Arsenal taught ‘big lesson’ by Brighton, says boss Mikel Arteta
The French centre-back has yet to appear for the Premier League champions this season as he recovers from a long-standing back injury.
He and the club have decided against undergoing surgery, and he is instead undergoing a lengthy period of rehabilitation at Arsenal’s Colney training ground.
And yet, Saliba was a surprise exclusion from the Gunners’ official squad photo, released on Wednesday afternoon.
There are no other notable absentees from the picture, with all the club’s summer signings included along with the Premier League trophy and Community Shield.
Saliba, though, is nowhere to be seen, with the club confirming he was away at a doctor’s appointment on the day of the photoshoot.
A club statement confirmed: “Due to a medical appointment, William Saliba was not available this afternoon.”
Saliba is said to be progressing well in his rehabilitation, and Arsenal are said to be optimistic that he could return to competitive play by November.
Standard Sport reported on Monday that he has been working with specialists in London since the World Cup and has now returned to on-pitch work as he builds back up to match fitness.
Arteta said this week: "Now it's over a week [on the grass], I think, and (Saliba will) be managing that load.
"How many repetitions and sessions in a row he can do, but he's building his capacity to good standards.
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"Let's see in the next few weeks [if] we can start to introduce him with the team, and to see where we are to actually make him available."