William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori
Mikel Arteta says William Saliba is “ready to go” ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague after completing his recovery from injury.
The defender has returned to full training and also played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors game last week, and is in contention to make his comeback on Wednesday.
“He’s in a really good place,” Arteta said.
“He’s been feeling very positive and his evolution has been as expected, which is not always the case.
“He feels very comfortable. He played 45 minutes behind closed doors last week and feels ready to go.
“Whether we use him or not now is a matter of what the team needs.”
Arteta says Saliba is desperate to get back on the pitch and has been warmly welcomed back into the group.
“I think he feels very desperate to play and very loved because Willy is someone who is very admired and very liked around the team,” he said.
“Every time he is around, he creates something special, that’s Willy, that’s his nature.
“He’s around the team now and now we need to give him the right moment, the right amount of minutes and hopefully that’s going to be very soon.”
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The Arsenal boss added that Saliba has completed all the necessary steps in his recovery and is now fully available for selection.
“Now you are in, or not. And now he’s in like anybody else,” Arteta said.
“All the preparation has been done to measure the load and all the steps he had to do to minimise that risk.
“Now he’s in a really good place, he’s built the capacity that we needed, and now it’s about giving him minutes.”
Arteta also welcomed the prospect of having Saliba, Gabriel and Ezri Konsa all available and competing for a starting spot.
“So far we haven’t had that luxury,” he said.
“I wouldn’t call it a problem. We can talk about problems that are very different to that one.
“The moment they are all fit and available, we’re going to have opportunities to load the players and manage the congestion of the players in a much better way.
“Ezri can play as a full-back. I think his main position is as a centre-back, he can play right or left, Willy has done the same with the national team, or here at Arsenal, and that’s going to be something really positive for the team.”
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