Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh defensive headache after revealing the extent of William Saliba's injury, which forced the Frenchman to miss Sunday's Premier League clash against Chelsea.
Unexpected Absence at Stamford Bridge
William Saliba was a surprising omission from Arsenal's starting line-up for the crucial London derby at Stamford Bridge. The club confirmed before kick-off that the influential centre-back had sustained a knock during training, casting immediate doubt over his immediate availability.
"Yesterday in training he was uncomfortable, so we need to explore a little bit more what happened," Arteta explained before the match. "I don't think it's something major, but enough not to be involved in the game."
Arteta's Defensive Dilemma Deepens
The Chelsea fixture marked only the second occasion in three years, three months and 25 days of Arteta's tenure that he has been without both Saliba and his regular defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes for a Premier League match. This unprecedented situation forced Arteta to field a completely unfamiliar back four against their London rivals.
"It's been a headache because obviously we have to have a lot of options and changes in the last few months for different reasons," Arteta admitted after the 1-1 draw. "That one is, as you said, with those numbers that I didn't know, very unexpected, and it happened yesterday."
Recruitment Timeline and Squad Response
When pressed on when Saliba might return to action, Arteta remained cautious. "I don't know. I think he's got another test tomorrow. We'll need to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had." The news regarding Gabriel appears more concerning, with Arteta indicating the Brazilian defender still has "more weeks to go" before returning.
Despite the defensive crisis, Arteta praised his squad's resilience during a demanding week that included victories over Tottenham and Bayern Munich before the Chelsea encounter. "The team had to react to that," he said. "I think overall it's been a really positive week because the difficulty was immense."
The absence of Saliba, combined with injuries to several other key players including Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz, presents a significant challenge for Arsenal as they prepare for their midweek Premier League fixture against Brentford.
