Why is William Saliba Not Playing Against Kairat Almaty?

EPL league leaders Arsenal have a tricky UEFA Champions League home fixture against Kairat Almaty in London, leaving one question in the minds of their fans: ‘Is William Saliba playing today?’ The 25-year-old centre back has been a key player this season for the Gunners, making five appearances in the UCL this term.

William Saliba picked up a small knock after playing the entire 90 minutes of their EPL game against Man United, where Arsenal lost 2-3 to the Michael Carrick-led side following Matheus Cunha's thunderous strike from 25 yards.

Is William Saliba playing today for Arsenal vs Kairat?

The Frenchman is not expected to feature for the best football club in the world right now, Arsenal, against Kairat, as the Gunners have prioritised Saliba’s health ahead of their crucial EPL encounter against Leeds United. Saliba, who joined the side back in July 2019 from French side Saint-Etienne, has grown into one of the leaders in Mikel Arteta's squad over the years. So, fans are wondering whether one of the star players, William Saliba in Arsenal vs Kairat squad or not. The answer is NO.

The injury he picked up against Man United and the narrowing of their lead in the EPL have cut their lead atop the standings to just 4 points. The Gunners are facing a tricky run of fixtures following the UCL game, starting with a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds, and the Carabao Cup semifinals second-leg encounter against Chelsea.

The North London-based club Arsenal will hope to have Saliba back in contention soon, as his blend of experience, pace, and defensive reading of the game will prove crucial for the club’s ambitions domestically and in Europe. In the meantime, the Arsenal side will rely on squad depth at central defense with players like Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, knowing that Saliba’s long-term fitness is critical.

How did William Saliba perform against Man United?

William Saliba was far from his very best against the Red Devils at the best football stadium in the world, Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta's main man completed 66 of his 72 passes, averaging a 92% passing accuracy. He also made four clearances in the game and three ball recoveries in the game, but was rarely at fault for the three goals that the team conceded.

However, Saliba only managed to win half of his ground and aerial duels, despite being an aerial threat in both boxes. His performance allowed right-back Jurrien Timber to bomb forward and play a crucial role in Arsenal taking the lead in the first half.

While Arteta would have ideally wanted his starting XI from the Man United game against Kairat, he will have to wait as Saliba recovers from injury.