Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is available for selection against Fulham on Tuesday evening and could even start the match.
The England international required surgery on a torn hamstring sustained in December’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace and has subsequently missed 19 games in all competitions.
It’s understood Saka could have been included on the bench when the Gunners beat Chelsea two weeks ago, but with little riding on the game, the club decided to hold him back a while longer.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” declared Arteta in his pre-game press conference.
“All the careful things he’s already done, now it’s about putting him in the grass in the right moments.
“But he’s pushing because he really wants it. We have respected the time frame \[for recovery\], we have done everything. And we had to hold him back even. So he’s ready to go.”
With Real Madrid visiting the Emirates next week, Arteta has opportunities against Fulham and Everton to get his most potent attacking asset back up to speed. While it’s expected that will initially mean minutes off the bench, Arteta confirmed Saka is available to start.
“It’s another massive weapon that we have with him. We know the impact that he’s had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success. So it’s great to have him back, obviously.”
While some rustiness can be expected after such a long layoff, Arteta believes Saka will have no problem getting back into rhythm.
“Get that out of your head. You haven’t played for three months but you’ve played for the last 48 months, so three in 48 is a very small percentage.
“I haven’t done maybe the housekeeping duties for a week but I’ve done them for 10 years, so I know what to do, I know how to sustain it and I’m clever enough to maintain that. The habit is certainly there, so don’t think about that.”
As for his player’s mindset coming into Tuesday, he said: “It’s more the energy that he transmits, that he’s missed the thing that he loves the most in his life, which is to be around the team, to play, to train and to compete at the highest level.
“The fact that he’s able to come in the most important part of the season, obviously it’s a massive boost for him and to the team as well.”
Elsewhere, it’s mixed news on two full-backs. Jurrien Timber, who was so ill during the Interlull that he missed both of Holland’s matches with Spain, has recovered. However, Riccardo Calafiori is facing several weeks out after twisting his knee in innocuous circumstances in the closing stages of Italy’s 2-1 defeat to Germany.
“Riccardo, unfortunately, picked up an injury again with the national team,” Arteta confirmed.
“It’s really unfortunate the way it happened. It could have been much worse. So hopefully it’s going to be a matter of weeks. But we’ll have to see how that injury evolves.
“And Jurrien was ill for a long period, quite badly. He’s felt much better in the last few days, so he’s available.”