Arteta has confirmed that Saliba will miss the Chelsea game, with the defender still working his way back carefully.
Arteta also said, “A progressão tem sido muito positiva nas últimas semanas, mas precisamos esperar para ver como ele reage quando começarmos a colocar alguma carga nisso.” In other words, there is encouragement, but not certainty. For a back problem, that caution feels sensible rather than alarmist.
Without Saliba, the spotlight inevitably falls on the rest of Arsenal’s back line. The update says Ezri Konsa could carry greater responsibility after arriving during Saliba’s recovery period, while the rest of the defensive unit may need to adjust around a missing leader.
That matters because Saliba is not just another centre-half in Arteta’s system. He brings calm in one-v-one situations, recovery pace in open space and authority when Arsenal push high. Take that away, and the whole shape can look slightly less secure.
There is a bigger picture here. Arsenal are still fighting on multiple fronts, and forcing Saliba back too soon would be the kind of short-term decision that can punish a season later on. Other reports have also pointed to the physical demands around the squad, so protecting key players now may be vital.
The next question is how Arsenal cope against Chelsea without him - and whether the stand-ins can hold firm long enough for Saliba to return fully fit rather than merely available.