Why William Saliba is absent from Arsenal’s squad against Hull City despite returning from injury
William Saliba is set to feature for Arsenal Under-21s against Aston Villa on Sunday as he steps up his return from a serious back injury that has kept him out this season. Mikel Arteta said his absence from the first-team squad to face Hull City was not due to a setback.
William Saliba is set to feature for Arsenal Under-21s against Aston Villa on Sunday as he continues his gradual return after a serious back injury that has kept him out this season. Mikel Arteta explained that his absence from the first-team squad to face Hull City was not due to a setback.
Saliba had played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly before being included in Arsenal’s squad to face Slavia Prague on Wednesday, although he did not feature. Arteta said the coaching staff want him to get minutes with the Under-21s so he can regain his match fitness before the international break; he also noted that the Champions League allows more players on the bench than the Premier League.
Arteta had indicated that he was open to France calling up Saliba for the upcoming Nations League matches, but Zinedine Zidane did not include him, and the player will remain with Arsenal for the next two weeks.