Arsenal Defender William Saliba Expected To Miss Seven Matches After Ankle Injury

Arsenal defender William Saliba suffered a sprained ankle during the warm-up before their match against Liverpool and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, missing key fixtures including Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup matches. This injury rules him out of France’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers and a demanding schedule that includes games against Nottingham Forest, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City, and Newcastle, among others. Despite the setback amid an already challenging injury crisis affecting key players like Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal have depth with summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié poised to fill the defensive void. Mosquera impressed after replacing Saliba against Liverpool, easing concerns about defensive instability. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed relief over the squad's defensive options, confident that smart rotation and the presence of versatile players will help navigate this period. Saliba’s absence is a significant blow but Arsenal’s strengthened defense and squad depth may mitigate the impact during this crucial early-season phase.