Arsenal have been handed a major boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest after William Saliba made a surprise return to training.
The French defender suffered an ankle injury in the warm-up before kick-off against Liverpool prior to the international break. Although he started the match at Anfield, he lasted just five minutes before being replaced by Cristhian Mosquera.
Saliba later withdrew from France duty, with the French Football Federation confirming he had sprained his ankle. Initial reports suggested the 23-year-old could miss up to a month of action, sparking fears of a defensive crisis for Mikel Arteta.
However, in a welcome twist, the Arsenal boss revealed on Friday that Saliba is already back with the squad and could feature this weekend.
“William trained today, so we have a decision to make whether we play him or not,” Arteta told reporters. “It’s very good news.”
While Saliba’s recovery has lifted spirits, Arsenal are still without Bukayo Saka, who continues to recover from a hamstring problem suffered against Leeds United in August. Arteta stressed that the club will not rush the winger’s return.
“Bukayo is out. He’s trying to get back as quick as possible, but we need to respect that,” Arteta explained. “He’s evolving really well with very specific work at the moment, and the moment we increase that load, let’s see how he reacts.”
Kai Havertz also remains sidelined as he recovers from minor knee surgery. Arteta said the midfielder is back in light training but admitted his return could still take weeks. Defender Ben White, however, is closing in on a comeback after missing the last two matches.
Arsenal host Forest on Saturday before turning their focus to Europe, where they open their Champions League campaign against Athletic Club. A blockbuster Premier League showdown with Manchester City then follows at the Emirates next weekend.
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