Before the match against Fulham on the day the Premier League returned after FIFA Days in March, captain Mikel Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka had attended 6 training sessions with the whole team and the striker's condition was completely stable. The England striker had previously been out for three months after suffering a hamstring injury.
Saka's recovery process has been accelerated after a training trip in Dubai (UAE) in February. Saka then took full advantage of his time in the gym and at the training center to save energy.
This professionalism and meticulousness have helped his return to the pitch closer than ever, right at a time when Arsenal still have a chance in the Premier League and Champions League.
At Arsenal at the moment, Saka's role is not simply a driver and goals. Gradually, Mikel Arteta wanted his player to take more responsibility in other situations to be worthy of being the future leader of the club. In the match against West Ham in November 2024, when Jurrien Timber was surrounded by opposing players, Saka was the one who rushed in to prepare for the opponent.
This season, when Martin Odegaard was injured, Arteta handed Saka the captain's armband. Saka has done a very good job in the 2 months he has been given that honor. He was not only the goalkeeper for the "Gunners", the 23-year-old striker's confidence and manhood on the pitch were highly trusted by his teammates.
Saka was named in the Arsenal squad after the team parted ways with Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka in the summer of 2024. Before the match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, Arteta shared frankly with the media that he wanted to push Saka up to become a leader of the club.
When asked if he felt pressured to take Odegaard's captaincy, Saka denied it and felt very normal. Odegaard also admitted that Saka's leadership qualities are natural and do not need to rush up to play that role.
However, if he does not have a good record on the pitch, Saka will find it difficult to gain the support of his teammates. In the last 4 seasons, the English striker has scored double-digit goals for The Gunners in each season. Not only did he score, he also participated a lot in the assists.
In previous seasons, when Odegaard could not play, Saka was questioned about his ability to operate independently. Now, those doubts have disappeared as the 23-year-old star can stand firm and lead the attack.
Saka is better than the "Gunners'" future players such as Lewis-Skelly or the 5-year-old Nwaneri. Therefore, he is planned to become the leader of the team in the future, with or without the appearance of Arteta.
Saka has said that his seniors such as David Luiz and Alexandre Lacazette helped him integrate into the first team. Now, this striker will play a similar role for the juniors.
Despite being just 23, Saka has played 250 games for Arsenal, becoming the third U23 player in Gunners' history to reach the milestone, after Cesc Fabregas and David O'Leary.
However, what this striker wants most is a title for the team, not individual records. He has said it over and over again in the media and is still persistent in achieving that goal.
If he can return in time, Saka will lead the Arsenal attack in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. If they shine and help The Gunners reach the semi-finals, it will be an affirmation that cannot be more Than Than Than Than on the return day of the only "Star Boy" of North London.
