Champions League: “Ready to return to competition”, Saliba back with Arsenal… and soon the Blues?

French defender William Saliba, absent from the field since the 2026 World Cup, “is available, just like any other player,” declared his coach Mikel Arteta on Tuesday, on the eve of an Arsenal Champions League match at Slavia Prague.

The 25-year-old defender took part in collective training in the morning, under the eyes of the cameras admitted at the start of the session. It was his first public appearance on the pitch since the 2026 World Cup, which he finished in July with difficult to bear back pain. “The rehabilitation process, the timetable and the way his injury was managed, but above all Willy's feeling throughout this period, was very, very positive. Its evolution followed the expected course, which is not always the case. He feels very good,” Arteta explained at a press conference.

He specified that Saliba had “played 45 minutes in a match behind closed doors last week” and that he felt “ready to return to competition”, before adding: “now the question of whether we are going to play him or not depends on the needs of the team”.

Asked if the Frenchman could play again on Wednesday, the coach responded positively: “Either you are available or you are not. And today, he is available, just like any other player.”

Arsenal recruited Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa during the off-season, notably to replace the Frenchman. The England international has had a very good start to the season alongside Gabriel, Saliba's usual partner in the middle. Arteta preferred to welcome the new wealth of his squad in central defense, rather than seeing it as a headache. “Until now we have not had this luxury. I won’t talk about a problem,” he replied with a laugh.