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  "path": "/2026/05/02/mikel-arteta-explains-bukayo-saka-came-off-half-time-fulham-28210498/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-02T19:10:48.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Bukayo Saka",
    "Fulham FC",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Premier League",
    "Fulham",
    "The Gunners sealed an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Cottagers",
    "Manchester City",
    "due to an Achilles problem.",
    "Newcastle",
    "Atletico Madrid",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Saka was back on the score sheet against the Cottagers (Picture: Getty)\n\nMikel Arteta has confirmed he wanted to rest Bukayo Saka after the winger was replaced at half-time in Arsenal’s win over Fulham.\n\nThe Gunners sealed an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Cottagers on Saturday night, moving six points clear at the summit of the Premier League again with Manchester City not in action until Monday.\n\nSaka missed a run of five games following the March international break due to an Achilles problem.\n\nHe was back on the bench against Newcastle United last week and again against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League midweek.\n\nHe started his first game since the Carabao Cup final against City tonight, looking back to his old self after delivering an electric first-half performance.\n\nWith his side cruising at half-time, Arteta replaced Saka at the break with Noni Madueke onto replace him.\n\nAnd speaking after the game, the Arsenal boss confirmed there was no fresh injury concern, with the substitution made to ‘protect’ his no7.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nSaka and Gyokeres punished Fulham in the first-half (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘He certainly made a difference, he made two actions that decided the game,’ Arteta said in his post-match press conference.\n\n‘He’s come back in the most important part of the season. He is fresh, his hunger is fresh. I think he needed a performance like that.\n\n‘We have to [protect him]. We need to ramp up his load but we need to be careful.’\n\nSaka created his side’s opening goal after nine minutes.\n\nFinding himself up against Raul Jimenez, he left the striker on his backside before sending the ball across the face of goal where Viktor Gyokeres was on hand.\n\nGyokeres provided the assist for Saka’s goal (Picture: Getty)\n\nThe Sweden international returned the favour five minutes before the break.\n\nHolding the ball up and drawing in two Fulham players, he found Saka who beat Bernd Leno with a precise finish.\n\nWith three points wrapped up, Arteta brought off Gyokeres just after the hour mark with Gabriel Jesus replacing him.\n\nDeclan Rice joined him with Eberechi Eze also replaced after 78 minutes with focus now firmly on that second leg clash with Atletico on Tuesday.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Mikel Arteta explains why Bukayo Saka came off at half-time against Fulham"
}