William Saliba is absent from the Arsenal matchday squad to face Aston Villa today due to hamstring tightness.
Replacing him in the starting XI at centre-back alongside Gabriel Magalhaes is Jurrien Timber with Thomas Partey moved to right-back. Declan Rice will anchor the midfield as a result of that with Mikel Merino and captain Martin Odegaard just ahead of him.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is in at left-back, once again, while Gabriel Martinelli makes a starting return ahead of Raheem Sterling with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard both keeping their places. The absence of Saliba is certainly a huge concern, however, though Timber is a more than capable replacement.
Despite that, another injury blow has seen Arteta’s squad depleted further with Riccardo Calafiori also still missing. Bukayo Saka is therefore their only current long-term injury absentee after Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu were spotted at London Colney stepping up their respective injury recoveries.
Saka, meanwhile, will be away from the club’s training ground as Arteta confirmed he would be going on holiday. “Yes, he needs to,” replied Arteta when asked by reporters if Saka should take time off. “He is obligated to go, with his girlfriend, or his family, or on his own, he can choose.
“He needs to get away for a few days and refresh. He can still do a lot of things with his rehabilitation because it is the perfect stage. It will make him better.”
