What Bukayo Saka did immediately after his injury could save Arsenal’s season

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Bukayo Saka is expected to return to action for Arsenal after the international break.

The Gunners have struggled without their talisman, falling 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Despite this failure in the league, the Champions League remains on the table for Mikel Arteta’s team, as Real Madrid await Arsenal in the quarter-final of the competition.

Saka was ruled out for several months with a hamstring injury back in December, but he could still play a crucial role in the North Londoners’ season, as he’s expected to be ready to take on Real Madrid.

• READ MORE: Arsenal have already made new Bukayo Saka contract decision despite Andrea Berta announcement wait

What Bukayo Saka did straight after suffering injury

With Arsenal 2-1 up at Selhurst Park on the 21st December, Saka went down holding his hamstring, and was forced to come off for Leandro Trossard.

The moment would prove to be a detrimental turning point in the Gunners’ season, although the rest of the squad has just about been able to hold things together to the extent that Arteta’a side still have silverware to play for.

According to the Standard, Saka underwent scans on the damage to his hamstring in the days following the clash in South London, and wasted no time initiating the surgery he needed.

Insisting that it took place as soon as Christmas Eve, the night before a day of celebration, Saka had his mind set on returning to action as quickly as possible.

Surgeries of this magnitude are often delayed by players for convenient times relating to their personal lives, but the Hale End graduate didn’t hesitate to fix his body in the festive period.

He was keen to get his rehabilitation going, and he may now reap the rewards for this.

Bukayo Saka expected to play against Real Madrid

Arteta confirmed on Sunday that Saka is likely to return after the international break, which would mean he’d be available for Arsenal’s season-defining games against Real Madrid.

Had he not made his instinctive decision to undergo surgery at the earliest possible moment, it’s likely he’d not have been in contention to feature in at least the first leg against Los Blancos at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s attack has struggled to score the volume of goals required to keep pace with Liverpool without Saka, with the Englishman’s importance to the Gunners has been exemplified in his absence.

While Arteta’s outfit have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League, they’ve only scored the fourth most this season, laying bare where the issues have been.

Saka has the ability to reignite this flailing attacking unit, and lead Arsenal to Champions League glory in May.