Arteta on Saka’s fitness and Gyokeres’ top performance in Fulham win

Arteta on Saka’s fitness and Gyokeres’ top performance in Fulham win

Mikel Arteta explained that Bukayo Saka’s pain from recent injuries is not gone and the Saka “that we all know” is back for Arsenal.

The winger has been struggling for large parts of the season with an achilles issue and missed the most recent England camp and Arsenal’s matches against Southampton and Manchester City because of that injury.

Before the match against Fulham Saka had only scored six times in the Premier League this season and has often looked like he is playing through pain, however, he scored a goal and recorded an assist in the 3-0 win.

Arteta was asked if Saka’s pain had waned after his period out with injury.

“Yeah, I think so,” he answered. “I think the pain is gone, and that was obviously something that was restricting his capacity to deliver sets and actions. And I agree today he felt loose, he felt relaxed.

“I think we had the Bukayo that we know back. He says to us and to our dressing room that we are keeping the dream alive, that what these guys have done, not just now, but throughout the season to win the many amount of games in the circumstances that we had to do it, without so many players available at times, is remarkable. So it’s it’s great, because I think Saka being back will help for Tuesday.”