Saliba injury making Arsenal sweat as Arteta hammered for "unbelievable mistake"

26 April 2023 , 02:00

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Arsenal are preparing for their biggest game of the season at Manchester City with William Saliba still absent.

The Gunners head to the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola's treble-chasing outfit, who have been in irresistible form of late. City have already secured two victories over the north Londoners this term, once in the league and also in the FA Cup, with a hat-trick on their agenda for Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta's side head north having drawn their last three games, giving up leads at Liverpool and West Ham before Southampton gave them a major scare last time out. A defeat for Arsenal would leave City two points behind with two games in hand, meaning it is crucial the Gunners pick up at least a point.

Here is the latest news from around the Emirates...

Gunners "waiting" on Saliba injury

Arteta has confirmed Arsenal are still “waiting” on William Saliba having ruled the Frenchman out of the Gunners’ next two Premier League games.

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The defender has missed the north London side’s last five outings with an ongoing back issue. His drop out of the side has coincided with a slump in form.

Arsenal have failed to win in their last three games, Arteta’s men also not managing to keep a clean sheet in the entire time Saliba has been restricted to the sidelines. The 22-year-old is not expected to return for Wednesday evening’s key showdown with City at the Etihad and could also miss the following game against Chelsea.

Merson slams "unbelievable mistake"

Paul Merson believes Arteta made an "unbelievable mistake" by starting Fabio Vieira over Jorginho in Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Southampton.

Although a last-gasp comeback rescued a point for Arsenal, the Gunners drew their third successive league game to give City the upper hand in a compelling title race. With midfield general Granit Xhaka absent due to illness at the eleventh hour, £34million summer signing Vieira was picked by Arteta to start only his third league fixture.

Unfortunately for the Portuguese playmaker, like on multiple occasions in his first year at the Emirates, he struggled to assert himself against the side who sit bottom of the table. Vieira was dragged off after 57 insipid minutes, with the score 3-1 to Southampton.

Holding handed advice

Kolo Toure has urged Rob Holding and Gabriel Magalhaes to "find a connection very quickly" to get Arsenal's title challenge back on track.

The Gunners are five points clear of City at the top of the table having played two games more, with the two teams meeting at the Etihad on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta's side have struggled of late, failing to win any of their last three games.

Holding was brought into Arsenal's starting XI to replace Saliba, who suffered a back injury against Sporting Lisbon last month. The France international is still nursing that complaint and will not feature against Pep Guardiola's side in the huge title clash.