Arteta Reveals Why Star Defender Saliba Missed Mansfield Clash as Injury Concerns Mount

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided reassurance to supporters that William Saliba may recover quickly from his recent ankle setback.

The French centre-back was absent for the midweek triumph against Brighton & Hove Albion and remained unavailable for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Mansfield Town after Arteta indicated he wouldn't be fit to feature.

Having previously been sidelined earlier this campaign with ankle troubles, Arteta admitted he initially worried about a recurrence of the original problem, but thankfully, this isn't the situation.

"It's the other [ankle]," Arteta explained. "We had the same concerns following the match. He felt uncomfortable completing the game and afterwards didn't feel right. So we'll see how quickly he bounces back."

When Will Saliba Return for Arsenal?

When Will Saliba Return for Arsenal?

Arteta obviously kept the possibility open for Saliba's quick comeback, though realistically, he was unlikely to feature against League One side Mansfield Town regardless of his fitness status.

Although Arsenal remain committed to the FA Cup, Arteta will prioritize having his best players ready for the team's upcoming fixture, a Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

Could Saliba be available for that match? Currently, it's difficult to determine. Arteta prefers maintaining secrecy regarding his key players' fitness levels and is unlikely to reveal specific details about Saliba's rehabilitation. However, the tone of Arteta's recent comments suggests Saliba won't be absent for an extended period.

Arsenal's Next Five Games After Mansfield

Arsenal's Next Five Games After Mansfield

Arsenal's Options to Replace Saliba

Arsenal's Options to Replace Saliba

Cristhian Mosquera was selected to partner Gabriel against Brighton, and the summer acquisition retained his spot in the starting eleven on Saturday versus Mansfield.

Gabriel, however, was given a break as his role was filled by Riccardo Calafiori, who has primarily made his mark operating on the left flank of the defense. Piero Hincapié, another summer addition, began the match as a substitute.

Securing quality backup for his star players was a key objective for Arteta during the summer market, having witnessed previous campaigns falter in crucial moments due to inadequate depth—Saliba's back problem is frequently cited as a factor in Arsenal's title disappointment in 2022–23.

These worries seem to be behind them as Arteta demonstrates the squad strength required not only to capture the Premier League crown, but to compete for multiple trophies throughout the season. The pursuit of all four competitions continues and Arsenal's capacity to rotate players for cup matches—even against weaker opponents—highlights their position among the contenders to claim every available prize.