Saliba (back) remains several weeks away from returning to Arsenal's squad despite resuming individual on-field training, according to coach Mikel Arteta. "It's over a week I think [he's been on the grass], obviously we're managing that load. He's building now his capacity to good standards, and let's see in the next few weeks if we can start to introduce him to the team to see where we are to actually make him available for the squad."
Analysis:Saliba has been sidelined since July due to a back injury sustained during the final stages of the World Cup but has now spent more than a week working individually on the pitch. The defender is gradually increasing his workload, although he has yet to resume full team training and remains several weeks away from competitive action. A return around the November international break remains possible, but the exact timeline is uncertain due to the nature of his injury. Once fully fit, Saliba could compete with Ezri Konsa for a starting role alongside Gabriel in Arsenal's central defense.
