Arsenal received a big boost on Tuesday for their huge Champions League collision against Real Madrid, where Bukayo Saka will probably start after his return of a hamstring injury
Arsenal -Baas Mikel Arteta has claimed that Bukayo Saka is in a “much better place” with his fitness after returning from a long -term hamstring injury last week. The wing player of England hopes to start on Tuesday evening against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quart final after he started as a sub in the last two games.
Saka was brought up for 24 minutes in the 2-1 victory over Fulham before playing the full second half of Arsenal's 1-1 draw in Everton on weekends, while Arteta slowly offers him match fit again. The club must be careful with Saka after being recovered from a hamstring operation.
Arteta also knows that his team is in a vulnerable position with Gabriel Magalhaes who are joining Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to be excluded the season, while he also tries to manage Ben White's minutes after making his own injury comeback.
But he was happy about the progress of Saka after he had lost him for about four months and said he was in a “good place” to enjoy more minutes without confirming if he would start against Madrid.
“He is in a much better place,” said Arteta. “Gradually we have built his minutes in the past six or seven days. He dealt with that very well and he is in a good place to be used.”
Saka enjoyed a wonderful season last year before his injury last year and has ten goals and 13 assists in all competitions. Arsenal will count on a large display of him against Madrid this week and for the next leg.
The winger was also present in the Arteta press conference and he was asked if this was the biggest game in which he played during his football career.
He replied: “I think it will probably be yes in an Arsenal shirt! [Arsenal fans] Will help create the most beautiful night the emirates have ever seen.
When he was asked about his return to fitness, he added: “I play the last five years after the game. It's really nice to be back and I feel mentally fresh.
“I think the experience you pick up. Sometimes you make mistakes, you learn from them. What you don't kill makes you stronger.”
Saka will see the match against the Spanish giants test himself against Madrid's star Vooruit such as Vinicius JR, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe. He said he admired the harvest of star players of the team, but does not believe they are superior to him.
“I don't want to say that they are a level above me, because that is not how I think. We have viewed Real Madrid, we have analyzed them. The quality they possess in the last third part and also imposes ourselves.
“I think we all know what they are doing and we watch a lot of their games and we have seen the comebacks and the late victories they have restored.
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