Mikel Arteta has revealed that William Saliba is unlikely to feature when Arsenal take on Mansfield in this weekend’s FA Cup encounter.
The French defender picked up an ankle knock during Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea last weekend and was subsequently absent from the squad that faced Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek.
Speaking ahead of the cup tie, Arteta confirmed that the injury affects a different ankle from Saliba’s previous setback but admitted the defender was still struggling to fully recover.
“It is the other one. We thought the same, he wasn’t comfortable to finish the game and after Chelsea away, he didn’t have a good feeling so let’s see if he recovers quickly,” Arteta said.
When pressed on whether Saliba could be available for Saturday’s fixture, the Arsenal manager delivered a cautious response.
“I doubt it.”
Meanwhile, Arteta also addressed the development of promising youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, urging the academy graduate to seize every opportunity that comes his way in a competitive squad.
“When he has the opportunities, he has to grab them.
“His attitude has been excellent and he’s not playing more because there are other players playing [well] too. They’ve been phenomenal and that’s football, but we will try and give him the minutes he deserves.”
In addition, Arteta spoke about highly rated prospect Max Dowman, who recently returned from an injury absence. According to the Arsenal boss, the youngster has gained valuable lessons during his time on the sidelines.
“A lot,” he said. “First of all, you miss playing so don’t take it for granted because it can be taken away from you when you don’t expect it and for a long time.
“He had different routines and he starts to understand more the rehab coaches, the physio, the doctors, the importance of the scan, the discipline you need to maintain yourself when you have an injury because it’s going to take a long time to get back to your levels.
“But he’s done so well. He’s looked really good in training and hopefully we can give him chances to play.”
With Arsenal balancing squad rotation and injury management, Arteta will now look to guide his side safely through the FA Cup tie while continuing to nurture the club’s emerging talents.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
