Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that the Gunners may have to play the remaining seven games of the season without French defender William Saliba. Saliba went off Arsenal’s penalty shootout loss to Sporting Lisbon last month in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash.

The 22-year-old defender has missed four games since then, and according to the manager, he could miss more games as he has yet to recover from the injury that has sidelined him. 

“With William, we have to wait a little bit more. He is not progressing as quickly as we had hoped. It is a bit delicate. We want to be very certain when we push him that he is ready to absorb the load, and with the risk, we would take at the moment, that is not possible to do.” Arteta said.

Arteta further revealed that there is no certainty yet about his availability or otherwise, but by next week, the North London club will be sure of the extent of Saliba’s absence.

The French defender has played 33 games for Arsenal, who are hoping to win the Premier League title but sit four points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

While Pep Guardiola’s side goes into the weekend with a FA Cup tie against Sheffield United to deal with, Arsenal will face Southampton on Friday night. Arsenal are winless in two Premier League games after consecutive draws against Liverpool and West Ham, where they lost two-goal leads on both occasions.

Other Premier League games at the weekend will see Fulham host Leeds United while Brentford welcomes Aston Villa just, and Everton travel to Crystal Palace.

Leicester City will continue their road to survival against Wolves and Liverpool at home to Nottingham Forest is important to the Reds’ European hopes for next season. Sunday’s fixtures will see Bournemouth host West Ham and Newcastle against Tottenham.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu