Bukayo Saka is set to make his return from injury for Arsenal in a huge boost ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that the winger is “ready to go” for the game against Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday after several months on the sidelines.
Saka underwent hamstring surgery after suffering the issue in December, but has stepped up his comeback in training and is in line to feature at the Emirates Stadium.
His availability is timely with the two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid set to begin next week.
"Bukayo is ready to go," said Arteta. "All the careful things he's already done, so now it's about putting him on the grass in the right moments.
"He's pushing because he really wants it. We have to respect the time frame, but we have done everything and we even had to hold him back.
"It's another massive weapon that we have. We know the impact that he's had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success, so great to have him back."
Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first leg of the last-eight tie next Tuesday, before travelling to the Spanish capital a week later after a league fixture against Brentford.
Their title challenge has faded in the absence of Saka and a host of other forwards, with Arteta’s side sitting 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and requiring a significant slip-up to get back in the chase.
The Basque manager is pleased, though, to have his options bolstered.
Arteta added of Saka: "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 is a massive boost for him and the team as well.”
