William Saliba has given an update on his ankle injury, revealing that he hopes the problem is behind him now.
William Saliba has had a disrupted start to the new campaign, following an injury sustained in the warm-up to Arsenal’s match against Liverpool.
Though the centre-back tried to play on and start the match, he only managed five minutes before being withdrawn. He then missed the international break and Arsenal’s match against Nottingham Forest, as well as sitting on the bench against Athletic Club.
Saliba did then return and play 90 minutes against Manchester City and Port Vale, but he was only used as a substitute for the game against Newcastle United on Sunday.
The fact Saliba didn’t start the Newcastle game raised some concerns that he’s still carrying the ankle problem.
But whilst the 24-year-old admits he was feeling it around the time of the Manchester City clash, he insists he feels better now.
“It’s better now,” Saliba said on Tuesday. “I was feeling [it] a bit before City, and even after, but yeah now I’m feeling better. I hope I will not have pain anymore.”
In general, players who take part in pre-match press conferences in UEFA competitions usually go on to start the following match, putting Saliba in line for a start against Olympiacos on Wednesday.
But Arteta has been known to break these traditions to maintain some pre-match unpredictability, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens on Wednesday night.
If Saliba does start, it will be his first appearance for the club since signing a new five-year contract to 2030.