Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is ready to return to action ahead of Arsenal‘s Premier League clash with Fulham on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old England forward, who has scored nine goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season, has not featured since the Gunners’ 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 21.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” Arteta said on the eve of Tuesday’s match against Fulham. “All the careful things are already done, so now it’s about putting him on the grass at the right moments. But he’s pushing because he really wants to.
“We have respected the timeframe, and we have done everything, and we had to hold him back even. He is ready to go.”
Asked whether Saka, who underwent hamstring surgery in December, could start against eighth-place Fulham at the Emirates, Arteta replied: “Yeah, yeah.”
Arteta emphasised the significance of Saka’s return, saying: “Bukayo is a massive weapon. We know the impact that he has had in the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success. It’s great to have him back.”
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with just nine games remaining, making a title challenge unlikely. However, they are through to the Champions League quarter-finals and will host Real Madrid in the first leg of their tie on April 8.
Saka’s return is a timely boost for Arteta, who has been struggling with attacking options in recent weeks due to injuries to key forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
“It’s more the energy that he transmits. He has 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,” Arteta said.
“The fact that he’s able to come in at the most important part of the season is a massive boost for him and the team as well.
“He hasn’t played for three months but has played for the last 48 months. So three in 48 is a very small percentage.”
