Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has described his recent spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury as a much-needed mental reset after five years of relentless football.
The 23-year-old winger was sidelined for 101 days and made his return in Arsenal’s win over Fulham last week, scoring on his comeback. He continued his return to full fitness with a 45-minute appearance off the bench against Everton on the weekend.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saka is now in a “much better place” and expected to start.
Reflecting on his injury and recovery, Saka said the break came with unexpected benefits.
“Mentally, it was really good for me,” he said. “At first, it was tough to learn the extent of the injury and that I’d need surgery. But once it was successful, my focus shifted to coming back stronger.
“For the past five years, I’ve been playing nonstop—game after game—so this was my first real break. I had time to rest, do things I normally wouldn’t get to do, and it was refreshing. I feel mentally fresh and happy to be back.”
Saka, whose current contract runs until 2027, played down speculation surrounding his future.
“I want to win, and I want to win wearing this badge,” he said. “I think it’s pretty clear. The fans know how much I love them, and they showed that love back on Tuesday. It’s a great relationship—I’m happy and focused on winning.”
Arteta: "We’re Ready to Win"
Arsenal face their toughest test yet as they host defending champions Real Madrid, who have lifted the European Cup a record 15 times. This marks only the second time in 15 years that the Gunners have reached this stage of the competition.
Manager Mikel Arteta remains confident, despite a growing injury list that includes key players Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, and Kai Havertz—all ruled out for the remainder of the season.
“There are things we cannot control,” said Arteta. “We can’t influence what Real Madrid are going to do. Our energy needs to be focused on our own strengths, our weaknesses, and how we want to approach the game.
“The team’s intention is clear—we’re going for it.”
Arteta rotated his squad during the 1-1 draw against Everton, resting Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, and Bukayo Saka in preparation for the high-stakes midweek clash.
“At 8pm tomorrow night, it’s 11 players and 60,000 fans. I’m super convinced we’re ready to win,” he said. “That’s the mindset I want. We’ve shown resilience through ups and downs this season—that’s been our super strength, and we need to keep showing it.”