Arsenal as a club would enjoy an "unbelievable" lift if Bukayo Saka is fit enough to take part in Tuesday's Premier League clash with Fulham, but Mikel Arteta is still at risk of sending out a "wrong message" with his selection calls, expert Charles Watts has told Sports Mole.
The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance in 2025 due to the severe hamstring injury he sustained against Crystal Palace in December, but he has been pictured back in full training with the team this week.
Saka is therefore believed to be in with a strong chance of coming back into the fold for next week's showdown with Fulham at the Emirates, as he aims to build his fitness up in time for the Champions League quarter-final first leg with Real Madrid.
Reports have claimed that the 23-year-old is indeed pushing to make the bench for the imminent Premier League meetings with Fulham and Everton, and speaking to Sports Mole, Watts refused to downplay the importance of Saka's prospective return next week.
"All eyes are going to be on Bukayo Saka and what happens with him between now and Real Madrid," he said. "The plan was for him to really step things up over this international break, and when everyone returns he can join in.
"It would be unbelievable if that was the case. The lift it would give the fans, the players, the coaching staff, the club. It would be too late for the Premier League in terms of the title, but ahead of that Real Madrid game it would be a massive boost just to see him involved again."
Will Arsenal benefit from Fulham approach in London derby?
Despite not playing a single minute of Premier League football in 2025, Saka still has the joint second-most assists in the top flight with 10 - only behind Mohamed Salah's 17 - but his return is not expected to spark a magnificent title comeback.
The Gunners have a 12-point deficit to make up to Liverpool with just nine games remaining, and success is far from a guarantee against Fulham, even if the Cottagers do come into the derby fatigued from their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta's men have failed to win any of their last three matches against Marco Silva's team, who held them to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in December, and their visitors are making a push for Europe as they lie eighth in the Premier League rankings.
As a result, Watts can envisage Fulham trying to attack Arsenal as opposed to setting up in a low block, which would ordinarily benefit the Gunners' chances of success, but the expert has affirmed that expectations must be tempered.
"It's going to be a really tough game," he added. "Arsenal have not got a good record against Fulham. Last year, they dropped four points against them. Ultimately, it was those points really that cost Arsenal the title. Drew at the Emirates 2-2 against 10 men, conceded a late goal, lost at Craven Cottage, which was the worst performance of the season. This year, 1-1, dropped more points at Craven Cottage.
"If they don't get the result they want on April 1, it would have been two seasons without winning against Fulham, home or away. I really enjoy watching Fulham play. I don't really see them setting up in a low block when they come. I think they'll have a go at Arsenal. They'll keep things tight.
'Find a way to win against familiar faces'
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"The game at Craven Cottage was a strange one. I don't think that was Fulham playing that much in a low block. Arsenal just dominated possession so much that Fulham just rarely could get out. But Fulham still defended really, really well, and despite Arsenal having so much territory and so much ball, they never really looked like they were going to score until that late goal that was ruled out.
"What we've seen from Arsenal of late, I think it's going to be very, very similar. I don't think it's going to be a thriller, I don't think it's going to be exciting. I don't think there's going to be loads of goals. It's just a case of trying to find a way to win for them against a team who have got a lot of familiar faces, who really fancy their chances.
"Marco Silva's a really good coach. This Fulham team are a top quality side this season. They've got threats all over the pitch, a really good forward who's scoring goals this season. The wide players are good. The full backs get forwards."
While Saka is on track to at least make the bench for the London derby, Arsenal have suffered a fresh blow over Riccardo Calafiori, who left the Italy camp with a knee injury sustained in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final with Germany.
On the other hand, Mikel Merino followed up his winner against Chelsea with a last-gasp strike for Spain against the Netherlands as La Roja reached the semi-finals, although Gabriel Martinelli's return to fitness has led to speculation that the Brazilian could start as the number nine instead.
However, Watts does not envisage Arteta rotating his resources, even though the visit of Fulham kicks off a relentless run of matches for Arsenal, who are set to play at least seven fixtures across all competitions in April.
How Arteta could send out "wrong message" with Arsenal selection calls
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"There's been talk about Martinelli going back and playing as a central striker, I'd be surprised," Watts said. "You might see that in game with 20 minutes, half an hour to go, but from the start I think Mikel Merino will be Arsenal's forward between now and the end of the season.
"Scored against the Netherlands, scored in the penalty shootout, he'll be coming back in a confident mood. I don't think he'll rotate, Mikel's just not a manager who does that. I'd be very surprised if he does. It would send out a bit of a wrong message.
"They've not got second wrapped up by any means. If you're not going to win the league, you want to at least make sure you finish second. The win just before the break gave them a bit of breathing space, but it's not done and dusted.
"If you go into Fulham and Everton, you don't get the results you want, suddenly you're looking over your shoulder. And it also means you're going into Real Madrid on the back of disappointing form and disappointing results.
"He'll see great value in getting decent results from these two games. Against Fulham, it will be as full strength as you can possibly get. Maybe against Everton. There might be a couple of changes, but certainly not wholesale ones."
The current Arsenal crop will be reuniting with a handful of their former teammates this weekend, as Fulham has become a safe haven for Gunners players who are surplus to requirements under Arteta.
'Players rarely leave on good terms like Smith Rowe'
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Emile Smith Rowe emotionally left the Emirates for Craven Cottage last summer, while Reiss Nelson arrived on loan, joining ex-Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno and another former academy graduate in Alex Iwobi at Fulham.
Silva's side also recently welcomed veteran attacker Willian back for a second spell at the club, and while Watts joked that the latter may not receive a warm welcome, he expects the likes of Leno, Smith Rowe and Iwobi to have their praises sung by the home crowd.
"Willian maybe not but everyone else absolutely!" Watts replied if all four will be welcomed back with open arms. "At Craven Cottage, Smith Rowe was constantly having his name chanted, we'll certainly hear that again for his first time back at the Emirates.
"You rarely get players leave on such good terms as Emile Smith Rowe did, every Arsenal fan really wanted him to succeed. A lot didn't want him to go, you can understand why he did. He was such a fan favourite.
"Iwobi's always popular, Bernd Leno, left in a really good way. They'll all get a really good welcome, but hopefully they end up disappointed."
While Fulham have been a bogey team for Arsenal over the last two years, the Cottagers have never managed to beat the Gunners away from home, clinching all nine of their wins over the three-time Premier League champions on their own patch.
Ben Knapton
