William Saliba is expected to miss a number of key matches due to an ankle injury.placeholder image
William Saliba is expected to miss a number of key matches due to an ankle injury. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal face a tough run of fixtures without William Saliba
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is sweating over the fitness of star defender William Saliba as his side prepare for a potentially season-defining run of fixtures in September.
Saliba, who has been a rock at the back for the Gunners in recent seasons, was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last time out. It was a costly defeat early in the season which already leaves the Gunners playing catch up after falling three points behind last season’s champions.
The 24-year-old has long been regarded as one of Arteta’s most important players, and his absence particularly during the 2022/23 season towards the end was attributed as one of the main reasons the Spaniard's side haven’t yet claimed a league title.
But how long is Saliba’s latest injury setback and who will step up in his absence? Here’s all you need to know.
William Saliba injury latest
William Saliba is expected to miss the next three to four weeks with an ankle injury, according to reports from L’Equipe in France. Saliba missed the current international break with France confirming his absence ahead of their two scheduled fixtures.
In that timeframe Arsenal have a demanding schedule of seven fixtures across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup. The standout of those include a home clash against 2024 winners Manchester City on September 21 as well as an away trip to take on Carabao Cup holders Newcastle United at St James’ Park on September 28. The reported three to four week absence means he may not return for the Gunners until after the October internationals.
Here’s a full list of the fixtures Saliba is set to miss and his potential return date:
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest - September 13
Athletic Club vs Arsenal - September 16
Arsenal vs Man City - September 21
Port Vale vs Arsenal - September 24
Newcastle vs Arsenal - September 28
Arsenal vs Olympiakos - October 1
Arsenal vs West Ham - October 4
Fulham vs Arsenal - October 18 (Possible return date)
How will Arsenal cope without William Saliba?
Arsenal have bolstered their defensive depth greatly in recent seasons and they have a whole host of players that could slot into the centre-back position alongside first choice Gabriel.
One of those is summer signing Cristhian Mosquera. He played the majority of the match against Liverpool after Saliba’s injury and also made his debut as a substitute against Leeds United. The Spanish Under-21 international was signed from Valencia and played 41 times for the La Liga outfit last season.
Another option could also be new summer addition Pierio Hincapie. The Ecuador international joined on deadline day after completing a season-long loan move from Bayer Leverkusen which could become permanent next summer for a reported £45m. He’s a former Bundesliga winner and was part of a team which went the entire season unbeaten - becoming the only German side in history to do so. He’s yet to play for the Gunners but has prior experience of battling for the top honours.
Elsewhere, other options include Ben White, who has struggled for minutes at right-back in recent years. He was a standout performer two seasons ago and has played centre-back for large chunks of his career. Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber has in the past been deployed in a central position but appears to be an unlikely option due to his impressive form when playing in his favoured right-back position.
As it stands, Saliba’s injury is undoubtedly a big blow to the Gunners, but when one door closes another one opens and in a more positive frame of thinking, it could present a golden opportunity for one of Arsenal’s new signings to step up and lay down a real marker at just how strong the team’s squad depth has become under Arteta.
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