William Saliba misses Arsenal's official squad photo: The reason explained
Arsenal have clarified that William Saliba was absent from the 2026/27 squad photo due to a medical appointment as he continues his recovery.
William Saliba was noticeably absent from Arsenal's official 2026/27 squad photo, sparking concern among the club's fanbase. While manager Mikel Arteta and the first-team squad posed for the annual image at the London Colney training ground, the France international was not present.
To prevent speculation regarding his fitness, Arsenal issued a statement confirming that his absence was not due to a new setback. The club clarified: "Due to a medical appointment, William Saliba was not available this afternoon." The 25-year-old is currently undergoing a scheduled check-up as part of his ongoing rehabilitation following a back injury sustained in July during the World Cup semi-final against Spain.
Saliba remains a cornerstone of the Arsenal defence, having established himself as a dominant presence since his Premier League debut. While he has been sidelined, the club has relied on summer signing Ezri Konsa alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, with further cover provided by Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie. The good news is that Saliba has returned to training on grass and is targeting a return to action in November.