Saka refreshed and ready to write 'own story' against Madrid

Bukayo Saka has said he feels mentally refreshed after missing three months through injury and believes Arsenal are ready to "write our own story" against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final.

- Ed Aarons

Saka is expected to start against Madrid tonight in the first leg for the first time since rupturing a hamstring in December, having come on in the past two matches. The Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, said having the 23-year-old back for what he described as the biggest game of his coaching career was a massive boost as his team attempt to overcome the reigning champions.

Saka, having missed only four of 135 Premier League matches since early May 2021 before his injury, admitted the time on the sidelines had benefited him. "I think mentally it was really good for me," he said.

"It was really tough initially to find out the extent of my injury, that I was going to have to have surgery... But once it was done and it was successful, I was just focused on coming back stronger and had a lot of time.

"Obviously the past five years I've been playing game after game, so it was the first proper break I've had and it was really good for me. I got to do a lot of things that I don't really normally do. I can give you many, many examples, but you will get bored. It's really nice to be back and I feel fresh mentally for sure."