Arsenal’s defensive stalwart William Saliba is set for a spell on the sidelines after Sunday’s medical checks revealed a hamstring issue, ruling him out for a crucial fortnight.
The Frenchman missed the recent draw with Aston Villa, and in his absence, Jurrien Timber stepped up to fill the void at centre-half.
With Mikel Arteta already grappling with a growing injury list, Saliba’s absence will be felt across Arsenal’s next three fixtures, including two Champions League matches against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona, as well as the Premier League trip to Wolves.
The Gunners are eager for his return ahead of their February 2 clash with title rivals Manchester City, where Saliba’s track record against City’s striking sensation Erling Haaland could prove vital.
Arteta expressed his concern over Saliba’s condition post-Saturday’s game, stating: “Tomorrow we will have more information. Tomorrow we will have another test on him and it will be more clear.”
When asked about his level of worry, Arteta admitted: “Yeah, for sure. Especially with the numbers that we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very worried.”
Arsenal’s defensive solidity often relies on the presence of Saliba, and Arteta will be eager to have him back on the pitch as soon as possible.
The Gunners’ title aspirations suffered a significant blow when Saliba was injured towards the end of the 2021-22 season, and Arteta will not want history to repeat itself.
Arsenal are already reeling from a spate of injuries in their attack, with Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Bukayo Saka expected to be sidelined for several months.
Arteta has expressed his desire to sign some fresh faces in the January transfer window, particularly if Arsenal want to stay on the coattails of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Speaking about his side’s inability to alter the course of the game against Aston Villa, Arteta pointed to Liverpool’s victory at Brentford, saying: “Obviously they managed to do that [find the winning goals at Brentford]. They made the subs and the subs made the impact, and they managed to change the game. And in our side, it was the opposite.”
