Arsenal fans on X are in disbelief upon learning that William Saliba will sit out their Premier League match with Chelsea. The two teams are set to face off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, November 30.
Manager Mikel Arteta made two changes to his starting XI that defeated Bayern Munich 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Saliba is a surprise absentee in the lineup, as he joined fellow center-back Gabriel Magalhaes on the sidelines after picking up a knock in training. The other change is at the left back, where Riccardo Calafiori replaces Myles-Lewis Skelly.
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Following Saliba’s setback, Arteta has entrusted Pierro Hincapie and Christhian Mosquera as his center-half pairing for the London derby. Saliba has been a key player in Arsenal’s strong form this season, helping them keep multiple clean sheets.
The Frenchman’s absence is a huge blow for Arsenal, as they will have to play without one of Saliba or Gabriel at the heart of the defense for only the second time in the Premier League since Saliba made his debut.
Several Gunners supporters were taken aback by the update, with one writing:
“Saliba? You gotta be kidding me…”
Another tweeted:
“No Saliba is a big, big miss.”
A third queried:
“LOOL, what happened to Saliba??”
“NO SALIBA????, another added.
However, there is some good news for the league leaders, with Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres returning to the squad and taking their place on the substitutes’ bench.
“It’s a big game” – Mikel Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea
Mikel Arteta admitted that Chelsea will pose a challenge to them when both teams meet for the London derby at Stamford Bridge, saying their rivals ‘are in really good form.’ The Blues come into the clash on the back of a huge 3-0 win against Barcelona.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Arteta told reporters:
“It’s a big game, it’s a big London derby, we’re going to play a really good opponent, and they are in really good form. We know the challenge, we know the opportunity that we have as well on Sunday, so we are fully prepared for it.”
He added:
“I think we are all there and they are there because they fully deserve to be. What they have done in the last few years, I think the squad that have assembled, the numbers that they have, the amount of quality, the manager and the coaching staff that they have, it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there.”
Heading into the contest, Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table, while Chelsea are four points behind them in third.
Edited by Ezekiel Olamide
