Pre-season hasn’t even started, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta already has a big problem on his hands.
The Gunners will go into the new campaign as the defending Premier League champions, and the pressure will be on them to retain their crown.
However, Arteta could be without some of his key players early next season. One of them could even spend a significant spell on the sidelines – William Saliba.
The last time that happened, Arsenal crumbled.
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Saliba has been integral for Arsenal ever since he made his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2022/23 season.
The Frenchman had to be patient before he got to make his debut, but he has been one of the first names on the team sheet ever since.
Every time Saliba starts, Arsenal seem secure at the back. When he doesn’t, their win percentage drops significantly, and they are much more likely to concede.
One of the best examples came towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
Saliba suffered a back injury in March that ruled him out for the rest of the season. Arsenal were on top of the Premier League table and were favourites to win it at that stage.
However, without their star centre-half, they collapsed, dropping points in six of their final 11 league games. Manchester City ended up winning the title by five points in the end.
Now, reports have revealed that Saliba has been playing with a broken back for over two months and may require surgery to fix his issue.
Arsenal fans, what’s your message to Mikel Arteta and Didier Deschamps for making William Saliba play with a broken back?
There is a chance the Arsenal number two will miss a good chunk of the first half of the season if he does have to undergo a procedure.
That is extremely worrying if you’re Mikel Arteta, who must surely be having some flashbacks about how the 2022/23 season ended without him.
Yes, Arsenal are better equipped now than they were back then. They have Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White to fill in, who are significantly better than Rob Holding in 2023.
However, missing Saliba for multiple months will weaken Arsenal and could cost Arteta the chance of retaining the Premier League title.
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