Arsenal completed their Champions League last-16 tie against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, comfortably advancing to the quarter-finals. Having built a commanding 7-1 lead from the first leg, their place in the last eight was virtually guaranteed.
A much-rotated lineup managed a 2-2 draw in the second leg, sealing a 9-3 aggregate victory. However, a similar scoreline is unlikely when they face defending champions Real Madrid, as confirmed late Wednesday.
The quarter-final showdown will be played over two legs during the weeks of April 7 and April 14 — about four to five weeks away — and Arsenal fans will be hoping for a fully fit squad for such a crucial tie.
While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are ruled out for the season due to injuries, all eyes are on Bukayo Saka. The England star has been sidelined since December with a hamstring injury he picked up against Crystal Palace just before Christmas.
Following the international break, Arsenal will have an extra weekend off because of their early FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United. They return to action with a home match against Fulham on April 1, followed by a trip to Everton on April 5 — just before facing Real Madrid.
Speaking earlier this week, Mikel Arteta provided a positive update on Saka’s recovery: “After the international break, we’ll see where he is. His progress is really good, he’s very eager — as you’d expect — so we’re hopeful he’ll be back in a few weeks.”
Given that the first leg against Madrid is still four weeks away, and Arteta’s optimistic tone about a return in “weeks” rather than months, there’s real hope that Saka could be available for the crucial European clash.