Arsenal's William Saliba to miss up to a month with ankle injury
Centre-back ruled out for three to four weeks and omitted from France squad; manager Mikel Arteta to rely on summer signing Cristhian Mosquera
Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has been ruled out for between three and four weeks with an ankle injury sustained during the club's recent defeat to Liverpool, the French newspaper L'Equipe reported Saturday.
Saliba was substituted in the early stages of that match after appearing to hurt his ankle. The injury has ruled him out of the current France squad and is expected to keep him sidelined through the next international break, making him unavailable for several forthcoming Arsenal fixtures.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be without his first-choice centre-back for Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle, according to the timeline cited by L'Equipe. Saliba's absence could also affect Arsenal's Champions League opener away to Athletic Bilbao.
The 23-year-old has been a regular in Arteta's defence since joining Arsenal from Marseille, forming a central partnership that has been central to the club's defensive record. His enforced spell on the sidelines will require changes to the backline and could accelerate the integration of summer signing Cristhian Mosquera into the first team.
Mosquera, signed to bolster defensive depth, is positioned to receive more playing time while Saliba recovers. Arteta has options among his defenders but will face selection and tactical decisions before high-profile league fixtures and the Champions League group stage begin.
Arsenal have not published a formal club medical update detailing the exact diagnosis or rehabilitation timetable. The injury news follows Arsenal's early-season fixtures and comes at a busy point in the calendar, with domestic and European commitments looming.
Saliba's absence also removes a candidate from Didier Deschamps' France squad, where the centre-back had been under consideration. The France federation confirmed Saliba would not join the current squad because of the injury.
Arteta and his coaching staff must now prepare a defensive plan that bridges a period when Saliba will be unavailable. The manager has previously rotated personnel and adapted formations to cope with injuries, and those adjustments are likely to be tested again in the coming weeks.
Further updates are expected from Arsenal's medical team in the days ahead as the club monitors Saliba's recovery and finalises plans for his return to training and competitive action.