling the five games left of Manchester United (2000-01) and Manchester City (2017-18) is more achievable.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter on The Football Daily podcast

I think it's probably best described as a bittersweet night for Arsenal because Bukayo Saka made a goal scoring return within seven minutes as a substitute after three months out injured. But there are injury concerns over Gabriel who left the field after 16 minutes, looks like a hamstring injury and then Jurrien Timber in the second-half.

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League

Liverpool's march to the Premier League title still seems inevitable, but their lead at the top of the table was narrowed down to nine points following Arsenal's win over Fulham.

However, Liverpool can restore their 12-point lead when they play their game in hand against Everton in tonight's Merseyside derby.

Statisticians Opta give Liverpool a 98.7% chance of winning the title. Arsenal, who are nine points behind having played a game more, have just a 1.3% chance of finishing top.

The Reds, who have lost just once in the league this season, need 16 points out of a possible 27 to guarantee the title, with Arsenal only able to obtain a maximum of 85 points.

Fifteen points could also be enough given Liverpool's goal difference is vastly superior to Arsenal's (currently +42 to +29).

In fact, given their goal difference supremacy, Slot's side might only need four wins - as long as one of those is against the Gunners - to secure the title.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium

It seems unlikely centre-back Gabriel is going to recover from a suspected hamstring injury in six days to play in a European quarter-final.

He is a key player for Mikel Arteta at both ends of the pitch and it will be a huge blow to Arsenal if ruled out of the Real Madrid tie.

The 27-year-old has scored three goals and has three assists in 28 Premier League games this season and no defender has scored more goals than the Brazilian's 17 since his debut against Fulham in September 2020.

Gabriel's injury will be assessed as Arteta confirmed: "Gabi felt something in his hamstring.

"We don't know how big that is and with Jurrien as well. He was already struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue, at some point he couldn't, so that's the downside to it."

Arsenal's win percentage suffers when Gabriel is out of the team. The team's win percentage is 63.50% from the 159 games he has played since his Premier League debut compared to 40.90% in the 22 games he has missed in the league during that time.

In the same game as key player Bukayo Saka scored on his long-awaited return from injury, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lost another in centre-back Gabriel before their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid next week.

The Brazilian defender limped off in the first half of Arsenal's 2-1 win against Fulham with a hamstring injury - an issue that has plagued the Gunners squad this season, with forward Kai Havertz's season ended by a similar problem and Saka sidelined for 101 days.

To add to Arteta's defensive worries, Netherlands international Jurrien Timber also had to be withdrawn against Fulham with a knee injury, while Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori were ruled out of the game with knee trouble.

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's clear to see Arsenal's fall away in the Premier League [since his injury]. There is a huge reliance on Bukayo Saka and, while he has been out, they have hugely missed him.

He is back now and just in time for Real Madrid next week. It's a huge game and he will have that firmly in his sights.

I think the return of Saka not only lifts the players but the whole place. Arsenal have needed a lift in all honesty.

They have seen the Premier League title drifting away from them in recent weeks, they've not had a number nine and have been without their 'starboy'.

There feels like there's been a lift in belief around the Emirates. Even if he is not at full tilt immediately he will bring so much to those around him.

Saka is the difference maker. He just knows where to be, what to do. This time he arrives right on time at the back post to nudge the ball into an empty net.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium

The joy of seeing Bukayo Saka back, and on the scoresheet, was clear among their supporters and the England international ran to celebrate with the club's lead physical performance coach Sam Wilson, who had helped him in his comeback.

Arsenal have struggled to break teams down in the 23-year-old's absence and that has been made worse with season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus that derailed their Premier League title bid.

The pattern of them having lots of possession and not creating goalscoring opportunities is one supporters have seen a lot this season, and was shown again in the first half before makeshift striker Mikel Merino scored the 37th-minute opener.

Cheered by fans when his name was read out, Saka received a standing ovation when he warmed up for the first time and again when he returned to the pitch for the first time since December.

Arsenal supporters, and the club, know how important he is, and with the Champions League the only trophy left available to them this season, they need him to have any chance of getting past European champions Real Madrid in the last eight.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka and the celebrations following his goal: "Yes, I think a beautiful moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo.

"He's not a surprise to any of us and I think the best example is his reaction.

"Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do? He goes and says thank you for all the hard work that all the sports science guys, physios and everybody involved in the recovery have done for him to be able to be in the condition that he is.

"I think he lifted the stadium, the energy and great to have him back."

The Mirror meanwhile focus on Arsenal keeping their slim Premier League title hopes alive thanks to victory against Fulham last night.

Victory moves the Gunners nine points behind leaders Liverpool - although the Reds have a game in hand as they host Everton tonight.

Image source, Mirror

Bukayo Saka is the toast of the back pages this morning following his comeback goal for Arsenal against Fulham last night.

Saka scored seven minutes after coming on as a sub, following 101 days out with a hamstring injury.

Image source, Times

Image source, Telegraph

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter at the Emirates Stadium

Bukayo Saka scored just seven minutes into his return after 101 days out injured to help Arsenal beat Fulham at Emirates Stadium.

The England forward came off the bench in the second half, with the score at 1-0, and showed Arsenal what they have missed during his absence, heading in Gabriel Martinelli's flick at the far post on 73 minutes.

Mikel Merino had given the Gunners the lead in the 37th minute when his shot was deflected into the corner after Ethan Nwaneri's cut-back.

Rodrigo Muniz pulled a goal back for Fulham in stoppage time when his shot was deflected by William Saliba and wrong-footed goalkeeper David Raya.

The win moved Arsenal to within nine points of runaway leaders Liverpool.

Let's get into the aftermath of last night's Premier League action. We start at Emirates Stadium, and a very special evening for one starboy...

Image source, Getty Images

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