Arsenal are preparing to welcome back star winger Bukayo Saka for their Premier League game against Fulham on Tuesday night at the Emirates, with Real Madrid on the horizon
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Mikel Arteta speaking in a press conference
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is fully fit
(Image: Sky Sports)
Bukayo Saka could start for Arsenal in their Premier League match against Fulham on Tuesday after being given the all-clear by Mikel Arteta. Saka has missed 20 matches for Arsenal since sustaining a hamstring injury on December 21, but has finally been passed fit to return to the team following the international break.
As revealed by Mirror Football earlier this month, Saka has been eyeing a place on the bench for the Fulham game, having worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Despite being unavailable for over three months, he remains Arsenal’s top contributor in attack with nine goals and 13 assists in 24 matches across all competitions.
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The Premier League title race has slipped away from the Gunners in his absence, with Liverpool now 12 points clear at the top with nine games left. But Arteta remains delighted to have Saka back in time to feature against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on April 7.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” Arteta confirmed in his press conference on Monday before Arsenal host Fulham on Tuesday night. “All the careful things have already been done, so now it’s about putting him on the grass in the right moments.
“But he’s pushing [to start] because he really wants it. We have respected the timeframe. We have done everything and we had to hold him back, so he’s ready to go.”
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Asked if he could start on Tuesday, Arteta replied simply: “Yeah. He’s another massive weapon that we have. We know the impact that he’s had on the team and how important his role is and his contribution to our success, so it’s great to have him back, obviously.”
Arteta has refused to give up on chasing down Liverpool in the Premier League, but realistically the main goal for the Gunners now this season is the Champions League. With Saka back available, fans will be hopeful of getting past Real to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2008/09.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal
Bukayo Saka is back in Arsenal training(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jurrien Timber is also back available, after shaking off illness. Arteta said: “Jurrien, he was ill for a long period, quite badly, but he’s felt much better in the last few days, so he’s available.”
However, Arsenal will have to do without fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori after he suffered an injury while away with Italy in the international break. “Riccardo, unfortunately, picked up an injury with the national team,” Arteta confirmed.
“It was really unfortunate, the way it happened. It could’ve been much worse. Hopefully it’s going to be a matter of weeks, but we have to see how that injury evolves.”
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