Mikel Arteta reveals ‘massive weapon’ Bukayo Saka is ‘ready to go’ and return for Arsenal ahead of Fulham clash
Bukayo Saka looks set to make his long-awaited return to action in an Arsenal shirt for the Premier League clash against Fulham on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has not featured since the 5-1 win away at Crystal Palace on December 21, and returns ahead of a London derby at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta waxed lyrical about Saka’s qualities, describing it as a “massive boost” for the player and team.
Mikel Arteta delivered some hugely positive team news after confirming that Bukayo Saka is “ready to go” after three months out.
Saka has suffered an extended spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but is in line to return for the Premier League clash against Fulham on Tuesday.
“Bukayo Saka is ready to go,” said Arteta in his pre-match press conference.
“All the careful things are already done. Now it’s about putting him on the grass at the right moment. But he’s pushing because he really wants to.
“We have respected the timeline and we have done everything. He is ready to go.
“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 spoke in more detail about what Saka brings to the squad aside from his qualities as a player, and believes his three-month absence should be taken into context considering how much football the winger has played in recent years.
He continued: “It is 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, 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.
“It’s important to get it out of your head that you haven’t played for three months, but he has played for the last 48 months. And three in 48 is a small percentage. So the habit is there.”
Meanwhile, the Spaniard revealed a blow concerning Riccardo Calafiori, after the defender picked up an injury whilst on international duty with Italy.
“Calafiori unfortunately picked up a knee injury again with the national team,” he revealed.
“It was really unfortunate how that injury happened, but it could have been much worse.
“So hopefully it’s going to be a matter of weeks. But we have to see how the injury evolves.
“Jurrien [Timber] has been ill for long, but he has felt much better in the last few days, so he is available.”
Moving away from the team news, Arteta praised the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director.
“It’s a big addition to the club – a team that already has a lot of great people who have been doing such a great job,” the Arsenal manager said.
“It’s now about building that chemistry, so we are all very excited to have him. He is a very honest and straightforward person. He has a very clear vision of what he wants to do.
“He was so willing to join us, which is positive. He had many other possibilities, but has chosen to come to us. Now it’s about us giving him the support. He has done well for many, many years at the highest level.”
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