Arsenal could be about to get the best news of the season so far. Reliable reports from Charles Watts suggest Bukayo Saka is edging closer to a return, with real hope he can feature against Nottingham Forest this weekend. That timeline matters because Manchester City are up next, and Arsenal need their No.7 fit and firing for the biggest early test.
🚨 BREAKING from @charles_watts:
There is certainly hope that Bukayo Saka will be CLOSE TO A RETURN by Nottingham Forest, which will be a big boost considering Arsenal will face Manchester City the following weekend. 🏴 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/oUgdzQ2XU7
— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) August 28, 2025
Saka’s recovery has been managed carefully, and the plan is sensible: if he’s ready, give him controlled minutes at the City Ground, build rhythm, and set him up for the showdown that follows. The medical staff will not take risks, but the sense inside the camp is positive.
Bukayo Saka, the difference-maker
Without Saka, Arsenal lose natural width and a guaranteed outlet under pressure. He stretches back lines, drives at full-backs, and turns tight games with quick combinations around the box. His end product speaks for itself, but so does the gravity he carries. Defenders shade his side. Midfields shift across. Space opens for everyone else.
Yes, the 5-0 against Leeds showed Arsenal can share goals. However, games against elite opponents are decided by moments. Saka supplies those moments more often than anyone in the squad, and his defensive work on the flank locks the structure together.
Managed minutes against Forest?
If Mikel Arteta includes him, expect a measured return. Ten to thirty minutes would be enough to test the hamstrings at full pace, sharpen the touches, and reintroduce the off-ball demands Arteta insists on. Arsenal do not need heroics at Forest. They need sensible preparation for what comes next.
Meanwhile, the rest of the front line has settled. Viktor Gyökeres attacks the box, Eberechi Eze links and breaks lines, and Noni Madueke brings direct speed. Dropping Saka back into that mix lifts the ceiling again. He has the timing and understanding with Martin Ødegaard, and his quick patterns with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi speed up the right-side build-up.
Title race momentum
Arsenal have taken care of business early, but the campaign’s tone often shifts in August and September. Take three points at Forest, then land a statement against City, and the entire league feels different. Saka’s return would not just be a fitness boost; it would be a psychological lift for the group and the stadium.
All eyes are on the teamsheet. If Saka appears, even from the bench, it signals the next step is on schedule. For Arsenal, that could be the spark that turns a strong start into real momentum.
