Wayne Rooney believes the return of Bukayo Saka will prove to be ‘absolutely huge’ to Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations.
Saka played his first game in almost a month on Saturday, coming on as a late substitute in Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
That victory, inspired by Eberechi Eze’s early goal, saw Arsenal regain their place at the top of the Premier League as they chase a first league title since 2004.
Saka has been nowhere near his best this season, scoring just twice since December, but Rooney believes his timely return till be ‘massive’ for Arsenal.
‘Bukayo Saka has been great for Arsenal over the last few years – maybe this season he hasn’t hit the heights but he’s such an important player,’ Rooney said on his BBC podcast.
‘So to get him back at this time of the season is going to be massive, it’s going to be really important. He’s clearly one of the leaders in there so to have him back is huge.
‘An in-form Bukayo Saka is one of the best players in the Premier League, there’s no doubt about that.
‘It will help the other players as well, he has a really good connection with Jurrien Timber and the midfield players.
‘Having someone you know you can rely on out there is really important and all those Arsenal players know they can rely on Saka and know what he brings to the team.
‘It’s huge for Arsenal, absolutely huge.’
Arsenal are attempting to win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years after three successive second-place finishes.
Rooney believes ‘all the pressure’ is on Arsenal rather than title rivals Manchester City but still expects Mikel Arteta’s side to get over the line.
The Gunners have not been at this flowing best for weeks but Rooney believes Arsenal will benefit from having ‘easier’ fixtures than Man City.
‘I think Arsenal will win the title and I do think they will win it,’ Rooney added.
‘I thought the Newcastle game was so important and thought if they won that they could go on to win every game. If they didn’t they could have fallen apart but to win that game was so big.
‘Man City have a couple of tricky games in there and I can see them slipping up once or twice. Man City have the trickier fixtures, if you look at Arsenal’s last four games they are really winnable, all four of them.
‘The City ones, there’s a couple you think they could slip up, like Everton and Bournemouth. I give the edge to Arsenal based on the fixtures.
‘Man City’s fixtures are a little bit trickier than Arsenal’s – I think Arsenal will win every game and Man City will mess up once or twice.’