William Saliba Facing Race Against Time to Be Fit for Arsenal’s Clash with Man City

Arsenal’s William Saliba is facing a race against time to be fit for the crucial clash against Manchester City on Sunday, February 2. The French centre-back missed Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa due to a hamstring injury, with Mikel Arteta cautiously describing the issue as a “muscular problem.”

Key Highlights:

• Saliba’s Injury and Absence: Saliba was sidelined for Saturday’s match against Aston Villa, where Arsenal conceded two goals from crosses aimed at the area he typically patrols. His absence resulted in the Gunners dropping valuable points and losing ground to Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
• Expected Recovery Timeline: According to L’Equipe, Saliba is expected to be out for another two weeks, which would mean he could miss Arsenal’s next three fixtures:
  • Final Champions League group stage games against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona.
  • A Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• Arsenal vs Manchester City: The Gunners begin February by hosting Manchester City, a fixture that has been a title-decider in the past two seasons. However, City’s mid-season struggles have left them focused on Champions League qualification rather than securing a fifth consecutive Premier League title. Recent weeks have seen City tentatively regain form, making the upcoming clash pivotal for both sides.
• Carabao Cup Semi-final: Just three days after the Man City match, Arsenal travel to Newcastle United’s St James’ Park for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on February 5. Saliba struggled in the first leg against Alexander Isak, with the Gunners losing 2-0.
• Potential Return: After being eliminated from the FA Cup by Manchester United, Arsenal have a ten-day break between fixtures while the fourth round is played. This break could allow Saliba to fully recover, making him available for Arsenal’s next league matches.