Saliba’s Early Exit Raises Injury Concerns for Arsenal

LONDON, England — William Saliba‘s halftime substitution during Arsenal‘s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday is causing concern among fans and analysts alike. Saliba, a key defender, was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera with Arsenal leading 1-0.

The change generates questions as Saliba was not the center-back initially considered a doubt for the match. That role fell to Gabriel Magalhaes, who ultimately started despite concerns over a knock he sustained in a prior game against Atletico Madrid.

Initially, Arsenal was already missing several key players, including Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz, who are recovering from knee injuries. Additionally, long-term injuries sidelined Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus, putting further pressure on the squad.

Saliba, 24, has been an essential part of manager Mikel Arteta‘s lineup this season, appearing in seven of the nine league matches prior to Sunday. His consistent performance has contributed to Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League standings.

This season has not been injury-free for Saliba. He missed a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest earlier in the season due to an ankle injury from a match against Liverpool and played only 45 minutes against Newcastle shortly thereafter. Last season, he was also absent for three games due to suspension and injury.

Fans and team analysts are eagerly awaiting Arteta’s comments regarding Saliba’s condition and any potential impacts on future matches. Given the heavy schedule ahead, the Gunners will hope for a quick recovery.