Bukayo Saka's injury progress revealed amid Arsenal forward crisis | OneFootball

Amid the extensive injury crisis sweeping across Arsenal's forward line, Mikel Arteta has been offered a glimmer of hope by Bukayo Saka's return to light training.

The England international pulled up with a severe hamstring in December and was joined in the treatment room by Gabriel Jesus last month.

Gabriel Martinelli won't be back until at least March and Arsenal have been rocked by the news that Kai Havertz will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign after tearing his hamstring on a mid-season training camp that has been more devastating than rejuvenating.

In better news, Saka has been included in light training during this Middle Eastern sojourn.

This time last month, Arteta implored Saka to take a break from the churn of his recovery schedule with a holiday. "He is obligated to go, with his girlfriend, or his family, or on his own, he can choose," the Arsenal boss told reporters in the middle of January. "He needs to get away for a few days and refresh. He can still do a lot of things with his rehabilitation because it is the perfect stage. It will make him better.

"He [Saka] has been with his teammates every single day. But there is a moment, especially when we are going to be away for a few days, that he needs to do that [go on holiday.] That is very important for him as well. We need to look after our players."

After a much-needed break, Saka was part of the squad which travelled to Dubai this week and has been pictured back on the grass. While this development can only be seen as progress, there is no expectation that Saka is ahead of a loose recovery schedule which puts his return date at some point in March.

Ben White is further ahead of his compatriot in terms of recuperation. The towering right-back has been sidelined since the end of November after undergoing knee surgery, but could be available for this weekend's trip to Leicester City on Saturday lunchtime.

White may be needed to give Jurrien Timber some respite as Takehiro Tomiyasu remains sidelined for the foreseeable future with a nagging knee injury that may require surgery.