Mikel Arteta is facing criticism for his handling of Arsenal’s defensive linchpin, William Saliba. The 23-year-old French defender, who has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s resurgence in recent seasons, is sidelined after picking up an injury during the Gunners’ victory over Tottenham in the north London derby.
Since joining Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in a £27 million move, Saliba has grown into one of the world’s best defenders, making over 100 appearances.
However, his progress has been temporarily halted by an injury that saw him miss the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and the Champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb. Reports suggest the defender could miss further matches, putting Arsenal’s season under strain.
Former Arsenal captain William Gallas has publicly criticized Arteta for overplaying Saliba, particularly in Arsenal’s FA Cup and League Cup defeats earlier this year.
“Saliba played five games in 15 days. That’s too many matches, and it’s a big mistake by Arteta. Players need rest, especially those who are key to the team,” Gallas remarked.
The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Arsenal, who have struggled to capitalize on opportunities to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
Gallas expressed frustration with Arsenal’s repeated failures to seize critical moments, saying, “It’s the same story for almost 20 years. They get close, but when it matters most, they falter. If you want to win the Premier League, you cannot draw games after being 2-0 up at home.”
Arteta acknowledged the challenges Saliba’s absence brings, hinting at a tactical reshuffle involving Declan Rice in a defensive role. “We’ve been forced to consider different setups,” Arteta admitted.
“Declan has had to adapt to multiple positions – as a No6, No8, even as a No10 in one game. Ideally, we wouldn’t play him out of position, but circumstances demand it.”
Despite the setback, Arsenal’s Champions League hopes remain on track. A win against Dinamo Zagreb would secure their progression to the knockout stages, offering some respite for Arteta as he navigates mounting pressure.
While Arteta’s tenure has brought Arsenal closer to consistent contention, Gallas believes the Spaniard is missing a key ingredient to become a title-winning manager. “Five years is enough time to settle.
Yet, finishing second three seasons in a row isn’t good enough. There’s a difference between being a good coach and a coach that wins titles.”
With Saliba’s recovery timeline uncertain, Arsenal will need to find solutions quickly if they hope to maintain their push for silverware on multiple fronts.