Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is reportedly targeting a long-awaited return from a hamstring injury in time for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.
The Gunners have had to make do without their influential Hale End academy graduate for the entirety of 2025 so far, having lost the 23-year-old to a severe hamstring injury in December's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
Saka has been absent for each of Arsenal's last 19 games across all tournaments, although Mikel Arteta delivered a positive update on his recovery following Sunday's 1-0 win over London rivals Chelsea.
After pretending to rush out of his post-game interview - making light of when he did so following last weekend's 1-1 draw with Manchester United - the Spaniard affirmed that Saka had a "good chance" of coming back after the international break.
Now, The Mirror claims that the England international is indeed on track for a return in April, and there is optimism that he will be fit enough to face Real Madrid at the Emirates on April 8.
Saka to be on bench against Everton, Fulham?
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The report claims that Arsenal are keeping their fingers crossed for Saka to enter the final stages of his recovery over the next 10 days, when he is expected to start working with the ball at his feet again.
As a result, there is even optimism that the 23-year-old could be a part of the squad to face Everton on April 1 in Arsenal's first game back after the international break, or failing that the trip to Everton on April 5.
Whether Saka is given any minutes in either of those two top-flight affairs remains to be seen, but he is on track to be available when the reigning Champions League winners visit North London next month.
The Arsenal academy graduate was easily one of Arteta's most influential players in the first half of the season, coming up with nine goals and 13 assists in his first 24 appearances in all competitions.
Despite being out for three months, Saka's 10 Premier League assists is still the joint second-most in the division, level with Fulham's Antonee Robinson and Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard and only behind Mohamed Salah's 17 for Liverpool.
How big a boost will Saka's return be?
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A massive one.
Arsenal have shown that they can conjure up ruthless displays in Saka's absence - PSV Eindhoven and Manchester City immediately spring to mind - but lately, his absence has stuck out like a sore thumb.
The England international is heralded for his unrivalled ability from the corner flag, where his deliveries appear to find their man almost every time, and Arsenal had started to see their set-piece powers wane in recent weeks.
Arteta's side went seven Premier League games without a goal from a corner or free kick before Merino's header in the victory over Chelsea, and with both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz still missing, a dead-ball situation may be their best route to goal against Real Madrid.
Martin Odegaard has also been off the boil of late, sparking conversation around Arsenal's apparent need for another creative option, and Saka is exactly that. Expectations should be tempered slightly, though, as he may understandably need a few weeks to get back to his best after the biggest injury of his career so far.
Ben Knapton
