During the pre-match preparations for Arsenal’s encounter with Liverpool, William Saliba was replaced just five minutes before kickoff due to an ankle problem.
Arsenal subsequently experienced a disappointing showing at Anfield, ultimately losing the match with a score of 1-0 and ending their unblemished start to the Premier League season right before the international break.
Desiring to avoid falling further behind their competitors for the title following successive losses, the Gunners have several difficult matches upcoming this month, including Nottingham Forest, Athletic Club, and Manchester City.
Will William Saliba of Arsenal Participate This Weekend?
After joining from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for a fee of £27 million, Saliba has proven to be a consistent and trustworthy presence in Mikel Arteta’s defensive formation over recent seasons.
Actually, Saliba was recently honored by FourFourTwo as the second-finest central defender globally at this moment, and he is an essential member of Arsenal’s defensive unit.
Arsenal will aim to return to winning form with a victory over Nottingham Forest this weekend, as Nottingham Forest themselves welcome their new manager, Ange Postecoglou, former Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach, to the technical area for the first occasion.
However, it seems that the match will be too early for Saliba’s return, considering he was removed from the France national team for their set of international matches because of his injury.
What is the Expected Duration of William Saliba’s Absence?
And it appears that the situation may deteriorate further for Arsenal, who, according to the French publication L’Équipe, might be without the valuable center-back for approximately four weeks.
The injury sustained by Saliba adds to the growing list of fitness concerns facing Arteta, who is also currently without Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal is set to host Forest at the Emirates Stadium on September 13th, with the match commencing at 12:30pm.