Arsenal's Star Defender William Saliba Sidelined for Crucial Chelsea Clash
Arsenal confirmed that William Saliba sustained "an injury during training" that prevented him from participating in Sunday's crucial Premier League encounter against Chelsea.
The influential French center-back had featured in 10 of Arsenal's opening 11 Premier League matches this campaign, only sitting out the 3–0 victory against Nottingham Forest in September due to an ankle problem.
The announcement of Saliba's unavailability for the Chelsea fixture came as a major shock. Most pre-match discussion surrounding the significant London derby had focused on possible player returns. Cole Palmer was set to feature again for the Blues while Mikel Arteta hinted at comebacks for several Arsenal players who had been sidelined.
Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus both made it back into the matchday roster on Sunday, but losing Saliba represents a significant setback.
Following the team sheet announcement, the Gunners issued a brief statement clarifying that the 24-year-old had sustained an undisclosed training injury before the weekend match. The exact timing remains uncertain—though Arteta's omission of any Saliba concerns during Friday's media briefing doesn't necessarily mean the injury occurred within the past 48 hours.
Saliba was accompanied on the injury list by his regular center-back partner Gabriel, compelling the Gunners into an unusual lineup without either of their preferred central defenders.
Fresh Center Back Partnership for Arsenal
Following their devastating 5–0 defeat to Manchester City in August 2021, Arteta has included either Saliba or Gabriel in his starting lineup for 159 of the following 160 Premier League fixtures. The sole exception occurred during the meaningless final-day encounter of the 2024–25 season against already-relegated Southampton.
Jakub Kiwior and Kieran Tierney handled defensive duties that day—and allowed a Ross Stewart header from the second-poorest team in Premier League history. Both players have since departed the club, leaving Arteta to rely on the untested partnership of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié for Sunday's visit to Stamford Bridge.
Both Spanish-speaking defenders arrived at Arsenal during the summer transfer window and have been gradually introduced to Premier League football alongside either Saliba or Gabriel. The duo may not have previously started a top-flight fixture together, but they were tasked with anchoring the defense during a Carabao Cup third-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.
The Gunners secured a 2–0 victory, although they surrendered numerous scoring opportunities. The Seagulls nearly scored within the first 10 minutes and registered 18 attempts, with six finding the target. Both figures mark season-highs for Arsenal at the Emirates during what has otherwise been a campaign characterized by defensive stability.