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Can Arsenal progress to the Champions League semi-finals without Bukayo Saka?
It will be quite the next few weeks for Arsenal as all eyes will be on star winger Bukayo Saka as he ramps up his return from an injured hamstring.
Having not been seen since December, Saka's return would be a timely boost for an Arsenal side, that while basically out of Premier League contention (12 points behind Liverpool), is into the quarter finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Granted, being out for three months will mean the Gunners, given the nature of Bukayo's injury, will be playing the cautious game, but Arsenal will be wanting to get Saka involved in one or both of its Premier League games against Fulham or Everton prior to the first leg of the Madrid clash at the Emirates.
In an ideal world, that will likely mean Saka returns against Fulham from the bench, and then ramps that up against Everton before possibly making the start against Real.
But do Arsenal's Champions League dreams all rest on Saka?
Saka or bust for Arsenal in Champions League?
That might be heavy-handed, but there is merit to it, especially when we look at how the Arsenal attack has fared in some games without him, and it's not pretty, both from a goal-scoring and chance creation standpoint.
“If Saka is to be back before the first leg against Madrid then he will have to return to training outdoors soon,” Football London's Tom Coley writes. “That will be a massive boost for his teammates and the club's chances of making the semi-finals.”
So, it seems the next few weeks will be pivotal in seeing if Saka can make any impact in the Champions League and in truth, he will most likely need to be involved in some capacity in both league games to build up fitness.
But given the nature of the injury, the last thing Arsenal and Mikel Arteta want is to rush their star back too soon and have him break down again. That, my friends, is nightmare fuel.
So, there is a delicate balancing act the Gunners must play here, and with Saka potentially returning and what it could do for their Champions League hopes, coupled with the danger of him breaking down again, it is a decision they can't afford to get wrong.