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The Daily Mirror is reporting that both players could be back in contention for Arsenal’s first game of April, a clash with Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on April 1. The return of the wingers would be a major boost for the Gunners’ title chase having lost the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to long-term injuries.
It does mean Arteta’s side will have at least four games without Saka and Martinelli, but the duo are expected to ramp up their rehabilitation plans in that period and be ready for the Premier League run in.
The Gunners are set to face West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Man United, and Chelsea in that time. Both players have been sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Martinelli suffered his in the Carabao Cup semi-final defeat against Newcastle United, though his strain was not as bad as first feared. The winger is said to be making steady progress, having gone on Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai last month.
Saka underwent surgery on his hamstring tear back in December and was pictured in the gym as he stepped up his rehab with recovery going well so far. The report claims the initial plan was for the England international to be back training by the end of February and ready for selection come March.
However, the Gunners will be keen not to rush back either player, given their injury crisis up front. Saka is set to continue his rehab over the next few weeks and return to training before getting out on the grass with his teammates.
That being said, the injury will keep him out of Thomas Tuchel’s first international camp as England boss, with the Three Lions set for back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia next month. Those games, which are penned in for March 21 and 24, respectively, will likely come too soon for Saka.
Arsenal are also without Takehiro Tomiyasu, who may have to undergo another operation in an attempt to fix his long-term lay-off.
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