Saka Primed for Real Madrid Clash in Champions League

Although Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka thinks his forced rest will help him and his team as they get ready to meet Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, jury layoffs are hardly welcomed by players.

While Saka’s comeback from a major hamstring injury has most likely come too late to save Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations, European glory is a realistic goal. Saka is undoubtedly the most irreplaceable player in Mikel Arteta’s team.

Saka?

Last month Saka missed England’s opening two World Cup qualifiers; nevertheless, he scored on his return for Arsenal in the Premier League triumph against Fulham last week.

Arsenal needs Saka running on all cylinders if they are to shock Real Madrid; he thinks his relative freshness will provide an advantage against the Spanish giants.

“It was the first appropriate break I’ve had; I’ve been playing game after game for five years,” he stated. “It was rather excellent for me. I had to accomplish a number of tasks not usually associated with me. Being back feels great, and I feel fresh psychologically.

“I am simply focused now on the positives and I could not ask to come back at a better time of the season than now.”

Based on his stats this season—10 goals and 14 assists in 26 games in all competitions—including four goals in the Champions League— Bukayo Saka’s value to Arsenal is highlighted.

Last year, Bayern Munich stopped Arsenal at the quarter-final level when they were still closely matched with Manchester City for the Premier League championship. All of their eggs are in their European basket this time, and Saka notes Tuesday’s opening leg might be among the best events ever seen at the Emirates Stadium.