Arsenal are dealt injury blow as Mikel Arteta ‘learns how long’ William Saliba will be out after defender hobbled off against Liverpool

Arsenal^[1] have suffered an injury blow after discovering how long William Saliba will be out for.

The defender had to be substituted in the early stages of Arsenal’s defeat by Liverpool^[2] last weekend after suffering an ankle problem.

According to L’Equipe^[3], Saliba has now been ruled out for between three and four weeks.

Saliba was ruled out of contention for the current France squad and it is anticipated that he will also be absent for the next international break.

As far as Arsenal are concerned, the centre-back could miss Premier League^[4] games against Nottingham Forest^[5], Manchester City^[6] and Newcastle as well as the start of the Gunners’ Champions League^[7] campaign away to Athletic Bilbao.

Being without Saliba will certainly be a major setback for Arsenal but summer signing Cristhian Mosquera could now be given more opportunities to impress. 

Arsenal defender William Saliba could be out for three to four weeks with an ankle injury

The news regarding Saliba will come as a blow to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Saliba’s absence could give Cristhian Mosquera more opportunities to impress for Arsenal

Mosquera, 21, who joined the Gunners from Valencia, impressed after replacing Saliba against Liverpool.

Arsenal are also having to contend with various other injury concerns in the early stages of the season.

Bukayo Saka is unavailable due to a hamstring problem that could keep him out for several weeks, while Kai Havertz is out with a knee injury.

Ben White and Christian Norgaard have also been out injured.

Gabriel Jesus is getting closer to a return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out since January but the forward wasn’t included in Arsenal’s Champions League squad. 

Arsenal host Forest on September 13 in their first game after the international break.