Coach Mikel Arteta provided information about defender William Saliba’s injury, according to which he will definitely not be able to play in the match against Leeds.
William Saliba has shown excellent form this season, making him an irreplaceable option at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. The loan period, especially at Marseille, helped the player born in 2001 gain more experience, then exploded when he was given the opportunity by Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.
The Frenchman suffered a back injury in Arsenal’s Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon, and was later forced to withdraw from France’s squad for two Euro 2024 qualifying matches against the Netherlands and Ireland.
Examination results showed that Saliba’s injury was more severe than expected. Talking about the problem that the player had, coach Mikel Arteta said: “Unfortunately, he has a problem with his back. Saliba still feels uncomfortable right now, he’s definitely out for the Leeds game. We are trying to do everything to make him feel better.”
When asked if Saliba is likely to miss the rest of the season, Arteta added: “We hope that won’t happen. Back injuries are a bit complicated and I can’t confirm anything. One thing I can say for sure is that Arsenal will do everything to get Saliba back as soon as possible, and he also wants to play again.”
Without Saliba, Rob Holding will be selected instead. The star born in 1995 played well in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace.