LONDON — Arsenal defeated Fulham 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice and Bukayo Saka adding the other goal. All three goals came in the first half.

The victory lifted Arsenal six points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the top of the table. Manchester City have two games in hand, the first of which is at Everton on Monday. Arsenal have a goal difference of +41 with three matches left to play, while Manchester City have a goal difference of +37 with five matches remaining.

Gyokeres opened the scoring in the ninth minute, when Saka crossed low into the six-yard box and the striker converted with a tap-in. Saka doubled the lead in the 40th minute with a low finish from 12 yards past goalkeeper Bernd Leno. In first-half stoppage time, Gyokeres headed in from a Leandro Trossard cross to mark his 21st goal in all competitions this season. Calafiori's deflected header struck the bar during the match, and goalkeeper David Raya sprinted out of his area to tackle Raul Jimenez on the half-way line.

The match was Saka's first start since March 22, following his return from an Achilles injury. He had made two substitute appearances in the week before the start. Arsenal lost three times in the five games during his absence. Manager Mikel Arteta substituted Saka at half-time to preserve him for the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Arteta also started Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield for the first time, in place of Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal's Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid is level at 1-1 ahead of the second leg in north London on Tuesday. Arteta urged his players to manage their emotions in the title race. Arsenal had beaten Newcastle 1-0 the previous weekend, and have never lost a home league game against Fulham in 33 meetings.