Saka’s return is the perfect boost ahead of Real test (2025)

A number of glitzy matches catch the eye this week as the Premier League returns with a heap of big games setting the pulses racing following a break for World Cup qualifiers and the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Arsenal’s London derby with Fulham at the Etihad Stadium isn’t one of the biggest draws over the next few days but it is of vital importance for both clubs.

The Gunners need maximum points to keep the dying embers of their flickering title aspirations alive in the unlikely event that Liverpool’s procession to the crown falls apart.

They also need to build up a head of steam for next season’s campaign while gaining further momentum for the Champions League where they have the dubious task of taking on holders Real Madrid over two legs in the last eight, the first of which is on home soil next Tuesday.

The promised return of Bukayo Saka will help, especially if he can hit the ground running following as his absence with a hamstring problem suffered in December, and the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri may give manager Mikel Arteta the chance to experiment with the England star in a more advanced central role.

A home game against fractured Fulham followed by a trip to Everton on Saturday would be the perfect time to put that plan in operation before the Real Galacticos hit town.

The Cottagers will be licking their wounds after Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace which exposed their soft underbelly. They are a danger when on song but lack the consistency to really push towards Europe and could quite easily slide down the table from eighth place to finish in the bottom half.

Aston Villa, Brentford and Palace are all likely to overall them as the season enters the home straight, making Fulham a decent bet at 7/4 with Betfred to finish in the bottom half.

The chances of that happening will shorten after defeat to the Gunners, who are 5/4 with bet365 to lead HT/FT and 7/2 with William Hill and many more to win by more than two goals. It makes sense then that a 3-0 home win is worth a dabble at 9/1 with the same firm and check the team sheets and have a bet on Saka to score at any time if he starts.

• Joe Joyce looks set for a crushing defeat in Saturday’s heavyweight contest with powerful Filip Hrgovic in Manchester. The Juggernaut is seeking to rebuild his career after it ran out of gas with two defeats against Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang and more recently to Derek Chisora in his last four appearances in the square ring.

His Croatian rival is a tough cookie, who has beaten Zhang, and whose only loss was to Daniel Dubois, so no disgrace there. Follow Hrgovic to wear down Joyce with his pummeling shots and win inside the distance at 10/11 while victory in round nine is 16/1 with William Hill.

• Aintree’s three-day Grand National festival starts on Thursday and we can get off to winning start by following Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie, victorious at Cheltenham in the Arkle, at 7/4 with William Hill to take the opening Novices Chase. Godwinson, our 16/1 selection, got up late to win Flat racing’s Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday so accounts should be reasonably full to have a good punt on this.

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