Arsenal's return to action after 16 days saw a long overdue win over Fulham - thus consolidating second place and closing the gap to Liverpool to a 'mere' 9 points - and featured two notable talking points at opposite ends of the spectrum.
On the happy side, the return of our very own Starboy, Bukayo Saka, following no less than 19 matches out, was rapturously received by the home crowd. And in true Boys' Own style it didn't take him long to get onto the score sheet. On the sad side, the loss of both Gabriel and Timber to injury during the game does not bode well for what's on the horizon. So let's get into it, before I cover a few other bits of news.
No massive surprise on the team selection front. Although it was a worry to note the absence of Ben White from even the bench. The big news was, of course, the much-heralded return to the squad of our best player. And a timely return it is.
Fulham have been giving Arsenal trouble in the recent past (no wins over them in the past two seasons; with a defeat last Spring proving extremely costly), and racking the points up remains important not just in the extremely unlikely event that Liverpool's season falls completely apart (they now need just 12 points from 8 games), but also to keep the chasing teams at bay. Forest remain within touching distance, but there's a sizable buffer to fourth place now. Fulham themselves came to defend - as most sides do when they visit Emirates Stadium - but I don't believe that a 'low block' is really their game; as the way the game went proved.
And so to the action. And whilst the first half was pretty low key it was notable for three things. Firstly, that Gabriel Martinelli - back approaching his very best - had the hapless Timothy Castagne on toast throughout down Arsenal's left. He created several half-chances, plus a decent one for Nwaneri, whose volley forced a hurried save from Leno. Secondly that Mikel Merino was once again in the right place at the right time to tuck away a chance late in the half following a tidy through ball from Timber and neat turn and cross from Nwaneri. There was more than an element of luck to the goal - Merino made room for himself tidily but shot fairly tamely with his 'wrong' foot; and the ball took a wicked deflection off of Cuenca. We'll take it.
But the most important piece of action in the half was the injury to Gabriel, who lasted less than a quarter of an hour before his hamstring gave out. This is, of course, disastrous, as Arsenal are about to come up against one of the most devastating forward lines in world football next week. Hamstrings take a month - minimum - so it looks like we've lost him at a critical time. On the plus side, his partner William Saliba is of course utterly imperious. But on the minus side Jakub Kivior is a clear downgrade as third-choice left centre half, and this will be the second season in a row that Arsenal will go into a Champions League quarter-final with the Pole in the starting line-up. It didn't go well last season, so it's a worry this time round. With Calafiori, White, Tomiyasu (long-term) and now possibly Timber and definitely Gabriel sidelined, this is a defensive crisis to match the attacking one suffered in January.
Second half and - until the substitutions started to make a difference - it was more of the same as the first. Perhaps even more so. Another chance created by my Man Of The Match Martinelli - this time for Odegaard who spooned it well over the bar - and then a lovely interchange between Timber and Odegaard forced Leno to make a smart save from the Dutchman at his near post. Martinelli's nutmeg on Castagne was probably the nadir of the defender's night, but the result was just one of a cluster of early second half corners... and then...
The return of the Prodigal Son. To rapturous applause, Saka retuned to the fray. And in just under 7 minutes made his mark with the crucial second goal. Set up - almost inevitably on his showing over the 90 minutes - by Martinelli, who picked up Rice's pass and drove at the Fulham defence before turning the ball out wide to Merino. The Spaniard's cross was met by Martinelli's flick, and whether he was going for goal himself or looking for his mate doesn't really matter. Starboy had an open goal from three yards out and nodded the ball home. Cue absolute pandemonium!
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Was it written in the stars? I really don't know. But it was made quite clear to us just how much we had missed him. And it was a lovely touch - from a lovely young man - for him to go over to the dugout and give Conditioning Coach Sam Wilson a 'thank you' hug.
So, a buffer. And it was needed late on, as with Martinelli's excellent finish ruled out for offside Timber's injury and subsequesnt defensive reshuffle, and Silva's changes, breathed life into Fulham. Traore forced a good save out of Raya. Muniz missed an absolute sitter at the far post from Iwobi's cross. And finally Fulham got onto the board when Muniz's shot deflected off of Saliba and wrong-footed Raya. Some blame needs to be apportioned with the defending here. MLS was caught upfield by Sessegnon's turn, and Kivior didn't go to engage him; making finding the centre-forward too easy. That certainly won't do against Real Madrid!
But there were just 90 seconds left at that point. Not enough time for any more panic. Three points; thank you very much. And so to matters pertaining to the next week or two.
Firstly, Arsenal may be about to hit a defensive crisis. And whilst they have to some extent overcome the attacking crisis - especially now that Martinelli and Saka are back - this is another matter entirely. Losing Gabriel is going to affect the entire equilibrium of the defence - we were looking forward to seeing Europe's best defence up against arguably its best attack, but the absence of the Brazilian is going to leave a gaping hole. And especially with Calafiori also out.
On the other side of the field there are doubts over the fitness of both right backs now - and the alternative is Thomas Partey. Leaving aside the nightmares we are going to give ourselves imagining the Ghanaian trying to deal with Vinicius Junior, that will also strip a key element out of Arsenal's midfield. If they line up Partey, Saliba, Kivior, MLS next week, with Jorginho at 6, it's going to make for a very long night. Quite how Arsenal deserve the bad spell has been cast over the squad this season, I do not know. In fact, in the circumstances it's quite remarkable that they are still in second place, and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. For me, this says a lot about the entire coaching/playing unit - it's extremely commendable. And so to hear the Fulham fans this time 'taunting' Arsenal supporters with 'Second again; ole ole' simply makes me laugh. They dream of getting anywhere near second place - as do the supporters of all the teams Arsenal have played recently. Jog on - jealousy does not become you.
On a happier note, it's worth pointing out that Real Madrid have their own injury/disciplinary issues at the moment. They managed to concede no less than 4 goals to Real Sociedad at the same time as Arsenal were beating Fulham. So all is not lost. I suspect that we're likely to see a very open game next week.
Before that, it's Everton away. Arsenal's final visit to the iconic Goodison Park. Everton are a difficult side to play against these days; they don't concede many goals, and play an old-fashioned type of game - more direct than most. The question for Arteta is - with the league fast disappearing over the horizon - how much he rotates with next Tuesday in mind. It depends on availability, of course, but I'd consider 4/5 changes if I was picking the side. Let's see.
Anyway, there's still plenty to play for, so COYG!
