Arsenal Seeks Control Over William Saliba’s Fitness Amid France Squad Selection
William Saliba has not received a call-up for the latest France squad, a move that seems to align with Arsenal’s intentions. Prior to the announcement for the upcoming November internationals, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided measured responses regarding Saliba’s participation, especially given his recent injury.
Arteta mentioned, “They have all the information, now it’s about them, about Zinedine [Zidane] in this case to give the call. We will accept whatever it is. I know how much he loves to be around the national team. It’s a new manager, a really exciting one as well, so whatever he’s decided is fine for us.”
Despite Arteta’s assurances that Arsenal would be content with either decision, reports suggest that Saliba’s omission might be seen as a significant advantage for the Gunners as they seek to carefully manage the defender’s fitness.
Considering this context, Saliba being ultimately left out of the official squad is seen as a positive development, with Ryan Taylor revealing through Football.London that the decision came after extensive dialogues with the French Football Federation and Zidane.
The crux of the concern revolved around Arsenal’s desire to retain control over Saliba’s recovery process and reintegration into the team.
Saliba has yet to feature in the current season, having missed the early matches and only making a return to the bench on Wednesday. While he may see some playtime against Hull, a quick transition back to the starting lineup appears unlikely.
Arsenal aims to ensure that Saliba is fully prepared for important matches following the international break instead of rushing him back prematurely this weekend.
