LONDON — Arsenal were without star center back William Saliba for their home game against Aston Villa, as they coughed up a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2.
And Mikel Arteta has issued the latest update on Saliba’s injury ahead of their UEFA Champions League home game against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
Arteta explains Saliba injury issue
“He’s evolving really well. The last few days he was feeling much better already but this game comes a little bit too early for him,” Arteta said.
That is a much more positive update than the one Arteta gave after the draw with Aston Villa, as he said he was ‘very worried’ about the situation with Saliba.
Up until the home game against Aston Villa Saliba hadn’t missed a game through injury this season. His injury was said to have been a ‘minor issue’ according to Arsenal, with various reports suggesting he had a tight hamstring after the win against Tottenham.
In Saliba’s absence, Mikel Arteta played Thomas Partey at right back against Aston Villa with Jurrien Timber slotting over to center back with Arsenal’s injury problems plentiful. It didn’t go well but at least Arteta seems hopeful Saliba will return soon, plus Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is also back from injury and Ben White is getting closer to a return.
Saliba out for a while through injury would be a huge blow
With Arsenal having a pivotal stretch of games coming up, it’s really not worth risking Saliba if he isn’t fully fit.
The French central defender is crucial to Arsenal’s title hopes and if he’s out for an extended period of time it will hit Arsenal hard.
Wrapping Saliba in cotton wool is a smart move from Arteta and it seems like that treatment means he could even be back for their Premier Lague game at Wolves on Saturday.
