Mikel Arteta ‘hopeful’ Arsenal ace hasn’t suffered major injury ahead of Chelsea clash

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ‘hopeful’ that William Saliba does not have a major injury with the defender’s involvement in Saturday’s London derby against Chelsea in doubt.

The 22-year-old had to withdraw from the France squad for the October international break due to a persistent toe injury. Saliba had played through the pain for Arsenal before the stop in the domestic season. But the break provided him an ideal opportunity to rest and recover.

Saliba sustained the injury weeks before the international break but remained a mainstay of Arsenal’s line-up. Arteta has named the centre-half in his starting side for each of their eight Premier League games, the Community Shield and their two Champions League ties thus far.

Arteta ‘hopeful’ Saliba does not have a major injury at Arsenal

Only against Brentford in the Carabao Cup has Arteta named a line-up that did not have the 10-cap ace at least on the bench. Saliba even also played through the injury to silence Erling Haaland as Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0 before the break. But he is still a fitness doubt.

Arteta will leave it late to decide if he can use Saliba when Arsenal visit Chelsea on Saturday. The Spaniard wants to see how the defender reacts in training this Friday before making any decision. But fears remain at London Colney that he might have to sit out the London derby.

“Hopefully not,” Arteta said during his press conference (20/10, 09:07) about the severity of Saliba’s injury. “But, obviously, he’s been carrying that for weeks now and we had to use that time to settle and we believed it was the best moment to do it.”

Arteta added: “[Saliba’s place against Chelsea is] depending how he is able to train today.”

Arteta would rue his absence at Chelsea but must think long-term

Arteta will rue an injury keeping Saliba from facing Chelsea when Arsenal head for Stamford Bridge this weekend. He is an essential part of the Gunners’ team and fundamental to their brilliant defensive record. No Premier League team has conceded fewer goals than them (6).

Saliba gives Arsenal pace and guile at the back that Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes or Jakub Kiwior cannot match. But Arteta would surely rue risking the Frenchman in west London and his injury worsening. Arsenal also have a key Champions League tie with Sevilla on Tuesday.