Arsenal will now be focusing on their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid and Mikel Arteta is hoping Bukayo Saka will be ready to return soon
Arsenal will have several players in action during the final international break of the season and will be hoping they all return to north London unscathed. The likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel will all be away representing their countries this week.
Arsenal will be back in action on April 1 when they host Fulham in the Premier League, but with their title bid virtually over their focus will be on the Champions League where Mikel Arteta’s side have been drawn against defending champions Real Madrid.
The Gunners will host Carlo Ancelotti’s men on April 8, before travelling to the Bernabeu on April 16 as they look to win the competition for the first time in their history. With all that in mind, Mirror Football has taken a look at the latest news from the Emirates…
READ MORE: Ex-Arsenal star believes frustrated Mikel Arteta ‘reaching the end’ as Gunners managerREAD MORE: Arsenal injury list and return dates as Mikel Arteta drops Bukayo Saka hint
Arteta’s ‘flabbergasting’ claim
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has been left baffled after Arteta claimed that Chelsea are the “best attacking team in the league”.
“I don’t know what I’m missing,” Merson told Sky Sports in response to Arteta’s comments. “When Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer are playing, they’re a good team. They bring the best out of each other.
“Palmer’s a better player when Jackson’s playing and Jackson’s a better player when Palmer’s playing. That is fact. But I’m flabbergasted by that quote. I honestly don’t get that. There will be a lot of Chelsea fans reading that thinking, ‘Wow, what is he talking about?'”
Saka targets Real Madrid return
Mirror Football understands that Bukayo Saka is on course to return to action in time for the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid on April 8.
Saka has been out of action since suffering a torn hamstring against Crystal Palace on December 21 and the winger has been a huge miss. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s win over Chelsea, Arteta said of Saka: “He’s getting closer, he’s stepping up and making very good progress I would say.”
Saka has made 22 goal contributions in 24 appearances across all competitions and the 23-year-old’s return would come as a major boost for the Gunners as they hope to win the Champions League.
Injury latest
Although Saka should be back next month, Arsenal do have a host of other long-term injury problems.
Kai Havertz picked up a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai last month and has been forced to undergo surgery, while Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury against Manchester United in January.
Both players have been ruled out for the rest of the season. Versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is also expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, having undergone knee surgery last month.
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