Bukayo Saka returned to action for Arsenal, creating twice as many chances as any other player in the match against Fulham. West Ham's hopes for survival took a hit following this performance.
Key points
Bukayo Saka returned to action for Arsenal
Saka created twice as many chances as any other player
He was substituted at half-time
West Ham's survival hopes were negatively impacted
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham.
It's a measure of Bukayo Saka's performance that, even coming off at half-time, he finished the match with twice as many chances created to his name as any other player on the pitch.
In his first start since the cup final, the captain-for-the-day was electric. A twist and turn which left Raul Jimenez on his backside summed it up: he was too much for this Fulham team to handle.
His cross for Viktor Gyokeres' opener was spot-on; his finish for his goal oozed confidence and quality.
Any concerns about Arsenal's open-play threat have been quashed with the return to fitness of their talisman.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka vs Fulham
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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka vs Fulham
Their failure to add to the scoreline after he went off underlined the point - although buoyed by the headstart he'd given them, Gyokeres and Riccardo Calafiori could easily have added further goals.
Q&A
How did Bukayo Saka perform in the match against Fulham?
Bukayo Saka created twice as many chances as any other player on the pitch, despite being substituted at half-time.
What impact does Saka's return have on Arsenal's season?
Saka's return is expected to boost Arsenal's attacking options and overall performance as they aim for a strong finish in the league.
What are the implications for West Ham following this match?
West Ham's survival hopes suffered a setback after their performance against Arsenal, putting additional pressure on their remaining fixtures.
What were the key highlights from the Arsenal vs Fulham match?
Key highlights include Saka's standout performance and Arsenal's overall dominance in creating scoring opportunities.
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At one point in that second half, Arsenal fans reprised their 'Saka and Emile Smith Rowe' song from a few years ago, showing their appreciation for the now Fulham attacker when he went off with an injury.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Brentford and West Ham.
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Brentford and West Ham.
West Ham are no longer in a position where performances mean anything. Results are all that matter with just three games left and the defeat at Brentford will set alarm bells ringing. If they can lose when playing well, what will happen when they're bad?
"The big one today was just finding a way to win," said Brentford boss Keith Andrews. They are up to sixth in the race for a European place, except it is West Ham who are in far greater need of points at this stage of the season.
The irony is that Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been good for a while now and earned 22 points from their last 14 Premier League games to be two points clear of the relegation zone - at the start of this run, they were seven points from safety.
Only five clubs had won more points than West Ham before their defeat by Brentford. They looked good value to get something in west London too, hitting the woodwork four times, having an equaliser ruled out by VAR and firing off 13 shots.
Even Brentford's opener carried controversy, with a possible foul on Konstantinos Mavropanos overlooked.
West Ham's performances suggest a side capable of survival, but the table needs results. There is no longer any room for hard-luck stories. David Richardson
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Leeds and Burnley.
Jamie Redknapp called Anton Stach one of the signings of the season in the Sky Sports studio on Friday Night Football. Indeed the midfielder's modest £18m transfer fee looks better value by the week.
In victory over Burnley, Stach created the most chances (3), had the joint-most touches in the opposition box (5) and took the most shots (5) of any player, having only played 72 minutes after returning from injury.
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Stach hits Leeds in front.
Leeds' Anton Stach fires in from long distance to catch out Martin Dubravka!
Ability with both feet, from open play and set-pieces, is what sets him apart. As of Friday, only Bruno Fernandes had created more chances than the German international (61) in the Premier League this season. His command of the middle third is perfectly balanced with the combativeness of captain Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka plays his role smartly too.
That is a midfield structure capable of competing and staying in the top flight. Often, it's the department that lets the relegation-threatened teams down most desperately. Burnley's woeful central midfielders were the perfect illustration of that fact at Elland Road.
Another standout display and goal from Stach has Leeds all but safe. Their quest for survival is tantalisingly close. They surely cannot fluff it from here. Laura Hunter
The Newcastle head coach had what he described as "challenging conversations" with the club's Saudi owners on Thursday, with his own future having been a topic of intense debate in recent weeks after a worrying run of nine defeats in 12 Premier League games. That had left the Magpies languishing down in 14th place in the table ahead of kick-off with the high-flying Seagulls.
However, in front of Newcastle's owners, with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and co-owner Jamie Reuben in attendance at St James' Park, the home side impressed in a first half that saw them record a non-penalty expected goals total of 2.14, the eighth highest this season, to lead 2-0 at half-time.
And while the Magpies were made to work hard for the three points in the second half, they held on to end their joint-longest losing run under Howe in the Premier League to move up to 13th in the table and now just three points off Fulham in 10th.
Howe later admitted he would "sleep well" after this "massive" win that, with still three games left, gives Newcastle a chance of squeaking into Europe next season. Rich Morgan
