Saka, on his way to Madrid

Everything is going according to plan—Bukayo Saka is set to face Real Madrid. The English winger, who suffered a hamstring injury in December and subsequently underwent surgery, has not featured in an official match for Arsenal since. However, just in time for the big European showdown, the Gunners’ starboy has fully recovered.

Before hosting Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s side must navigate two league fixtures against Fulham and Everton, which will serve as a crucial testing ground for the No. 7. Back in full training after the international break, Saka is ready to go.

Days after the English winger posted an image on Instagram with the message “Hello again,” Mikel Arteta faced the media ahead of the Fulham match. When asked about Saka’s fitness, the Arsenal manager, beaming with a wide smile, confidently declared: “Bukayo is ready to go!”

Saka return a huge boost for Arsenal

Saka, who was injured on December 21 against Crystal Palace, has missed a critical stretch of the season—one in which Liverpool extended their lead to 12 points and Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup semi-finals by Newcastle. However, with their Champions League campaign still alive, the Gunners will have their talisman—alongside Martin Ødegaard—to challenge the reigning European champions in the quarter-finals of the continent’s premier competition.

“He’s done all the careful work, so now it’s just about getting him back on the pitch at the right moments,” Arteta explained. “He’s hungry and pushing to play. We’ve stuck to the timelines, even had to hold him back at times, but he’s ready. He’s a massive asset for us. We all know the impact he has on the team, how important his role is, and how much he contributes to our success. Having him back is fantastic.”

Despite being sidelined for over three months, Saka remains Arsenal’s top assist provider, primary chance creator, and most prolific goal contributor this season, with nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances. Remarkably, even after missing 21 consecutive matches, he is still among the Premier League’s top chance creators (19), trailing only Mohamed Salah and tied with Cole Palmer. His last appearance came on December 21.

‘He has been away from what he loves most’

Arteta also emphasised how much Saka has missed the game: “He has been away from what he loves most—being with the team, playing, training, and competing at the highest level. His return comes at the most crucial stage of the season, and that’s a huge boost for both him and the squad.”

Though Saka is eager to return to the starting lineup, Arteta remains cautious with Real Madrid looming. While a comeback against Fulham seems likely, the Arsenal boss doesn’t want to take unnecessary risks. “He hasn’t played for three months, but he’s played for the last 48. Three out of 48 is a very small percentage,” Arteta remarked. “I haven’t done housework for a week, but I’ve been doing it for 10 years—I still know how to do it. The habit is there, so don’t overthink it.”

While Saka’s return is a major boost, not all the news is positive for Arsenal. “Riccardo Calafiori is injured again with the national team,” Arteta confirmed. “It’s really unfortunate how it happened. It could have been much worse, so hopefully, it’s just a matter of weeks. We’ll monitor his recovery.”

The Italian defender suffered a worrying knee incident during Italy’s match against Germany in the recent international break. Given his history of serious knee injuries as a Roma youth player, there were initial fears of a severe ligament tear. Fortunately, he avoided a catastrophic injury but is expected to miss the next two Premier League matches and, most likely, the Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid.

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This isn’t Calafiori’s first setback in his debut season at Arsenal, where he has made 26 appearances, scoring three goals and providing two assists. However, there is some positive news on the defensive front—Jurriën Timber will be available for the midweek clash against Fulham. “He was quite ill for a long period, but he’s been feeling much better in recent days, so he is available,” Arteta concluded.

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