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MANCHESTER UNITED old boy Anthony Elanga zapped his former employers with a lightning goal and edged Forest a step closer to the Champions League.United boss Ruben Amorim noted before the game how Old Trafford exiles Marcus Rashford and Antony were currently thriving on loan.Anthony Elanga refused to celebrate after scoring the winner against old side Man UtdCredit: GettyThe Red Devils crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham ForestCredit: RexMurillo made an incredible last-second clearance off the line to ensure the resultCredit: ReutersNuno Espirito Santo’s side remain on course for Champions League footballCredit: ReutersBut it was another former Red Devils wideman who scored the early, only goal in a game in which the visitors did everything but score.TNT Sports claimed Elanga, who joined Forest in the summer of 2023, had run 85 metres in nine seconds before slotting past Andre Onana in the fifth minute.If that is true, perhaps he is in the wrong sport.“Anthony Elanga, he left ‘cos you’re s**t,” was the gleeful song from the home fans.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut United weren’t s**t. They were the better side for most of the rest of the game, creating far more chances and keeping the home fans sweating right until the final whistle.Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar in the first half, while Alejandro Garnacho and Mason Mount both went close in the second.Yet Elanga’s strike proved enough to earn Nuno Espirito Santo’s side the victory and so to complete their first league double over United since 1991-92 under Brian Clough.Now Forest need only a few more wins to guarantee that they will be competing for the Big Ears trophy that Old Big ‘Ead lifted twice.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordMeanwhile, United are heading for their own 1970’s throwback – their worst league finish since they were relegated 31 seasons ago.As kick off approached, the Forest fans launched into a couple of quick bursts of Que Sera in celebration of the penalty shootout win over Brighton that had earned them a trip to Wembley for an FA Cup semi final.Ex-Man Utd star Memphis Depay sparks mass brawl with cheeky trick as four red cards are handed out in derby clash This game was all about securing a passport to Europe, and preferably into the top-tier competition that they won twice in the good old days.And they scored a trademark goal inside five minutes to make the perfect start.Cup hero goalkeeper Matz Sels’ save from Bruno Fernandes’ 20-yard shot from outside the box was a little untidy.But Forest’s break from the resulting corner was laser-guided brilliance.Elanga needed just five minutes to open the scoringCredit: RexHe ran the length of the pitch before firing homeCredit: GettyHow United found themselves, after their own corner, three against two home attackers is one thing.The way that situation became two against two was all about Elanga’s lightning speed and Morgan Gibbs-White’s lung-busting run alongside him.You wondered if Gibbs-White was going to end up cursing his team-mate for not passing.Yet the former United trainee used the decoy to perfection and slotted past Onana while Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu could only look on helplessly.Murillo’s clearance was as good as a goal for ForestCredit: PAFans and players are now dreaming of European football next seasonCredit: GettyWith pleasing symmetry, it was the 23rd time Forest had scored first in a Premier League game this season and the 23rd in which United had conceded first.Yet United were soon creating chances, albeit mainly from distance or corners.The visitors, in the Forest supporters’ eyes, were also playing against referee Jarred Gillett, who was not awarding the free kicks that they felt their team deserved.Garnacho somehow avoided a booking for a nasty foul on Ryan Yates.Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar after another dangerous corner, and Sels was grateful that Gillett did spot a foul in the scramble that followed.It was a dismal result for Ruben AmorimCredit: RexUnited could not find a way throughCredit: PAForest failed to make the most of another couple of breaks and were otherwise pretty unthreatening going forward.They suffered further discomfort when right-back Ola Aina went off injured and Nuno made a double change to bring on a third centre back in a bid to stem the United tide.The half ended with Onana catching a Morato header and Nikola Milenkovic making a crucial tackle on Garnacho before Casemiro fired wide.Amorim replaced Manuel Ugarte with Rasmus Hojlund at half time and restored Fernandes to the deeper midfield role where he’d excelled in recent matches.Onana had been cheekily described in the matchday programme as “capable of both the sublime and the ridiculous”. The save he made low to his left early in the second period from Yates’ header was the former.The Red Devils will have to regroup for Sunday’s derbyCredit: ReutersUnited were decent but could not take any of their chancesCredit: GettyGarnacho fired over the bar before Amorim saved Casemiro from himself, having seen the Brazilian booked for one foul on Yates and generally look like a red card waiting to happen.Fernandes was starting to ping passes from deep. When Garnacho was ruled offside from one, he was booked for kicking the ball away.From the next, the Argentine collected neatly and turned inside, only for Yates and Morato to deflect the ball to safety. Yates reacted as if he had scored.Garnacho then fired just wide and the game was right in the balance.Next it was substitute Mount’s turn to hold his head in his hands after he, too, sent a shot just off target.Read More on The SunNeco Williams ended a rare Forest attack by shooting off target just before six minutes of stoppage time. Harry Maguire, on as as centre forward, had a shot cleared off the line by Murillo at the death and United could not find the equaliser they deserved. More

MIKEL ARTETA just cannot catch a break as Bukayo Saka’s comeback celebrations were spoiled by yet another crushing injury blow.Twenty games and 101 days after his last Arsenal appearance, Saka strutted on in the 66th minute to a standing ovation and rapturous applause.Saka showed his class in celebrating his goal on his return to the teamCredit: GettyBukayo Saka scored on his return to the team following a 101-day lay-offCredit: GettyGabriel’s injury took the shine off an otherwise superb night for ArsenalCredit: GettySeven minutes later, the Emirates were deliriously on their feet once more as the Gunners’ saviour scored a match-winning header to finally see off Fulham after Mikel Merino’s first half opener and a late consolation from Rodrigo Muniz.Saka’s every touch was hailed and drooled over, the first competitive run-out on a hamstring that had been sliced open and operated on just over three months ago.A real morale-boosting, mood-changing moment in Arsenal’s season – or so we thought.After 13 minutes, centre-back Gabriel pulled up clutching his own hamstring, hobbling off with the look of a man who knows he is now a serious doubt for the visit of Real Madrid to North London for next week’s Champions League quarter final.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLJust as Arsenal’s campaign faded after Saka’s hamstring issues – getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup and falling adrift in the Prem title race – their chances of progressing in Europe have now taken a huge hit to the gut.It does not stop there. Jurrien Timber had struggled for large parts before being subbed off in the 78th minute.As boss Arteta has done all season, he will need to find the answers to stop Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham without potentially two of his defensive starters, with Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White also doubts.At least they will be taking on Los Blancos with Saka back to fitness, and back to form, scoring his sixth Prem goal this term, picking up right where he left off in December.Most read in FootballThe 23-year-old started against the Cottagers on the bench, Ethan Nwaneri rewarded for his fine form in Saka’s absence with another start on the right wing.Fulham and Marco Silva – so often the architects of Arsenal’s downfall in recent years, without a league defeat to them since March 2023 – made five changes in their attempts to keep chase with the top four.’Captain on and off the pitch’ – Fans love Arsenal star Martin Odegaard’s classy gesture on international dutyMikel Merino’s deflected shot gives Arsenal the leadCredit: GettyThe Spaniard celebrates firing Arsenal in frontCredit: GettyThe Emirates atmosphere was subdued, beginning the day 12 points off leaders Liverpool, and Arsenal did not turn up in the opening stages. Misplaced passes galore.Arteta could not be blamed for turning to his bench and wondering how long he needed to wait before chucking Saka on to provide some sort of spark.A wholly uninspiring start, and then a hugely demoralising moment for Gabriel that nearly descended into a farce as he hit the floor chasing back a Fulham counter.Arsenal decided to play on and attack for a further two minutes, refusing to kick the ball out as Gabriel remained flat on the turf.Arteta and what looked like the entire coaching staff were begging their players to stop the game, as was Declan Rice, but they were ignored.Inevitably, the visitors won it back and pounced from deep, well within their rights to play on, despite hypocritical protests from Arsenal.Gabriel was forced to get back up and hobble back into the defensive line. Luckily, Fulham could only muster winning a corner before the crippled defender could be subbed off.His replacement, Jakub Kiwior – making his first Prem appearance since December 8 in the 1-1 draw at Fulham – instantly slipped and nearly let Raul Jimenez through.Fulham’s Mexican forward was involved again as Arteta was forced to contemplate another defensive injury substitution in the 28th minute.Timber went down off the ball, having felt the full force of a Jimenez follow-through. This time, the ball was kicked out and the Dutchman received treatment.He had been a doubt after suffering from illness over the international break, but was able to carry on. Saka then strolled down the touchline, lifting the atmosphere somewhat.The players on the pitch were huffing and puffing. A break was desperately needed. Nwaneri had forced Bernd Leno to palm away his volley into the ground.The England Under-21s international then drove and pulled back for Merino, the Spaniard clumsily sorted out his feet and poked into the far corner via a deflection from Jorge Cuenca – his seventh goal of the season.A messy stand-out from a forgettable half of football. Fulham trudged down the tunnel without a first-half shot on target. It took seven minutes of the second half to change that.Jimenez raced down the left of the box with Timber on his backside and David Raya’s unconvincing flap into the middle of his box had to be hoofed away by Myles Lewis-Skelly.Arsenal were trying to jam themselves into first gear. Timber smacked an effort into the chest of Leno and Merino had a close-range volley well blocked.But the arrival of Saka was what they needed – their starboy getting on the end of a Merino cross that was flicked to the back post by Martinelli.Read More on The SunWithout Gabriel, Arsenal made a meal of seeing this one out, somehow allowing Muniz to find Raya’s bottom corner in injury time.An ominous sign for the impending welcome of Carlo Ancelotti’s Galacticos. More

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