Arsenal hopes defender William Saliba can recover from his injury in time for their upcoming match against Manchester City.
Saliba has been sidelined for the past month due to an injury sustained during their Europa League game against Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta desperately needs his defensive linchpin for the potential Premier League title decider.
Over the past two weeks, Arsenal has seen their eight-point lead at the top reduced to just four after successive 2-2 draws against Liverpool and West Ham United.
Saliba’s absence from the squad has coincided with their recent wobble, as he had started all 27 games in the Premier League before his injury.
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According to the Daily Mail, Saliba is eager to get back into the action, and Arteta has indicated that he would be returning to training on grass this week.
Arsenal’s medical team has been carefully easing Saliba into training after he suffered a lower back problem. The issue requires careful management to avoid risking a setback in his recovery.
It remains to be seen whether Saliba will be fully fit when Arsenal faces Manchester City in eight days. The France international is up against the clock, and a complication could cause him more issues in the future if not handled properly.
Arsenal will face a challenge dealing with the red-hot Erling Haaland without Saliba’s physicality. The Norwegian has already scored 32 goals in a record-equalling debut campaign in the Premier League.
The city is the favorite to overcome Arsenal, having embarked on an impressive run of 10 straight wins in all competitions, scoring 37 goals.
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If Arsenal wins their remaining seven games, including the game against City, they will be crowned champions for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign.
Having Saliba back would hand Arteta a significant boost as their fate rests in their hands. Since his injury four games ago, Arsenal has conceded six goals in four games, and their defensive frailties were exposed in their last two matches after going 2-0 up in both games.
Saliba has formed a solid understanding with Gabriel beside him and Ben White at right-back. The 22-year-old’s leadership skills have been sorely missed at the back.
While Rob Holding has proved to be an adequate stand-in, having the young defender back would boost his teammates’ morale.
If Saliba risks his future fitness to play in the most important game of the past decade, it could pay off for Arsenal. However, it is essential to ensure that he is not rushed back too quickly to avoid further injury.
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