William Saliba continues to be sidelined with the back injury he picked up in March and will not be available for Sunday’s trip to West Ham.
While it sounds like the Frenchman still has a way to go in his recovery from a back injury, the Spaniard remains optimistic that his centre-back will be available for selection before the end of the season.
“William is still not available,” he told his weekly press conference.
“He is progressing well and we are hopeful we are going to have him available in the next few weeks.”
Arsenal travel to title challengers Manchester City in 12 days’ time and you can imagine the club is doing everything it can to ensure its first-choice defence is available for the occasion.
In better news, the boss did confirm that Eddie Nketiah is fit again. The striker injured his ankle six weeks ago but has been able to train with his teammates this week and could be in contention for the trip to the London Stadium.
Maximum respect to Rob Holding, a very good defender, often underrated and loyal club servant (“I’m sorry he didn’t cost £55 million…”), but would really love a fully fit Willy back for City!
Reminder: A fully fit Willy played in the 1 – 3 defeat to City at the Emirates. If it’s Holding, so be it. We can still get a result with him.
The pairing of ex baldies should have some decent chemistry
It was not Willy who had a stinker that day! Tomi let us, and himself, down. It will ultimately be where we lost the title, at home. We will win it within the next few years Im sure. Just glad we are competing again!
Agree. Titles will come under Arteta, I’m just happy to be competitive in the league again and back to CL football. Would love to see them win the title this year but if they don’t it is still been a great season. Draw at City and win the rest, we win the league.
Whoever pulls the Arsenal jersey this season I will back them to the hilt. They’ve all done us proud this year.
We need Willy badly to improve our chances in the PL!
At Liverpool it’s not Saliba we missed most, I’m sorry Ziny – It was Kieran Tierney.
From today’s Guardian: Arsenal’s decision to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from City was a masterstroke. The Ukrainian has provided leadership and been a key influence at left-back, from where his drifting into midfield to support Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey has played a major part in Mikel Arteta’s side turning into title contenders. But if Zinchenko has a weakness, it is his one-on-one defending. He was exposed during the second half of their wild 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah targeted Zinchenko and West Ham should look to do something similar. No doubt David Moyes will… Read more »
Fair point, however West Ham’s right side and liverpools isn’t really comparable
Yes, Tierney should have come earlier than he did. We would have won the game.
Definitely. Can’t see Tierney being nutmegged by Alexander-Arnold. He’s a natural defender and he’s quicker than Zinchenko. He poses a different threat to the opposition going forward because of his overlapping runs which also give Martinelli more freedom because the opposition defender has someone else to mark.
We totally dominated Liverpool for 40 minutes and was two nil up before some stupidity fired them up. We shot ourself in the foot.
How can anyone down vote this comment?
Sometimes you need to put up your hand and admit responsibility (as I am sure Xhaka did)
The game changed entirely after Xhaka reacted – what impact that will have will be anyone’s guess, but it cost us that game.
What is important is the reaction to the result on Sunday and for the seven other games after that.
If you can understand there is always consequence for every action, you will be fine.
I think you only need to look at the evidence of how this game turned just after that incident, and how last season’s game turned right after Klopp and Arteta’s spat to see that it had a very unhelpful effect. But Xhaka’s not fully responsible for the way the game went – if we had defended well enough to hold out for the next couple of minutes, the game would have simmered down again Anyone who’s played football at any level knows that games aren’t played in a vacuum, even on a park pitch atmosphere and momentum count for something.… Read more »
too many casuals on here, that’s how.
Was I the only one screaming for Zinch to be substituted after 70 mins??? No, I dont think so. Arteta lost this game for us, 100%, with his subs. Not the first time either. Thats facts. Now, does it mean I dont love this team? Ofc not, but facts dont Lie.
I don’t agree, or at least not fully. The way Zinchenko plays–giving us a tremendous advantage in controlling midfield and the game as a whole–always means that the left-sided centre-half and the number 6 will need to cover the space that a conventional left fullback would normally protect. But as Gabriel and Partey switch over to the left, you need a right-sided centre-half (with some help from the right fullback) to have both great mobility and a superior reading of the game to protect the entire centre of the pitch; not many centre backs are good enough for this. Rob… Read more »
True
I beg to disagree.
Saliba’s on the ball calmness and the ability to play an accurate, line breaking pass under pressure is what we missed when liveroool tied us down in our half of the pitch.
Holding was passing the ball sideways to either Gabriel or White which attracted even more pressing from the opposition. Saliba would have passed it to Partey, Zinnia or MØ, breaking the intense liverpool press.
True
Holding, Big Willy?
Holding in and Willy out.
The centre-half’s Holding the injured guy’s Willy.
(apologies to any cricket people here)
“Holding, holding, Hoooolding!!”
The more minutes Rob gets, the greater the chances of his alter-ego “Holdihno” making an appearance in the opposition’s penalty area, and how we all love to see that! He lifts my spirits each time, even when his skilz do not lead to a goal.
I think Holding’s hair implants sometimes gives him Marvel like superpowers..
He’s like the biblical Samson, his strength comes from his hair
Saliba will need some game time before the City match to get back in the groove. If he can’t, then I’d rather Holding play.
Well said Mick.
Holding don’t get enough respect imo, he’s a dominant aerial presence, and did a hell of a job against Mitrovic earlier in the season, but mostly the guy do not ruffle feathers, you can’t tell by his attitude that he’s just a bit part players, the guy gets five minutes in five months and he comes onto the pitch full of energy and enthusiasm, he clearly loves the club and is willing to help in any capacity whether he’s getting five games on the trot, or five minute every five games.. Holding was brought to the club by AW as… Read more »
It was a moment of absolute shit defending mate. Happens tho
Arsenal’s Willy is out for few more weeks then.
Wish we still had our Coq to back him up
If Saliba doesn’t make the home game against Southampton, then I would rather Holding keep his place against City.
We’re going to every man to be up to speed and 100% match fit against those jammy blue Manc cunts.
* need