Mikel Arteta has offered a worrying replace on William Saliba’s health because the France worldwide continues to wrestle with a again damage.

Saliba has missed Arsenal’s final 5 matches after receiving a grievance in his again throughout the Europa League last-16 match towards Sporting Lisbon final month.

The damage was initially considered minor, however it turned out to be extra critical than first thought. Arsenal have been hoping Saliba might handle the damage to get by way of the remainder of the season and imagine the participant is able to put his physique on the road to play his half within the second spherical of the title.

There have been stories lately suggesting that Arsenal needed Saliba within the squad to face Southampton and deliberate to provide him half-hour off the bench to be able to get him prepared for a ‘title-clinching’ begin towards Manchester Metropolis subsequent week.

Nevertheless, talking in his pre-match press convention at this time, Arteta confirmed that the central defender isn’t able to return but. Arteta says Saliba isn’t progressing as he had hoped and urged they may know subsequent week if he’ll be capable to play once more this season.

Do not advance

Arteta has been quoted as saying it earlier than the athlete:

“So far as William is anxious, we nonetheless want to attend. He’s not progressing as quick as we had hoped,”

“Perhaps subsequent week we may have extra certainty [if he can play again this season]. There’s some growth however it’s not fairly there but.”

It could be an enormous blow if Saliba was excluded from Arsenal’s derby match with Man Metropolis subsequent week. Rob Holding hasn’t come near his type and he received a terrifying time towards Erling Haaland when the 2 sides met within the FA Cup earlier this season.

Arsenal will try for Saliba to make progress in his restoration within the coming days and put himself in competition to face Metropolis, as that match will probably be pivotal in figuring out the place the title ends this season.

Elsewhere, Arteta additionally gave an replace on Oleksandr Zinchenko. The total-back missed Arsenal’s draw with West Ham with a thigh damage however reappeared in coaching on Wednesday, sparking rumors he could be able to face Southampton.

Nevertheless, Arteta told reporters today that it was “unconfirmed” That Zinchenko will probably be match tomorrow night time as a result of it is a muscular damage that wants “therapeutic time”, so it appears to be like like he’ll have to assess earlier than making a closing resolution. Kieran Tierney is poised to fill the void as soon as once more.