Premier League

BUKAYO SAKA scored just seven minutes into his first appearance in 101 days.The Arsenal star, 23, had been missing since undergoing hamstring surgery in December.Bukayo Saka headed home from close rangeCredit: ReutersSaka celebrates his comeback goalCredit: PAThe England winger hugged Arsenal fitness coach Sam Wilson after his goalBoss Mikel Arteta revealed on Monday that Saka was fully ready and raring to go.The winger was named on the bench for tonight’s clash with Fulham and was thrown on for Ethan Nwaneri in the 66th minute.Just seven minutes later he found the net, heading home from close range following Gabriel Martinelli’s flick.Saka immediately ran over to the Arsenal bench to celebrate.READ MORE ON ARSENALThe England star singled out fitness coach Sam Wilson.Arsenal’s No7 has known Wilson for several years, having also worked with him in the Gunners’ Under-21s team.The North Londoners had already led 1-0 when Saka was introduced, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s heavily deflected first half effort.Rodrigo Muniz went on to score a late consolation, although Arsenal saw out a 2-1 victory.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesArsenal fans were thrilled to welcome back their star manArteta’s side lost Gabriel to injury just 16 minutes into the contest.The Brazilian went down holding his hamstring following a chase with Adama Traore.’Captain on and off the pitch’ – Fans love Arsenal star Martin Odegaard’s classy gesture on international dutyGabriel, 27, went off shaking his head and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior.The centre-back is now a huge doubt for next week’s huge Champions League clash with Real Madrid.Reporting on the injury on Sky Sports News, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said of Gabriel: “He won’t be the first player to have popped a hamstring trying to chase Adama Traore.”That’s what happened in the middle of the pitch and it looked like he just ripped it. That is his season over.”If that’s a bad hamstring that is him finished. He’s walking off but he’s shaking his head, he doesn’t look good.”Jurrien Timber was also brought off in the 78th minute after struggling throughout the game in another worrying sign ahead of the Madrid clash.Read More on The SunArsenal are next in action on Saturday when they face Everton at Goodison Park.Saka and Co will then host Real Madrid next Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.Gabriel was forced off with injury during the first halfCredit: Reuters More

ARSENAL star Gabriel was forced off just 16 minutes into his side’s Premier League clash with Fulham – before Jurrien Timber later limped off too.The Brazilian went down in his own box appearing to clutch his hamstring.Gabriel felt discomfort in his right legCredit: GettyThe Brazilian went down requiring treatmentCredit: GettyGabriel, 27, looked gutted as he went offCredit: ReutersArsenal bizarrely played on for around two minutes, not kicking the ball out despite protestations from their manager to do so.When the ball did finally go out of play, Gabriel received treatment from medical staff.He subsequently shook his head as he was replaced by team-mate Jakub Kiwior.Gabriel’s injury comes just seven days before the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final first leg tussle with Real Madrid.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe centre-back has been a near ever-present for Arsenal this season.He has started 28 of their 30 Premier League matches, only missing two in December due to a knee injury.The commanding defender has also been selected in nine of the Gunners’ 10 Champions League games this term, including both legs of their last 16 triumph over PSV Eindhoven.Reporting on the injury on Sky Sports News, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said of Gabriel: “He won’t be the first player to have popped a hamstring trying to chase Adama Traore.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesGabriel was in clear distress as he was treated on the pitchThe Arsenal stalwart looked gutted as he trudged offTimber had to come off with around 15 minutes to goCredit: PA”That’s what happened in the middle of the pitch and it looked like he just ripped it. That is his season over.”If that’s a bad hamstring that is him finished. He’s walking off but he’s shaking his head, he doesn’t look good.”‘Embarrassing our manager is taking that…’ – Eagle-eyed Chelsea fans fuming after spotting Maresca’s gesture to TimberWhile Mikel Arteta claimed he didn’t know the extent of the injury after the game.The Arsenal boss said: “He felt something in his hamstring. We don’t know [how bad].”Arsenal endured another injury scare shortly after Gabriel went off.In a coming together with Raul Jimenez, Jurrien Timber appeared to come out worse for wear.Following treatment, however, the Dutchman was able to continue.Timber had gone down early in the first half too, but played on until his second knock.Arteta revealed that both Timber and Gabriel will be assessed tomorrow, but cast doubt over their inclusion in upcoming clashed with Everton and Real Madrid.He said: “We don’t know how they are going to be. We will be assessing them tomorrow.”Mikel Merino had given the Gunners the lead before half-time to raise spirits.However, in another worrying development for Gunners fans and Arteta, Timber limped off with around 15 minutes to go.Read More on The SunDespite the injury worries, Bukayo Saka returned after 101 days out and scored after just seven minutes to double Arsenal’s lead.Muniz scored late on but it was too late to salvage a point.Saka scored on his return to actionCredit: Reuters More

NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S official matchday programme pulled no punches when discussing Manchester United.Nuno Espirito Santo’s high-flyers welcome the Red Devils to the City Ground this evening.Nottingham Forest’s matchday programme featured a ‘Ones to Watch’ sectionForest’s programme wasn’t too complimentary about Andre OnanaForest go into the match sitting a staggering ten places above Ruben Amorim’s side in the Premier League table.And their media team haven’t been afraid to stick the boot in pre-game.Forest’s matchday programme, as is customary for most teams, included a “Ones to Watch” section for their visitors.Including a player from each position, the feature spotlighted Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAnd fans couldn’t help but notice the brutal entry for the Man Utd goalkeeper, which included the excerpt: “Onana is capable of both the sublime and ridiculous between the posts and he can possess erratic tendencies at times.”Seeing the comment, one fan fumed on X: “Taking the p*** that. If only United put ‘Elanga couldn’t hack the pressure at United but is thriving at his new tiny club’ in their programme.”While a second wrote: “Rivals clocked that they can just shoot at the goal post and they are gonna score.”A third added: “They violating man I need a masterclass from u now Onana.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKOnana has not always had it easy at Man UtdCredit: GettyThe feature also included a backhanded compliment for De Ligt.It read: “United’s recruitment has been questionable at best in recent years butthe addition of De Ligt has proved to be a very decent signing based on form this season.”Bruno Fernandes responds to Roy Keane’s scathing criticism of Man Utd captain live on Sky Sports Their section on the Man Utd captain then began: “Love him or hate him, there is no denying the talent that Fernandes bring to the pitch whenever he features for Manchester United.”Fernandes is very much the United captain and even when others around him have crumbled this season, he’s the figure who has stood tall and continued to lead by example at Old Trafford.”The Hojlund section did not include anything outrageous.Although it did point out that the Dane ended his “long goal drought” in the match against Leicester prior to the international break.”As it happened, Hojlund was named as a substitute by boss Amorim.But Onana, De Ligt and Fernandes were all in the starting XI.Rasmus Hojlund was named on the bench at the City GroundCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA have made lots of big signings over the last couple of seasons.Yet one of the most important arrivals has slipped under the radar but continues to make a huge contribution both at the club’s Cobham training ground and at Stamford Bridge.The Stamford Bridge pitch has been in pristine conditionCredit: GettyGardener Paul Burgess has earned a stellar reputationCredit: GettyThat man is Paul Burgess, one of the most respected groundsmen in the world and who arrived at the club in 2023 after spending over a decade at Real Madrid.The Premier League will announce its ‘Grounds Team of the Season’ next month with Aston Villa picking up last year’s award.Yet Chelsea are expected to be in the running for the gong this time as the pitches have improved massively under Burgess and his team.Previously, foxes were running riot on the West London pitch and the players would complain that the pitches were better at other venues.Yet Burgess, who also worked at boyhood club Blackpool and then Arsenal before going to Spain, has changed all that.He arrived in Madrid when Jose Mourinho was manager and sports paper Marca nicknamed him the gardinero magico – magic gardener – after completely sorting out the notoriously-bad Bernabeu surface.It was also his idea to build an underground laboratory as part of the Bernabeu revamp meaning the pitch can be grown even if the surface is covered when the stadium is being used for a pop concert.So maybe Chelsea will end the season with at least one trophy – although you would still have a fair amount of money on them winning the Europa Conference League too.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKMen’s captain Reece James was at Stamford Bridge last Thursday to support the women’s team in the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City – and they delivered a stunning 3-0 win to go through 3-2 on aggregate.James’ sister, Lauren, played the full 90 minutes and was in brilliant form.Lauren James gave a Player of the Match performance against Man CityCredit: GettyReece James loves to watch his sister play when he canCredit: GettyBLUES fans could be asked for identification ahead of the home Europa Conference League quarter-final with Legia Warsaw on April 17.This is a sensible idea and will be just to make sure there are no away fans in the home areas at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea will be back in Conference League action later this monthCredit: RexTOP marks to Chelsea for their initiative with the Samaritans and Three UK ahead of Thursday’s Premier League home game with Spurs.Research released this week revealed that two-thirds (64 per cent) of football fans struggle with their mental health, with almost half (42 per cent) turning to an unlikely source of support – taxi drivers.Mobile network Three UK has enlisted the help of former England striker Peter Crouch to launch a fleet of bespoke mental health taxis, driven by selected cabbies who have received specialist training from Samaritans to help get the nation talking more than football.On Thursday, a taxi fleet will offer free rides to passengers who are willing to talk about their mental health or simply use the journey to check in with one another.The taxis will be travelling from West Brompton Tube station to Stamford Bridge ahead of the game.Peter Crouch has backed a brilliant new campaignCredit: PAFORMER Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit was able to heal his rift with Luca Vialli before the Italian died in 2023.But the once dreadlocked Dutchman revealed he will NEVER forgive the Stamford Bridge powerbrokers who forced him out of the club in 1998.Vialli, signed by Gullit, controversially replaced him as boss when the former Milan superstar was sacked after a League Cup semi-final first leg defeat by Arsenal less than a year after leading the club to FA Cup success.It saw the pair, previously close, fall out massively.Vialli died of cancer at the age of just 58 but Laureus Academy member Gullit explained: “Luca and I were able to patch things up.“We met each other a couple of times over the years. We were also in a football programme in Italy.  So we had no issues.”However, Gullit is still mad at former chairman Ken Bates and his chief lieutenant Colin Hutchinson, adding: “It’s a strange thing when you are successful that you get sacked.“Eventually they understood that the reason why I was sacked had nothing to do with me, but was with the people that were trying to do other things around that club.“These people were sacked later on, but then it was almost too late.“Luckily Abramovich came and took over.  But yeah, there were some dodgy people around behind my back who tried to make deals that I didn’t want to be involved in.”Ruud Gullit brought Gianluca Vialli to ChelseaCredit: AP More