Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Bukayo Saka deserved a memorable return after marking the end of his 101-day absence with a decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday night.
Saka, who had been sidelined for over three months due to injury, made an immediate impact after coming off the bench.
Within seven minutes, the English international of Nigerian descent nodded home a well-placed flick from Gabriel Martinelli to double Arsenal’s lead.
His goal not only helped secure three crucial points but also symbolized the hard work and dedication he put into his rehabilitation.
Arteta expressed delight with the winger’s performance and emphasized the significance of his return at a crucial stage of the season.
The Arsenal boss acknowledged Saka’s perseverance through a challenging recovery period and highlighted his importance as the team continues to push for success in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
“It was a beautiful reaction from our people to show him that love, respect and admiration and he fully deserves.
“His reaction straight away after scoring was to say thank you to all the sports scientists, physios and everyone who has participated in his recovery. It tells you who he is as a person, so it’s impossible not to love him.
“He’s trained with us for the last nine days, and he’s been impressive straight away. The problem that we put for him was very demanding by respecting the time frames because we knew that the moment that we throw him in, he needs to be ready because it’s the most important part of the season, so, I’m really pleased with that.”
Saka has ten goals and 14 assists across 25 games in all competitions.
