MIKEL ARTETA has offered an injury update on Bukayo Saka.
Saka suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in December.
GettyBukayo Saka picked up his injury in December[/caption]
Instagram / bukayosaka87He underwent surgery in December[/caption]
GettyHe is back solo training again[/caption]
He had surgery before the new year with the recovery period being estimated at between 10 to 12 weeks.
But a month ago, it was revealed Saka would be out for a further eight weeks ruling him out till April.
The winger is already back on the grass doing individual drills – setting him up for a return to competitive first-team training.
Saka took part in light training during the Arsenal’s mid-season trip to Dubai in February.
Arteta said: “He is going to be here [at the Arsenal training ground], hopefully more with ball at his feet than he has had.
“That will mean he is passing the ball and shooting and running and everything. He has done quite a lot already on the pitch working on his own.
“Next we need to arrange it with people around him in a more competitive training session and see how he goes with that.
“He’s getting closer, he’s stepping up and making a very good progress I would say.
Arsenal ratings vs PSV as Raheem Sterling shines with more confidence but rusty Ben White makes mistakes
RAHEEM STERLING provided two assists as Arsenal drew 2-2 with PSV in the second- leg of their 9-2 aggregate Champions League last-16 win.
The Gunners set up a Champions League quarter-final showdown with 15-time European champions Real Madrid, who beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties.
Mikel Arteta took the chance to rotate following last week’s 7-1 first-leg win, naming a much-changed side which included Kieran Tierney on the left wing and Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield.
Sterling was also handed a rare start and set up both Arsenal goals in an eye-catching display, first for Zinchenko, and then for Declan Rice before half-time.
Ben White struggled during his first start since November after minor undergoing surgery, while Jorginho took over captaincy duties from Martin Odegaard who was named on the bench.
Here SunSport’s Dan King delivers his Arsenal player ratings against PSV from the Emirates.
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“So, let’s see when we start to throw him in with the team, how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly.”
Arsenal – who host Chelsea tomorrow – welcome Real Madrid to the Emirates in the Champions League quarter-final on April 8.
Eight days later, they travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg of the last eight tie with Saka in a race to be fit.
The England international joins Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the Gunners’ injury list.
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