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William Saliba Injury Update
William Saliba is out with an ankle-related issue that has lingered longer than Arsenal first expected, but the club still treats it as a short‑term “days, not weeks” problem and are aiming to have him back around the Wolves game in mid‑December 2025. When he has played this season, he has been his usual steady self: 11 Premier League appearances, 0 goals, and around half of those games ending in clean sheets for Arsenal. Sleeper Arsenal (@SleeperArsenal) shared Mikel Arteta's injury update, stating that Saliba "looks better" but is uncertain for tomorrow, while Timber and Trossard will return in "a matter of days" and Rice's status is day-to-day.
Saliba’s current absence actually traces back to an ankle problem he picked up earlier in the season, when he twisted his ankle and had to come off just a few minutes into a match against Liverpool in August. Since then, the ankle has been managed carefully, but a “knock” and discomfort flared up again in training at the end of November, which ruled him out of the 1–1 draw at Chelsea and then kept him out for several more games.
Arteta has called the issue minor but “bizarre”, explaining that the original ankle injury made Saliba change the way he ran, which then overloaded another area and forced the staff to stop him from playing. Arsenal’s medical notes list it as a knock rather than a serious ligament tear, and there has been no talk of surgery or a long‑term layoff.
When Did the Injury Happen?
The first key moment was that twisted ankle against Liverpool, where he was forced off after only a few minutes and later described as unlucky and random. The second flashpoint was November 28, 2025, when he felt discomfort in training before the Chelsea game, which is when this latest spell on the sidelines actually started.
From that Chelsea absence onward, Saliba has missed at least four straight matches, with Arteta repeatedly asked about him in press conferences because of how important he is to Arsenal’s defensive structure. The manager’s line has basically been the same: the problem is irritating and taking longer than hoped, but it is not a major structural injury.
When Will William Saliba Return?
Arsenal expect him back around the Wolves match, but they are still going day by day. Several Arsenal‑focused outlets report that the internal target is the home game against Wolves in mid‑December, with his status updated as “out but only for days” rather than ruled out for weeks or months. The News Birth (@eriazalik) reported on X that Mikel Arteta has confirmed William Saliba is dealing with an ankle injury, but it's uncertain if the center-back will return to action against Wolves.
Arteta himself has kept it slightly vague and keeps saying they need to see if he can rejoin full training before clearing him for minutes, which is why fans have seen “being assessed” next to his name over and over. So if you’re writing or updating content, the safest line right now is that Saliba is expected back in mid‑December, with Wolves at the Emirates the most likely return window if there are no setbacks.
William Saliba Stats
In the 2025–26 Premier League season so far, Saliba has played 11 league matches for Arsenal, logging 815 minutes before this injury spell. Across those games he has 0 goals, 0 assists, but has been on the pitch for around 5–6 clean sheets, depending on how you count partial appearances, which matches tracking sites listing him with 5–6 league clean sheets this season.
Defensively, the numbers back up the eye test: roughly 1–1.5 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, and close to 4–5 clearances per 90 minutes, plus Arsenal conceding a goal only every 270‑ish minutes when he is on the pitch in league play. In Europe, he has 22 Champions League appearances for Arsenal over the last two campaigns, with double‑digit clean sheets and no goals scored, again showing that his value is control and calm more than box‑score noise.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available reports, match coverage, and expert analysis at the time of writing. Injury statuses, recovery timelines, and team selections can change quickly. Always double‑check the latest official Arsenal updates, press conferences, and team news before making any betting, fantasy, or lineup decisions.
