Matchday 9 of the Premier League was an excellent one for Arsenal fans. Not only did they see their team travel to Anfield and record a first away win against Liverpool in 14 years, but title rivals Manchester City dropped points against Brighton to open up a three-point gap between the teams.
As the Gunners prepare for Hull City in their next league fixture on Saturday, 7 November prior to the international break, they have received another boost. William Saliba returned to training this week, making a quicker-than-expected recovery from a back injury that required an extended period of rest.
That has opened the door for the France international to potentially receive his first Premier League minutes of the 2026/27 season. However, Mikel Arteta and his staff are wise to be cautious with the French centre-back for a number of reasons.
Arsenal unlikely to be troubled by Hull
Heading into the match, Arsenal are already considered betting favourites. Hull have drawn three times and lost twice in their last five games, while the Gunners have recorded four successive victories.
Importantly, that status is unlikely to change, with or without Saliba in the line-up. Those betting on the match, whether that be with a standard stake or a Betfred promo code that unlocks free bets for football and other sports, won’t be put off backing Arsenal because the French centre-back is absent.
The situation might have made more sense if Arsenal were playing Liverpool this week, but not in a game against a struggling Hull City side. It makes sense to let Saliba get back to full fitness slowly, or to potentially limit him to a substitute appearance before the international break.
Konsa’s performances reduce need to risk Saliba
Beyond Saliba’s fitness, there’s also no need to risk him when his replacement has played exceptionally well. Ezri Konsa has been dependable at the back in recent weeks and enjoyed his best performance in an Arsenal shirt against Liverpool.
The England international made 15 defensive contributions in that game, winning all of his duels on the ground and playing a big part in stopping the opposition from having a shot on target over 90 minutes. If Konsa were struggling, perhaps Saliba would be rushed back into the line-up. However, considering he’s not, Arteta can afford to bide his time and not push the centre-back following his return to training.
Important fixtures are coming up where Saliba will be needed
What should really limit Saliba’s part in the final game before the international break, though, is what is on the horizon for Arsenal. Although Newcastle is a winnable fixture, the Gunners face a Champions League test against Borussia Dortmund before then welcoming Man City to north London.
That fixture starts a congested early Christmas period in which Arsenal will then play Brentford, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Bournemouth in the space of 14 days. Having your best players available will be crucial to results in that run; therefore, limiting Saliba’s minutes until after the two-week break will ensure he can make a significant impact in the long term.