Arsenal revealed that William Saliba suffered “a knock in training” which forced him to miss Sunday’s lofty Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The talismanic French defender started 10 of Arsenal’s first 11 Premier League fixtures this season, missing just the 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest in September with a twisted ankle.
News of Saliba’s absence for the trip to Chelsea came as an almighty surprise. Much of the buildup to the high-stakes London derby had been dominated by potential returnees. Cole Palmer would be back for the Blues and Mikel Arteta teased reunions with a glut of Arsenal absentees.
Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus duly returned to the matchday squad on Sunday, but Saliba’s absence will serve as a serious blow.
Shortly after publishing the team news, the Gunners released a short statement explaining that the 24-year-old had picked up an unspecified injury in training ahead of the weekend bout. It’s unclear exactly which day that occurred—although, Arteta’s failure to mention any issue for Saliba during Friday’s press conference is no guarantee that it happened in the last two days.
Saliba was joined on the sidelines by his trusted centre back partner Gabriel, forcing the Gunners into a rare outing without either of their first-choice defenders.






