Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Arteta says Saliba is ready to return before Slavia Prague match
Arsenal are in the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague in the Champions League, and manager Mikel Arteta spoke to reporters before the match.
William Saliba is ready to return after recovering from injury and playing 45 minutes in a closed-door friendly last week.
Arteta said the club had carefully managed his recovery, and that choosing when to use him depends on what the team needs.
Saliba's return gives Arsenal another option at centre-back, a position Arteta said usually requires a player to be ready for a full match.
Arteta also said Martin Zubimendi is an important player, while youngster Max Dowman could be selected if the manager chooses.
He offered condolences after the death of Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel.
Arteta will decide the lineup for the Slavia match, including whether Saliba plays.
Mikel Arteta said William Saliba was ready to return for Arsenal after recovering from a back injury.
Saliba had played 45 minutes in a closed-door match the previous week and had resumed full training.
Arteta said the decision to use him against Slavia Prague would depend on what the team needed.
Saliba travelled with Arsenal’s squad to the Czech Republic for the Champions League match.
Arsenal’s matchday squad list later named Saliba among the substitutes not used.
- Who
- William Saliba, Arsenal defender, and Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager.
- What
- Arteta said Saliba was ready to return after recovering from a back injury. Whether he would play against Slavia Prague depended on the team’s needs.
- When
- Arteta made the comments before Arsenal’s Champions League match against Slavia Prague on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- The match was in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Why
- Saliba had recovered from a back injury, completed his preparation and played 45 minutes in a closed-door match the previous week.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Saliba began training on his own after a back injury sustained at the World Cup.
Saliba played 45 minutes in a closed-door match.
Saliba resumed full training and travelled with Arsenal’s squad to the Czech Republic.
Arteta said Saliba was ready to return but left open whether he would play.
Arsenal’s matchday squad list named Saliba among the substitutes not used.
- Player
- William Saliba
- Club
- Arsenal
- Injury
- Back injury sustained at the World Cup
- Closed-door match
- 45 minutes the week before the Slavia Prague match
- Opponent
- Slavia Prague
- Competition
- UEFA Champions League
5 sources
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal: UEFA Champions League stats & head-to-head
Пресс-конференция Микеля Артеты перед матчем со «Славией»
Arteta backs Saliba’s readiness to return for Arsenal at Slavia Prague
Every word from Arteta's pre-Slavia Prague presser
William Saliba's return gives Mikel Arteta selection headache at Arsenal
What people are saying
He feels very comfortable. He played 45 minutes [behind] closed doors last week and he feels ready to go.
Now he’s in a really good place. He’s built the capacity that we needed, and now it’s about giving him minutes.
So whether we use him or not now is a matter of what the team needs.