William Saliba will stay with Arsenal over the international break after Zinedine Zidane left the Arsenal centre-back out of his France squad for November’s Nations League games against Italy and Turkey.
Zidane named his group at 5pm on Friday, a few hours after Mikel Arteta had said Arsenal would accept whatever France decided. Saliba has not played a competitive minute for club or country this season, and the decision means Arsenal keep full control of the last stage of his comeback.
The 25-year-old was an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague. Before that, he played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match last week, his first game after three and a half months out.
Why is William Saliba not in the France squad?
Put simply, he is not match fit yet. Saliba hurt his back in France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain in Dallas, and the injury kept him out of Zidane’s first camp after he replaced Didier Deschamps this summer.
Arsenal’s medical staff went through the situation in detail with the French Football Federation before the squad was picked. Zidane has now decided Saliba is better off at his club, where Arsenal can bring him back on their own terms and at their own pace.
That matters more than it might sound. Nobody at Arsenal wanted to see him pick up a setback on international duty before he had even kicked a ball for the Gunners this term.
What Arteta said before Zidane named his squad
Arteta was asked about Saliba at his pre-match press conference on Friday, before France announced anything. He made it clear the call belonged to Zidane.
Arteta said: “Well, we’ve been in very close contact, I think they’re announcing it at 5pm this evening, so they have all the information. Now it’s about them, Zinedine in this case to make the call, and we will accept whatever it is.”
Asked whether he would rather Saliba stayed, he added: “I think it’s something between them more, because William needs minutes as well, I know how much he loves to be around the national team. He’s a new manager, a really exciting one as well, so whatever he’s decided is fine for us.”
That line about minutes is the catch. Staying at home means more time on the training pitch, but there are no games for Arsenal during the break, so Saliba will have to build his sharpness in sessions rather than in matches.
Who comes in at the back for France?
Zidane is short of centre-backs as it is. Chelsea’s Maxence Lacroix is out with the hamstring injury he picked up in the Carabao Cup fourth-round defeat at Liverpool, and Dayot Upamecano is suspended for the Italy game.
Ibrahima Konate returns to the squad after losing his starting place at the World Cup, and Manchester United’s Leny Yoro has been called up as cover. With that many problems, leaving out a fit Saliba would have been unthinkable, which says plenty about where his fitness really is.
Will Saliba play against Hull City?
He is in contention. Arsenal host Hull City at 3pm on Saturday, and Saliba could get his first minutes of the season off the bench if the game allows it. A start would be a surprise, and the more likely plan is that he is properly brought back after the break.
The rest of the back line is in decent shape. Arteta confirmed Ezri Konsa is fine after coming off in Prague with a knee problem, saying he was taken off as a precaution. Cristhian Mosquera is pushing for a chance too, after a hamstring strain stopped him once he had started the wins over Coventry City and Aston Villa. We went through the options in our Arsenal predicted lineup vs Hull City, and the wider fitness picture is in our Arsenal injury news for the Hull game.
The news on Bukayo Saka was less cheerful. Arteta said the winger is still “quite far away” and that Arsenal are talking about “weeks”, with Saka due to start working on the pitch again after the international break.
Verdict: Zidane has done Arsenal a favour with Saliba
This is the right call for everyone. Saliba has had one 45-minute run-out in more than three months, and two Nations League games in nine days would have been a big ask for a player still finding his feet.
After the break, Arsenal go to Newcastle at St James’ Park and then host Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at the Emirates. That is exactly the run where Arteta will want Saliba back next to Gabriel, and two clear weeks of training give him the best chance of being ready for it.
