‘Bukayo Saka is ready to go’: Arsenal attacker expected to return vs Fulham, says Mikel Arteta | Football News
In a big boost for Arsenal ahead of a last two months of the English Premier League season where they are 12 points behind Liverpool, Bukayo Saka is expected to make his long awaited return to the team in the match against Fulham on Tuesday. Saka, who was out with a hamstring injury since last December, is ‘ready to go’, as per manager Mikel Arteta.
“Saka is ready to go. All the careful things are already done. Now it’s about putting him in the grass at the right moment. But he’s pushing because he really wants to. Bukayo is a massive weapon that we have. We know the impact he has in the team and how important his role and contribution is to our success. It’s great to have him back again,” Arteta said.
The England international who has scored 9 times and provided 14 asss, couldn’t have made his return at a better time with the Gunners hosting Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next week.
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“It is the energy that he (Saka) transmits. He has missed the thing that he loves the most in his life — which is to be around the team, to play, train and compete at the highest level. The fact that he is able to come in the most important part of the season is a massive boost for him and the team as well,” Arteta added.
Arsenal’s Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori was injured on international duty. Calafiori, 22, had to leave the pitch towards the end of Italy’s 2-1 defeat Germany in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final.
“It was really unfortunate how that injury happened but it could have been much worse,” Arteta said.“(Dutch defender Jurrien) Timber has been ill for long but he has felt much better in the last few days, so he is available,” Arteta said.
(With agency inputs)
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