Bukayo Saka's scored a close-range header seven minutes into his return
The 23-year-old winger raced over to the Arsenal dugout to celebrate his goal
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By ISAAN KHAN
Published: 18:54 EDT, 1 April 2025 | Updated: 18:54 EDT, 1 April 2025
Mikel Arteta hailed Bukayo Saka’s long-awaited Arsenal return from injury as a ‘beautiful moment’, the winger scoring after just seven minutes to help overcome Fulham last night.
The 23-year-old, who had been out for 101 days with a hamstring injury which required surgery, was substituted on in the 66th minute and struck moments later to add to Mikel Merino’s first-half strike.
Saka raced over to the Arsenal dugout to celebrate his goal, a back-post header from Gabriel Martinelli’s flick on, with the north London club’s physios and sports science staff.
Arteta said: ‘I think (it was) a beautiful moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo. I think the best example is his reaction.
‘Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do? He goes and says thank you for all the hard work that all the sports science guys, physios and everybody involved in the recovery have done for him to be able to be in the condition that he is.
‘I think he lifted the stadium, the energy and (it’s) great to have him back.’
Bukayo Saka's scored a close-range header seven minutes into his return after a long lay-off
Mikel Arteta hailed the inger's long-awaited return from as a ‘beautiful moment’
It was a mixed night for the Gunners though as they lost Gabriel after just 16 minutes
It was a mixed night for the Gunners though who, despite having Saka back, lost centre back Gabriel after just 16 minutes to a hamstring problem.
It’s a seismic blow ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie against Real Madrid next Tuesday at the Emirates. Both he and Jurrien Timber, who has a knee concern, will be assessed today.
Arteta added: ‘Yes (there is concern) because he (Gabriel) never comes off. He felt something. We don't know how big it is.
‘Jurrien as well. He was already struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue, at some point he couldn't.
‘We don't know how they're going to be. We'll be assessing them tomorrow (today) to understand better how we are with those two