Will a fit Saka prove key to Arsenal's season finale?
Image source, Getty ImagesBukayo Saka has scored 10 goals for Arsenal this season
- Published3 hours ago
For the first time in a long time, Arsenal looked back to their best in Saturday's win against Fulham - and so did Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners were dominant in their 3-0 victory over Marco Silva's side at Emirates Stadium, and it was no coincidence that Saka was fit and firing.
Seeing him be such a key creative source will fill Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal supporters with hope that he can be the player to lead the Gunners to the Champions League final by beating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, with them level after the semi-final first leg.
The England winger was making his first start since the middle of March after an Achilles injury, and showed why Arsenal have struggled without him in recent weeks as they look to win their first major trophy since 2020.
Saka showed during his 45 minutes against Fulham why the Gunners made him the highest-paid player in their history when he signed a new contract in February.
Arsenal had not won by two or more goals since beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in the Champions League last 16 in March.
And the 24-year-old winger looked to have fully shaken off the injury that he had been managing before his period on the sidelines, with his match-winning first-half performance.
Arsenal have had a wobble in recent weeks, winning just two of their past six matches, but with Saka back to his top level, his presence gave hope that Arsenal will be able to win that elusive piece of silverware.
The last Arsenal performance when the attack felt like it was flowing was February's 4-1 demolition of rivals Tottenham - the last time Arsenal scored three or more goals in a game.
"Well, he certainly made a difference," Arteta said of Saka after beating Fulham.
"I mean, he made two actions that decided the game, and we know what he's capable of.
"He's come back in the most important period of the season, and now he's fresh, his mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height, and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team, so that's a big platform for Tuesday."
Saka back and signs of partnership with Gyokeres
When Saka cleverly curled past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to double Arsenal's lead, it was his first goal for nine games and the first time he had scored and assisted in a Premier League game since November 2024.
Arteta said "I think the pain is gone" - referring to Saka's Achilles problem - and that it had been "restricting his capacity to deliver certain actions".
But what was even more promising for Arsenal was that it looked like Saka and striker Viktor Gyokeres had finally clicked.
At times this season it looked like the pair were struggling to form a partnership.
Saka's role has been tactically tweaked to help Gyokeres, who prefers to run behind the opposition defence rather than link play when building attacks.
Saka has been moving in different ways to make space in the box and has been doing more work outside the area, which has impacted the number of goals he has scored - but not the winger's influence on games.
However, against Fulham the pair looked on the same wavelength as they assisted each other in the first half.
"I think it was very good on Saturday," Gyokeres said when speaking before Arsenal play Atletico on Tuesday.
"I think when he is in that form and he is playing like he always is, it is of course amazing for me and all the other guys to have him on the pitch."
Surprisingly, when Saka crossed for Gyokeres' opener, it was the first assist he had provided for the Sweden striker in the Premier League.
It was also Saka's first assist in the top flight since January when Arsenal beat Bournemouth.
Saka's record for Arsenal is excellent, and he has been directly involved in 150 goals (80 goals, 70 assists) for Arsenal in 308 appearances.
His return to form could not come at a better time with a place in the Champions League final up for grabs against Diego Simeone's side.
"That's what we need when we arrive in this stage of the competition," Arteta said.
"Not only the players to be available but to be in top condition to perform and make the difference - and Bukayo certainly gives us that."
