Arsenal defender William Saliba played 45 minutes for the club’s Under-21s on Sunday, stepping up his return from a back injury sustained at the World Cup.
Saliba missed Arsenal’s 1–0 Premier League win over Hull City on Saturday and instead appeared in the first half of the U21s’ 5–2 victory against Aston Villa. The outing was pre-planned, according to U21 head coach David Horseman, who said on the club website, “He’s fine… nobody needs to panic.”
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Horseman praised Saliba’s professionalism, leadership and technical quality during the match, noting his communication, preparation and varied passing — short and long — as exemplary. “He’s a world-class defender, one of the best in the world, if not the best,” Horseman said.
Saliba, 25, is on course to rejoin the senior squad for Arsenal’s Premier League match at Newcastle United after the international break. However, manager Mikel Arteta faces no pressure to accelerate the return, given the strong performances of summer signing Ezri Konsa.
The U21s’ 5–2 win featured goals from Max Dowman, Maalik Hashi, Evan Mooney and two from Andre Harriman-Annous. Dowman remains suspended from the first team following a red card in last month’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to Fleetwood Town.
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