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Mikel Arteta provides worrying William Saliba fitness update
Mikel Arteta has said William Saliba is “not progressing” as quickly as the club hoped from his lower back injury and there are doubts over whether he’ll feature for Arsenal again this season.
The French defender has been a revelation at the heart of the Gunners’ defence after finally returning from multiple loan spells in Ligue 1 last summer. He started every single Premier League game before he picked up the knock which forced him off in the Gunners’ home clash against Sporting CP on 16 March.
Saliba has been out of action since, with Rob Holding deputising alongside Gabriel. The English defender hasn’t performed badly in recent weeks, but Saliba’s absence is certainly starting to be felt.
Mikel Arteta provides worrying William Saliba fitness update
🗣️ “Regarding William [Saliba], he’s not progressing as quick as we hoped. We have to be delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he’s ready. Next week we will have more certainty.”
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 20, 2023
Mikel Arteta provides an update on the fitness of William Saliba. 🤕 pic.twitter.com/FVpwZWQ2fb
With Arsenal’s potential title decider against Man City arriving next Wednesday, many hoped Saliba would step up his recovery in time for that crucial bout.
The French international was pictured on an exercise bike by Mohamed Elneny, who’s also recovering from injury, earlier this week which gave supporters hope. However, Arteta has provided a rather glum update on the 22-year-old’s fitness.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s clash with Southampton, the Spaniard said (via Football Daily): “Regarding William [Saliba], he’s not progressing as quickly as we hoped. We have to be delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he’s ready.”
The boss did say that the situation would be clearer next week ahead of the City game, but it currently looks unlikely for Saliba to feature at the Etihad.
When asked whether the Frenchman could miss the remainder of the season, Arteta replied: “I don’t know. It’s a bit early to do. There is some evolution. He’s doing more activity but he’s not ready yet to throw him into that pitch.”
While Saliba has been ruled out of Friday’s game, Arteta’s hopeful he’ll have Oleksandr Zinchenko available. The Ukrainian international missed Sunday’s draw at West Ham with a tight groin, but his absence was only believed to be precautionary. Both defenders are crucial to Arsenal establishing control in games.