Mikel Arteta makes Bukayo Saka decision vs Fulham as Arsenal starting XI confirmed

Bukayo Saka returns to the Arsenal squad against Fulham in a major boost to the club. Mikel Arteta has been without his talisman since he suffered a serious hamstring injury in December but has been named on the bench for the clash against Marco Silva's side.

Saka underwent a procedure to help fix the problem, but it cost him close to four months of action which certainly impacted the club’s hopes of winning a trophy in multiple competitions. Now the UEFA Champions League appears the last hope.

Saka needs minutes with just a week to go until Los Blancos come to town and having the Gunners’ best available starting XI will be a massive boost for the side. Arteta said before Tuesday’s game: “Bukayo is ready to go!” But he does not start and only makes the bench.

When asked about Saka’s presence in the squad, the Spaniard added: “Well, it's more the energy that he transmits that he's missed the thing that he loves the most in his life, which is to be around the team, to play, to train and to compete at the highest level. And the fact that he's able to come in the most important part of the season obviously is a massive boost for him and to the team as well.”

Arsenal starting XI vs Fulham:Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli

Subs - Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tierney, Jorginho, Saka, Sterling, Trossard, Gower

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