Arsenal starter set for 2-week injury absence

William Saliba is set to miss Arsenal’s next three matches through injury, according to a report from France.

French outlet L’Equipe claim that following further tests on William Saliba’s hamstring complaint, the player is expected to miss around two weeks of action.

L’Equipe suggest Saliba will be absent for Arsenal’s upcoming games against GNK Dinamo, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Girona, but it’s currently unclear whether or not he’ll then be fit to face Manchester City.

The player had appeared to struggle with an injury in the latter stages of the Gunners’ match against Tottenham Hotspur last week, and he subsequently missed out on the draw with Aston Villa.

To some extent, Saliba’s two-week absence is actually good news. Mikel Arteta had suggested the club were “very worried” about the injury in the immediate aftermath of the Villa game.

“Yes, for sure (we are worried),” Arteta said. “Especially with the numbers we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very worried.”

Arsenal will have to adapt to the French international’s absence, whether that means a makeshift right-back or Jakub Kiwior at right-centre-back. But if Saliba is back in the team against Manchester City, it’s not the end of the world.

Arteta’s side will have to play two key Champions League games in the meantime, but both Dinamo and Girona are well below Arsenal in the table. The Gunners have to believe they can still win those games without Saliba.

Similarly, an away trip to Wolves isn’t the most intimidating fixture right now, with the hosts sitting 17th in the Premier League. There have been worse times for players to get injured.