Arteta Reveals Saliba Suffered Ankle Injury in Warm-Up Ahead of Liverpool Defeat
LIVERPOOL – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has disclosed that defender William Saliba was managing an ankle injury sustained during the warm-up prior to Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, a revelation that explains the Frenchman’s shock early substitution just five minutes into the match.
The incident compounds a growing injury crisis for the Gunners, who were already without star winger Bukayo Saka for the trip to Anfield.
Saliba’s exit was a major blow for the visitors. The centre-back, a cornerstone of Arteta’s defense, was forced off after an aerial duel with Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike. Although he won the header, Saliba immediately signaled that he could not continue, hopping in clear pain before requiring substitution.
After the final whistle, Arteta provided crucial context, revealing the issue began before kickoff. “He twisted his ankle in the warm-up and believed he could start the game and carry on,” Arteta explained. The manager did not specify the severity of the injury or a potential timeline for return.
Saliba is the latest name on a concerning early-season injury list for Arsenal. He joins captain Martin Ødegaard and forward Kai Havertz on the treatment table, while Bukayo Saka was also unavailable for the Liverpool clash. Ødegaard, deemed fit enough for a substitute appearance at Anfield, offered a small positive, but the physical toll on the squad is mounting.
The immediate reprieve for Arteta is the upcoming international break, which he will hope provides sufficient time for key players to recover to full fitness ahead of the Premier League’s resumption. The severity of Saliba’s ankle twist will now be a primary concern for the club’s medical staff as they assess the damage.