Mikel Arteta confirms huge William Saliba injury boost for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba is fit and ready to return to the Arsenal line-up in a huge boost for the Gunners.
Centre-back Saliba was a key cog in Arsenal’s Premier League title win last term but has not played this season due to a back injury that he sustained during the World Cup this summer.
Summer signing Ezri Konsa has been hugely impressive as a replacement for the Frenchman – forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel in the heart of the Gunners defence – but Saliba was spotted back in first-team training on Tuesday morning.
Arsenal face Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday and in his pre-match press conference, Arteta confirmed the 25-year-old is fit once more and successfully came through a behind-closed-doors friendly without any setbacks.
“He’s in a really good place,” said Arteta. “The process and the timings and the manner that the injury has been dealt with, especially the feelings that Willy has been having along the way, they have been very, very positive.
“His evolution has been as expected, which is not always the case. He feels really comfortable.
“He played 45 minutes behind closed doors last week. He feels ready to go. Whether we use him or not now is a matter of what the team needs.”
Arsenal produced a defensive masterclass to win at Anfield for the first time in 14 years at the weekend, beating Liverpool 1-0, and have kept four clean sheets in a row in the Premier League.
It is presumed that Saliba won’t be rushed back after such an extended injury lay-off but Arteta hinted that he wouldn’t necessarily limit the defender’s minutes to ease him in.
“Now you’re in or not,” added the Spaniard. “Now he’s in. He’s in like anybody else. All the preparation has been done to make sure all the load and all the steps have been done to minimise the risk.
“He’s in a really good place, he’s built the capacity that we needed. Now it’s about giving him minutes.
“He’s a centre-back. When that’s the case, it’s not like an attacking midfielder or a No 9 you can change. A centre-back normally has to be able to play 90 minutes. That’s why all the preparation that we have done to build him.”
The return of Saliba will offer Arteta a selection headache, with Konsa having settled in so well at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international could theoretically slide across to right-back to accommodate the Frenchman in the first-choice starting line-up and the Gunners boss is excited to have more options at his disposal.
“So far we haven’t had that luxury – I wouldn’t call it a problem,” Arteta said. “The moment they are fit and available, we’re going to have opportunities to load the players and manage their congestion in a better way than we’ve done it.
“Ezri can play as a full-back. I think his main position is centre-back. He can play right or left, Willy has done the same with the national team and here at Arsenal. That’s going to be something really positive for the team.”
