Bukayo Saka is nearing a long-awaited return for Arsenal after three months out with a hamstring tear; England international’s injury was a huge blow to the Gunners’ title hopes; his comeback could impact Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Odegaard and Ben White
It is a testament to Bukayo Saka’s importance to Arsenal that even after three months out through injury, he remains their leading provider of goals and assists this season.
His combined total of 22 in 24 appearances in all competitions, before his hamstring tear in the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December, still has him three clear of any other player.
Even in the context of Arsenal’s struggles in the opening months of the campaign, Saka was posting the best numbers of his career. His average of 1.08 goal involvements per 90 minutes puts him behind only Mohamed Salah among Premier League players this season.
Saka’s injury a turning point?
Saka is not the only Arsenal attacker to have been sidelined this season. Martin Odegaard missed three months with an ankle problem suffered in September. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz had their campaigns ended by knee injuries in January and February. Gabriel Martinelli has only just returned from a hamstring issue.
Cumulatively, the injuries took a heavy toll. But there is no doubting Saka’s was the most impactful. On the night he pulled up against Palace at Selhurst Park, Arsenal had narrowed the gap to Liverpool to three points. It has widened to 12 points since.
Saka had scored or set up 40 per cent of Arsenal’s goals at the time of his injury. His output was at its highest under Mikel Arteta, continuing a pattern of year-on-year improvement and underlining his huge influence on an attack built to maximise his threat.
Since Arteta’s first game in charge, in December 2019, Saka has made more Premier League appearances, scored more goals and provided more assists than any other Arsenal player.
He also ranks top among his team-mates for shots and chances created in that timeframe. He is their main goal threat, having developed a ruthless edge when cutting inside from the right, but also their main creator, providing a consistent stream of opportunities from both open play and set-piece situations.
Arsenal’s output declined on both fronts without him, perhaps most notably from dead balls. Without Saka’s outstanding delivery from corners, for example, they went two months without scoring from one before Mikel Merino’s winner against Chelsea in their last game.
His return is not a fix-all solution to their issues this season, of course. It probably comes too late to rescue their title challenge given the size of the gap to the top. But his injury was the biggest blow to their chances. His return, by the same token, holds the key to their hopes of finishing strongly.
Slotting back in on the right?
Of course, much will depend on how quickly Saka can rediscover his form. His injury came after four straight seasons of featuring in almost every game. His three-month absence has put him – and Arsenal – on unfamiliar ground.
He has never previously missed more than a few weeks, so it is hard to predict the speed at which he will regain sharpness, or how swiftly he will be thrust back into action.
