Mikel Arteta forced to make huge Bukayo Saka decision as Arsenal dealt major Real Madrid setback

Arsenal have been dealt a major setback ahead of their clash against Real Madrid - and now Mikel Arteta will be forced to make a tough decision.

Los Blancos will host the Gunners at the Santiago Bernabeu next month for their first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. The following week, the two European giants will then lock horns at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg, with a place in the semi-final on the line.

Having fallen so far behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race - and no other silverware up for grabs - Mikel Arteta will be expected to throw the kitchen sink at Real Madrid. While Arsenal stormed past PSV Eindhoven in the last round, the reigning champions showed signs of weakness against Atletico Madrid.

So, the north Londoners may actually fancy their chances in the Champions League - especially if they can welcome some big names back from the treatment room. Bukayo Saka suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December and he's been out ever since.

The 23-year-old forward underwent surgery before beginning a rehabilitation programme at their Sobha Realty Training Centre. Saka was spotted doing gym work during the club's warm-weather training camp in Dubai earlier this year but, given the nature of his injury, he's not yet to been spotted on the grass.

"After the international break, let's see where he is," said Arteta, following Arsenal's draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. "His progress is really good, he's really willing - as you can imagine - so we are positive that in a few weeks he'll hopefully be back."

Arteta will be expected to share another update on Saka at the start of next month or, in other words, a week or so before Arsenal play Real Madrid. The England international would be a huge addition to their starting line-up for that heavyweight bout.

The Gunners boss will be forced to make a difficult decision when he selects his frontline, with Raheem Sterling suspended. The 30-year-old winger, who joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea in the summer, was booked in the final minutes of the 2-2 draw with PSV on Wednesday night for a challenge on Johan Bakayoko.

With that being his third yellow card in the Champions League campaign, he must now serve a one-game ban. The north Londoners are already light on options in attack - so Arteta will be hoping Saka's back for the Real Madrid tie.

When quizzed on Sterling's performance, the Gunners head coach said: "I was very happy for him and for a lot of individuals as well that haven't had a lot of minutes recently. We could tell in the second half, that we lacked the physical capabilities to make certain efforts and runs and certain arrivals into certain spaces in the right time.

"But overall, very happy that they got the minutes and they responded," added Arteta. "Yeah, in the second one, and then he does the last final action as well that he can score. The keeper makes a save and the way he tracked back as well after the corner in the last action when he got booked, that's the kind of player that we want to see."

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