WILLIAM SALIBA RULED OUT OF FRANCE VERSUS BRAZIL AND COLOMBIA FOLLOWING ARSENAL’S CARABAO CUP FINAL DEFEAT
Maxence Lacroix replaces Saliba for France as Arsenal also lose Eberechi Eze to injury ahead of the treble run-in.
Arsenal and France now face a setback as William Saliba has had to withdraw from international duty due to an injury. Saliba played through the entire Carabao Cup final, where Arsenal fell 2-0 to Manchester City, but it has since come to light that he suffered a problem with his left ankle. This injury has ruled him out of France’s upcoming games against Brazil and Colombia.
The French Football Federation released a statement confirming that Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix will step in for Saliba, marking Lacroix’s debut call-up to the senior national team. According to the federation, Saliba is dealing with recurring ankle pain that requires treatment and at least ten days of rest.
This is tough news for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was already missing Eberechi Eze due to injury during the Carabao Cup final. Like Saliba, Eze has also been ruled out of England’s upcoming internationals, with Harvey Barnes called up to take his place. Arteta revealed after the final that Eze has a calf injury and will undergo further scans to assess the extent of the damage.
Losing both Saliba and Eze as the season heads into its crucial phase is a significant blow for Arsenal, especially with the team still pushing for a treble. They currently top the Premier League, holding a nine-point lead over second-place City, though City have a game in hand which could narrow the gap to six points with seven matches remaining.
Arsenal are on track to secure their first Premier League title since the 'Invincibles' season of 2003/04. In recent years, they’ve come close, finishing second three consecutive seasons, so this opportunity feels particularly important. In addition to the league, Arsenal remain contenders in the FA Cup and Champions League, with quarter-final ties against Southampton and Sporting, respectively.
Arteta will be hoping the international break offers Saliba enough time to recover and get back to full strength ahead of those crucial matches. Saliba had struggled with ankle issues before this season, missing key fixtures, including the win over Brighton and the FA Cup victory against Mansfield Town in March.
If Saliba’s recovery takes longer than hoped, Arsenal could turn to Cristhian Mosquera as cover. The 21-year-old defender, signed last summer, has shown promise and experience when called upon. He’s made 25 appearances across all competitions this season, starting 14 times. His most recent outing was in that Brighton win, where he filled in for Saliba and helped keep a clean sheet.
Injury troubles never come at a good time, but Arsenal will be keen to manage these setbacks carefully as they push to make a strong finish across all fronts.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
