An unexpected physical issue concerning William Saliba provided a minor setback during Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace the previous Sunday.
Eberechi Eze’s initial goal in the match allowed the Gunners to establish a four-point advantage atop the Premier League standings, further enhancing their impressive season commencement.
Is Arsenal’s William Saliba able to participate this weekend?
The French international player, Saliba, has evolved into a pivotal figure under the guidance of Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta. He currently holds the second position in FourFourTwo’s assessment of the finest center-backs globally.
Nevertheless, this recent circumstance marks the second occasion in 2025-26 that he has encountered a setback. In August, he suffered an ankle injury during a match against Liverpool, resulting in his absence from the Gunners’ subsequent two games.
Cristhian Mosquera took Saliba’s place in the game against Palace, but Arteta remained discreet about the specifics of the injury following the match.
He stated, “Willy needed to be substituted after the first half… there are a couple of factors influencing his substitution.”
Furthermore, the Gunners’ manager chose not to provide additional information when questioned prior to the match against Brighton, merely stating, “We are currently assessing him.”
Mosquera commenced the Carabao Cup fourth-round match, partnering with fellow recent acquisition Piero Hincapie. Gabriel, Saliba’s usual center-back partner, entered the game as a substitute during the second half.
Nevertheless, Arsenal displayed similar performance despite the change in personnel, as the Gunners maintained their sixth consecutive clean sheet across all competitions.
It remains to be observed whether this implies that Saliba will be hastily reinstated following his injury, and it is presently uncertain if he will participate in the forthcoming match against Burnley.
Scott Parker’s team is experiencing elevated spirits following their recent triumph against Wolverhampton last Sunday, who are currently at the bottom of the rankings. They aim to become the first team to breach Arsenal’s defensive solidity since Newcastle on September 28.
