Mikel Arteta should start £27m Arsenal player vs Man City and then immediately drop him again

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Arsenal face what could be one of the most important games of their season this weekend as they take on Manchester City at the Emirates.

In recent years, these games between City and Arsenal have been top-of-the-table clashes that have had huge effects on the title race, and, this time, we could be set for another very similar occasion.

Indeed, Manchester City looked back to their best against Manchester United last weekend, while Arsenal have won three of their four opening Premier League games.

Mikel Arteta needs to get his team selection spot on for this match, and that means he has a big call to make at centre-back.

Cristhian Mosquera has earned plaudits lately, but with William Saliba back in training, Arteta needs to be ruthless and make a big call here.

William Saliba needs to start vs Manchester City

In games such as these, you need to be bold and take risks.

Yes, William Saliba has been out of action for a few weeks and he may not be 100% fit, but when you have arguably the best striker in the world staring you in the face on Sunday, you need Saliba in the starting XI.

This is a borderline must-win game, and Arsenal stand a much greater chance of victory if Saliba is on the pitch.

Saliba has dealt with Haaland before, and he could well do it again here.

However, if Saliba is back in the team on Sunday, there’s a strong argument to make that he should come straight back out of the team for the Gunners’ next game.

William Saliba shouldn’t play vs Port Vale

Arsenal’s next game after facing Manchester City is against Port Vale in the League Cup.

The Gunners go from playing one of the best teams in the country to facing a League One team just a few days later.

With Saliba’s fitness still unclear, this is a perfect opportunity for the Gunners to give the Frenchman more of a rest, and the £27m man certainly shouldn’t be starting this game in the League Cup.

There are times where you have to take risks with players who are just returning from injury, and, make no mistake about it, a game against Port Vale in the League Cup is not one of those instances.

Saliba should start against Manchester City, but he should come straight back out of the team for the Gunners’ next game in the Carabao Cup.