The Arsenal attacker returned to action earlier this month having been absent since last December with a hamstring problem and admits that he is feeling refreshed after playing almost constantly for club and country over the past five years.

Saka said of his enforced break: "I think mentally it was really good for me.

"Obviously it was really tough for me initially to find out the extent of my injury and that I was going to have surgery but once it was done and successful I was just focused on coming back stronger.

"The past five years I've been playing game after game so it was the first proper break I've had. It was really good for me. I got to do a lot of things that I don't normally do.

"It's really nice to be back and I feel fresh mentally."

Saka will soon be entering the final two years of his contract with the Gunners but has allayed any concerns about his future.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday (08.04.25), the England international said: "I want to win and I want to win wearing this badge so I think it's pretty clear.

"The fans know how much I love them and you saw (last week) I think they loved me back so it's a good relationship and I'm really happy to be here. I'm just focused on winning."

Arsenal will be looking to overcome the serial European champions in the tie and manager Mikel Arteta wants his side to enter the match with the right "mindset".

He said: "At 8pm, [it is] 11 players and 60,000 people, [I am] really super convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them.

"That's the mindset that I want."