By 90min | Created at 2025-03-31 13:58:02 | Updated at 2025-04-02 04:48:49
1 day ago
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted Bukayo Saka is "raring to go" as he left the door open to starting the returning winger in Tuesday's meeting with Fulham.
Saka went down with a nasty hamstring injury in December which has kept him sidelined ever since, but he returned to training during the international break, sparking confidence he could feature in some capacity in the club's first game back after the recent pause.
Arteta was asked about Saka's condition during his pre-match press conference and brushed off concerns about throwing the 23-year-old back into action.
"Bukayo is ready to go," he began. "The careful thing is already done. So 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, we have done everything and we have to hold him back even. So he's ready to go."
Asked whether Saka could start against Fulham, the Arsenal boss simply responded: "Yeah."
Saka's return to action will provide an enormous boost to an Arsenal front line which has struggled horribly for goals from open play during his absence - a cause equally not helped by season-ending injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
The winger boasts 11 assists and five goals from just 16 Premier League games, behind only Mohamed Salah in the division's assist charts despite the fact he has not played for over three months. Until his injury, he was well on course to challeneg the single season assist record (20).
"It's another massive weapon that we have with him," Arteta concluded. "We know the impact that he's had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success. So great to have him back, obviously."
