OFFICIAL: Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli back in final training ahead of Manchester United clash,the boys trained under high intensity – as Arteta confirmed ahead of huge champions League clash with Real Madrid

Mikel Arteta might have just witnessed the ideal scenario unfold, even though Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign seemed to be heading toward a disappointing conclusion. Prior to their Champions League round of 16 first leg against PSV on Tuesday, the Gunners had been unable to score in three of their last four matches, seemingly extinguishing their chances of securing two trophies.

Last month, Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United and dropped five points in the Premier League title race, with defeats to West Ham United and a draw against Nottingham Forest.

The gap between Arsenal and the top now stands at 13 points, which could prompt Arteta and his team to shift their focus entirely to the Champions League. Their journey to Munich in the knockout stages began with a trip to the Netherlands to face PSV, and it’s safe to say they made a resounding impression.

Despite their recent struggles in front of goal, Arsenal triumphed 7-1, with Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, and Riccardo Calafiori all scoring, while Noa Lang netted for PSV.

Given recent weeks and injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, few would have expected such a dominant scoreline. “No [I didn’t expect seven goals],” Arteta admitted, though he had initially joked that he had anticipated that kind of result.

“That’s the beauty of football, nobody in this room could predict what’s going to happen tomorrow and who will score. In football, when you do well, you keep your head down, stay humble, and work on how to improve,” he continued. “The next match will be completely different, and nobody can script it, even if we’d like to.”

Although there is still a second leg to play, it’s highly likely that Arsenal will progress to the quarter-finals, where they could face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

PSV will travel to the Emirates for the return leg next Wednesday, just four days after Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match away at Manchester United. Following that, Arsenal will face three more league games, including home fixtures against Chelsea and Fulham and an away trip to Everton.

A European quarter-final tie will follow, which could coincide with the potential return of Saka and Martinelli. Both players have been sidelined for varying periods due to hamstring injuries, but they could make their comeback at just the right moment for Arteta.

Although it may not be openly stated, winning the Champions League should be the primary objective, and the club may prioritize rushing them back for the second leg against PSV or any of those league fixtures. Since Saka has been out for several months, there is no certainty he will be ready to return, especially as the club is likely to manage his comeback cautiously.

On the other hand, Martinelli, who has missed less time, could easily start the first leg at home during the week starting April 7. The second leg at the Bernabeu is set for the following week, which may provide a more realistic opportunity for Saka to make his starting return after several weeks of full-team training.