William Saliba may miss all of Arsenal’s title run-in, fears Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta has cast fresh doubt over William Saliba’s hopes of returning for Arsenal this season, admitting the defender’s recovery from a back injury is progressing more slowly than hoped.

Saliba has not played since departing early from the Europa League defeat by Sporting on 16 March and Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in his absence. Their buildup play from the back has also been compromised and Arteta has been eager to welcome him back for the likely title decider at Manchester City on Wednesday. Speaking before Friday night’s match at home to Southampton, though, the manager suggested the chances were receding.

“We still have to wait a little bit more,” Arteta said, scotching suggestions Saliba was in line for a return to training. “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped. It’s a bit delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he is ready to absorb the load and the risk that we will take and at the moment that’s not possible to do.”

On any prospect of the injury being season-ending, he said: “I don’t know, it’s a bit early to do [predictions]. Probably next week we are going to have more certainty. There is some evolution, he is doing more activity, but he is not there yet to start to throw him on the pitch at the level that the sessions demand to compete in this league.”

Oleksandr Zinchenko, who missed Sunday’s draw with West Ham with a minor groin injury, will be tested to assess his fitness for Saints’ visit.

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Arteta confirmed Bukayo Saka would remain Arsenal’s penalty taker despite missing a crucial spot-kick in the draw at West Ham. “Yes,” he said. “If not, I