William Saliba is closing in on an Arsenal comeback after returning to full training, three and a half months after his last competitive appearance for club or country.
The French defender took part in Tuesday’s training session ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, marking a significant step in his recovery from a persistent back injury.
Saliba has been sidelined since being substituted during the first half of France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-finals. Arsenal confirmed in July that the injury did not require surgery but would demand an extended rehabilitation programme.
His return is a timely boost for Mikel Arteta, although the Arsenal manager has indicated that the defender will not necessarily walk straight back into the starting XI.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Arteta offered an encouraging update on Saliba’s progress, revealing that the centre-back had already completed a behind-closed-doors appearance.
“His evolution has been as expected, which is not always the case” Arteta said. “He feels very comfortable. He played 45 minutes behind closed doors last week. He feels ready to go now, so whether we use him or not is a matter of what the team needs.”
Arteta had earlier described Saliba as being “in a really good place,” suggesting that the defender is approaching full match readiness after months away from competitive action.
However, Arsenal’s defensive situation has changed during his absence. Ezri Konsa, who arrived during the summer, has stepped into the centre-back position and delivered a series of impressive performances.
That development presents Arteta with an interesting selection decision. Saliba has built an outstanding partnership with Gabriel Magalhães over several seasons, with their understanding and defensive organisation playing a major role in Arsenal’s Premier League success last season.
Yet disrupting the current defensive combination may not be an immediate priority, particularly with Konsa making a strong case to retain his place.
One possible solution could involve moving Konsa to right-back, a position he has occasionally occupied for Aston Villa and England. Arteta also has Jurriën Timber and Ben White available in that area, giving him additional flexibility as the squad returns to full strength.
Asked whether having three available centre-backs represented a “problem”, Arteta responded with a laugh before welcoming the situation.
“So far we haven’t had that luxury. I wouldn’t call it a problem.
“We are going to have the opportunity to … manage the congestion of the players in a much better way than we have actually done it.”
For Arsenal, Saliba’s return offers more than just another defensive option. His recovery gives Arteta greater depth, tactical flexibility and the opportunity to manage workloads during a demanding period of the campaign.
The immediate question is not whether Saliba can return to the team, but when Arteta believes the moment is right. With the Frenchman declaring himself ready and the existing defensive options performing well, Arsenal have a selection decision that could prove valuable as the season progresses.
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