Arsenal have received a huge boost to their squad with Bukayo Saka returning to first-team training. The Gunners forward has already missed 20 matches with a hamstring injury and has spent the last three months recovering.
‘Hello Again’: Bukayo Saka Returns to Training
Saka Return Timely for Gunners
Bukayo Saka took to social media to show his fans he is back in first-team training. He posted a photo of himself smiling with a thumbs-up to the camera, captioning the post with just two words “Hello again”.
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Saka has not said anymore on when exactly he might return to the starting eleven. The club are also yet to comment.
Team-mate David Raya was quick to post this witty reply: “Stop wasting my time ⌛️”.
But Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano had some more details, including a date when Saka might return to action: “[Saka is] back in training with Arsenal squad. He’ll be also ready to face Real Madrid in UCL Quarter Finals.”
It is not clear if Saka will be available for the next two games against Fulham and Everton but it is perhaps unlikely given the length of his absence.
With Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes in tatters, the real focus turns to the Champions League. So everyone at Arsenal will be delighted if Saka can be fit in time for the Real Madrid clash.
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The Saka Effect
While the club have adjusted to life without Saka, finding new unlikely heroes in the likes of Mikel Merino, Saka’s return will have a big impact.
Saka has scored nine goals and contributed 13 assists across 24 appearances for the Reds this season, taking his all-time totals to 67 goals and 63 assists in 250 matches for Arsenal.
Read More: Homegrown Success Stories: Bukayo Saka
Arteta really values Saka and heaped praise on him back in December, saying: “It is remarkable what he is doing consistently every three days in different competitions at this level, and he will continue to do that,”
“He’s exceptional at what he does and he’s doing it very consistently. Now we need to go to the next step with things collectively as well to get that level. That’s the aim.”
Saka’s injury came only a week later after this, lasting just 24 minutes against Crystal Palace. Scans revealed that he had torn his hamstring which then required surgery.
At 23-years-old, Saka is just getting started for Arsenal and he will no doubt provide that extra spark that his team need to challenge for European glory.
