William Saliba Ruled Out for 3–4 Weeks After Suffering Ankle Injury in Warm-Up Ahead of Liverpool Clash

William Saliba is expected to be sidelined for approximately three to four weeks following an ankle injury sustained in Arsenal’s recent Premier League fixture against Liverpool. The setback occurred during the pre-match warm-up, when Saliba tweaked his ankle, but he initially opted to proceed with the game. He was forced off within the first five minutes, unable to continue .

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saliba attempted to play through the discomfort, but it became evident quickly that he could not cope with the physical demands of the match . The club’s medical team conducted scans to assess the extent of the sprain, with early indications suggesting that the injury was not severe .

Expert analysis offers a cautiously optimistic prognosis. Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, asserted that Saliba has a “huge chance” of returning in time for Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Manchester City later this month. If scans confirm a minor Grade 1 sprain, a return within two to three weeks is feasible . This aligns with other commentary suggesting Saliba may be fit again by mid-September .

In the short term, Saliba will miss both Arsenal’s fixture against Nottingham Forest on 13 September and their Champions League opener away to Athletic Bilbao on 16 September .

The injury compounds Arsenal’s roster challenges, with several key players already unavailable. Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Ben White are sidelined, while captain Martin Ødegaard was fit enough only for the bench .

Fortunately, summer signing Cristhian Mosquera capitalized on his unexpected call-up in Saliba’s absence at Anfield. Alongside Gabriel Magalhães, he delivered a composed and effective performance, completing 92 percent of his passes and executing solid defensive work — a showing that provides a reassuring boost to Arsenal’s backline depth .

As Arsenal await further clarity from medical assessments, attention turns to their upcoming fixture list. Should Saliba’s recovery proceed smoothly, his return ahead of the Manchester City match would be a timely reinforcement for Mikel Arteta’s squad.