William Saliba set for Arsenal U21 action as Mikel Arteta weighs defensive options

Arsenal defender William Saliba is closing in on his long-awaited return from injury, with manager Mikel Arteta confirming the French international will feature for the club’s Under-21 side against Aston Villa on Sunday as he steps up his recovery.

The 25-year-old has yet to make an appearance this season after sustaining a back injury while representing France at the World Cup, but his return to the matchday squad for Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday offered encouragement.

Although Saliba remained an unused substitute in that encounter, there were expectations he could be involved when the Gunners faced Hull on Saturday.

However, the centre-back was left out of the squad for the fixture, with Arteta subsequently clarifying that the decision was part of a carefully managed rehabilitation programme rather than a fresh injury concern.

The Arsenal boss believes giving Saliba competitive minutes with the Under-21s will help restore his match fitness before he returns to first-team action.

Arteta outlines Saliba’s comeback plan

Arteta confirmed that Saliba’s next appearance will come against Aston Villa’s Under-21s, where he is expected to gain valuable playing time after several weeks on the sidelines.

The decision is intended to ensure the defender regains his sharpness without being rushed back into the demands of senior football.

“He needs some minutes,” Arteta said.

“Obviously, the Champions League allows you to bring more players into the bench, but we believe that it’s the best thing to do, to play some minutes on the weekend with the Under-21s and then be fully fit for the international break.”

With the international break following Sunday’s fixture, Saliba is expected to wait until November 21 for a potential first-team return.

He has also been left out of Zinedine Zidane’s latest France squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey, despite Arteta previously indicating he would have no concerns about the defender returning to international duty.

Ezri Konsa presents Arteta with selection headache

While Saliba’s impending return represents a significant boost for Arsenal, it could also create a selection dilemma for Arteta, particularly given the performances of Ezri Konsa in his absence.

Saliba has developed into one of the Premier League’s leading centre-backs and formed an outstanding defensive partnership with Gabriel, which was instrumental in Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season, ending their 22-year wait for the league crown.

The defensive pairing conceded just 27 goals throughout the Premier League season, while Saliba earned selection in the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth consecutive time.

However, Arsenal’s defensive options have strengthened considerably during his absence following the £55 million arrival of Konsa from Aston Villa in the summer.

The England international has settled quickly into Arteta’s system and played an important role in the Gunners’ recent defensive performances, helping the club record three consecutive Premier League clean sheets.

His consistency could make it difficult for Arteta to immediately restore Saliba to the starting line-up without disrupting the defensive balance established in recent weeks.

Rio Ferdinand suggests right-back solution

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Arteta could accommodate all his defensive options by moving Konsa to right-back once Saliba returns.

Konsa has previously demonstrated his ability to operate in that position, including when deputising for England at the World Cup, making the proposed adjustment a potential solution to Arsenal’s selection dilemma.

Ferdinand believes Saliba’s quality makes him too important to leave out, while also praising Konsa’s efficiency and performances since joining the North London club.

“I think Saliba is one of those guys that you have to find room for in the team. He’s that good, he’s top,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

“I said to my son yesterday, ‘watch Ezri Konsa’, because everything he does is efficient. That’s a great problem for Arteta to have.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Konsa goes back to right-back once Saliba comes back. I wouldn’t be surprised because Konsa is top.”

Saliba’s appearance against Aston Villa’s Under-21s will therefore be an important step towards his first-team comeback, with Arteta set to face an increasingly competitive battle for places once his defensive options are fully available.