Take a look at when William Saliba could return for Arsenal as he steps up his recovery from a back injury.
The Gunners have been without the France centre-back all season having picked up an injury during the World Cup.
Any fears about how the champions would fare without Saliba have been swiftly allayed, however, with Cristhian Mosquera and now Ezri Konsa stepping up superbly in the 25-year-old's absence, keeping six clean sheets in nine games so far.
Saliba, whose injury at the back end of the 2022/23 season coincided with Arsenal's title collapse, has been a vital cog in Mikel Arteta's side since moving to North London four years ago after three loan spells in France.
We've taken a look at the earliest possible date Saliba could return to first-team action.
When is William Saliba expected to return from injury?
Arteta gave a positive update on Saliba's progress, revealing on Tuesday that he'd played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match and that he's now partaking in first-team training.
"The progress has been so good to get the point where he is now fit and available to play," said Arteta before Arsenal's trip to Slavia Praha.
"The moment that they are fit and available we are going to have the opportunity to load the players and to manage the congestion of the players in a much better way than we have actually done it."
There's a suggestion from Arteta that he may look to rotate players more frequently last season, referring to his option now to 'load the players and to manage the congestion'.
Arteta spoke highly of deputy Konsa, who may find himself vying with Jurrien Timber for game time at right-back or rotating with Saliba to keep the Frenchman fit.
"Ezri, yeah, he can play as a full-back; I think his main position is as a centre-back. He can play right or left. Willi has done the same with the national team and here at Arsenal. That’s going to be something really positive for the team."
Given the length of time out, Saliba seems unlikely to be risked at home to Hull City at the weekend, though he may get some minutes from the bench. Saliba would then get two weeks off for the international break, with a more likely return of Newcastle away on 21st November.
