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Arsenal are set to enter their next Premier League fixture against Newcastle United sitting second in the standings, yet the Gunners' hopes of securing a first top-flight title in 22 years remain very much alive, particularly with reports suggesting the club are "hopeful" of welcoming Bukayo Saka back to fitness this weekend.
Despite a 2–1 loss at Manchester City on Sunday, which trimmed their advantage at the top to three points ahead of City's midweek visit to Burnley on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta can take heart from the quality of his side's display at the Etihad.
Arsenal have struggled through much of 2026, with hopes of a quadruple and then a treble evaporating on either side of the March international break. Nevertheless, Arteta's squad remain Opta's top picks to lift the title, and they've also advanced to the Champions League semifinals in consecutive seasons.
So things aren't entirely bleak for the Gunners and their anxious supporters, who will soon be able to welcome back the contributions of Saka once more.
Bukayo Saka's Potential Injury Return Date
Saka has endured yet another injury-disrupted campaign after sitting out much of the 2024–25 season with a serious hamstring problem. Arsenal's standout talent has battled hamstring, hip, and now Achilles complaints this term, with the last of those keeping him out since the Gunners' 2–0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Man City.
He has since missed seven matches for club and country, including Sunday's potentially damaging loss in Manchester.
However, Arteta offered an upbeat update ahead of last week's match, revealing that Saka had "started to do some stuff" on the training pitch. According to The Independent, the club are "hopeful" that Saka will rejoin the squad within the coming week.
Arsenal's next Premier League assignment sees them face a deeply struggling Newcastle side on Saturday evening, as they look to reignite their title push following back-to-back defeats in April.
How Significant a Boost Is Saka's Imminent Return?
While Arsenal managed to grind their way into the Champions League semifinals in Saka's absence, they have also bowed out of the FA Cup and dropped consecutive league matches.
His return to the right flank alone will provide a lift to an attack that has labored for weeks, though it did show considerably more spark with Kai Havertz leading the charge at the Etihad Stadium. Havertz and Saka haven't featured together since December 2024, while skipper Martin Ødegaard — whose partnership with Saka has long been a decisive force down Arsenal's right side — has also returned to fitness.
That said, Saka hasn't enjoyed a particularly fruitful season, with some fans growing concerned that the accumulated workload over the years is beginning to catch up with him. The winger suffered a hamstring tear last season and has been plagued by multiple fitness setbacks this time around. Saka remains a formidably difficult wide player to dispossess, but the explosive edge that defined his earlier years has dimmed slightly.
He has registered 16 goal contributions across 42 appearances in all competitions, and is on course for his least productive season since 2021–22, when he tallied 19 goals and assists in 43 outings while also shining for England at the World Cup.
Arteta has shown greater willingness than before to hook him when performances dip, with deputy Noni Madueke offering less refinement but more urgency and directness in his place. Saka remains Arsenal's primary creative force, and the Gunners would naturally prefer to have him available for the final stretch of the season.