Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League with Bukayo Saka playing a starring role and Viktor Gyokeres taking his season's goal tally to 21 as they comfortably beat Fulham at Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's men took the chance to pile the pressure on title rivals Manchester City who have played two games fewer than the Gunners and are not in action until Monday when they visit Everton.

Arsenal went ahead in the ninth minute when Saka, making his first start since March after an Achilles injury, easily beat Raul Jimenez down the right and picked out Gyokeres to tap in from close range for his 20th goal of the campaign.

The Swedish striker then turned provider five minutes before the break when he slipped a pass into Saka and the England winger curled a quality low finish past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno at his near post.

Gyokeres then claimed his second on the night when he headed home Leandro Trossard's cross to wrap up the three points in first-half stoppage time.

The Gunners almost added a fourth when Riccardo Calafiori headed on to the crossbar, with the Italian having had an earlier strike ruled out for offside.

Having made five changes to his starting line-up, Arteta was also able to take off Saka at half-time and rest other key players as focus moved to Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second-leg tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The game is finely poised at 1-1 for the return leg at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal analysis: Perfect display sets up Champions League test

This match could not have gone any better for Arsenal and Arteta.

With Manchester City having been in FA Cup action last week and not playing until Monday, they made the most of their chance to extend their lead in top spot and ease relieve some of the tension.

Boss Arteta has to be given credit for taking what could be perceived as risk by playing left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for the first time and leaving out Martin Zubimendi, who has played the most minutes of any outfielder in the Gunners squad.

The 19-year-old Lewis-Skelly looked assured in the role and, with Calafiori, Saka and Eberechi Eze all in the side, the Arsenal attack flowed better than it has done for many weeks.

Saka, who started on the right flank for the first time since the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, was at his scintillating best and a constant threat before he was withdrawn at half-time.

Gyokeres backed up a good performance against Atletico in midweek with a double here and, despite some criticism following his summer arrival from Sporting, a 21-goal haul in all competitions is a good return.

The last Arsenal player to score 20-plus goals in their debut season was Alexis Sanchez in the 2014-15 campaign.

Arteta's side also boosted their goal difference, moving four clear of City and also one ahead on goals scored.

The Gunners are now three games away from lifting their first title in 22 years and, if they can overcome Atleti on Tuesday, will reach a first Champions League final since 2006 to mark a monumental season for the club.

Fulham analysis: Silva's side below par in blow to Euro hopes

As impressive as Arsenal were, Marco Silva's Fulham were extremely poor.

Pinned back for most of the first half, they were fortunate not to be further behind at the break.

They had an expected goal (xG) of just 0.43 and registered only one shot on target, which shows how little they threatened their hosts.

Silva's sides are usually well organised and dangerous on the counter-attack, but Fulham showed little of either quality as they missed the opportunity to join sixth-placed Brentford on 51 points had they won.

They remain in 10th spot and will need to perform much better in the run-in if they are to qualify for Europe next season. (BBC)

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