Bukayo Saka was sidelined for about three months after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal's 5-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Image: Glyn Kirk/AFP
Bukayo Saka’s return from injury may have come too late to rescue Arsenal’s faltering league campaign but may yet prove decisive in a push for a shock Uefa Champions League victory.
The star Arsenal and England winger announced his return from injury ahead of the Gunners’ clash against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
"Hello again," Saka posted on his Instagram page on Thursday alongside a photo of himself in training at the club's London Colney training centre.
The north London giants have 58 points, 12 points off runaway league leaders Liverpool. There are nine matches left in the season for both teams. Their chances of catching the Reds are slim to none.
The 23-year-old winger suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace back in December. Saka had surgery a few days later.
His absence has robbed the Gunners of serious firepower. It also didn’t help that it coincided with an injury crisis among the club's attackers. There were setbacks for Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli.
However, Arsenal have banished their struggles in front of goal on the biggest stage in Europe, the Champions League. They fired nine goals past PSV over two legs in the round of 16.
European giants and perennial Champions League winners Real Madrid await in the next round in a double header in the second and third weeks of April.
Saka's return will be a huge boost to Mikel Arteta's hopes of an upset. The flying winger has the pace, guile and ability to exploit any Real Madrid defensive lapses.
Arsenal have struggled to fill the void down the right flank due to Saka's absence, despite the emergence of exciting youngster Ethan Nwaneri.
The only poser for Arteta is how best to get one of his most potent attacking weapons quickly up to speed for the season-defining clash.
There is an opportunity to give him some game time against Fulham on Tuesday and the weekend's league clash against Everton if he is to have any chance of starting against Madrid. Arteta may not want to risk that, however, considering how long his star attacker was out for.
It just might be worth a punt, though, considering the stakes. With the Champions League their last realistic trophy chance, there's no point keeping the powder dry.