ARSENAL EXPLAIN WHY £250K-A-WEEK STAR WILLIAM SALIBA WAS MISSING FROM 2026/27 SQUAD PHOTO 🚨
Arsenal have addressed the confusion surrounding William Saliba’s surprising absence from their official 2026/27 squad photograph.
The French defender, who earns a reported £250,000 per week, was noticeably missing from the team picture despite being one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players.
Saliba played 50 matches across all competitions last season, helping the Gunners win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final. He has also earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year for four consecutive seasons.
His absence sparked questions among supporters, with journalist Charles Watts expressing his disappointment and suggesting that Arsenal could have arranged the photoshoot for a day when the defender was available.
However, the club has now provided an explanation, confirming that Saliba missed the session because of a medical appointment.
SALIBA’S INJURY UPDATE OFFERS ARSENAL HOPE 👀
Saliba is yet to feature for Arsenal this season after suffering a back injury while representing France at the 2026 World Cup.
Although the exact nature of his latest medical appointment has not been confirmed, fans will be hoping it was part of his ongoing recovery.
There has been encouraging progress, with reports indicating that the 25-year-old has returned to the training pitch for individual sessions.
While he may still need time before returning to competitive action, his progress could give Arsenal hope of seeing him back in the squad before the end of 2026.
With fellow defender Piero Hincapie also dealing with an injury, Saliba’s return would be a significant boost for Arteta and his team.
Arsenal fans will be eagerly waiting for further updates on their defensive star. 🔴⚪
