William Saliba is training again ahead of Arsenal's Champions League tie with Slavia Prague, and Mikel Arteta now has a big call to make.
One of the African diaspora's biggest names in European football is back in business. French defender William Saliba has returned to first-team training at Arsenal, just in time for the Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, and the Gunners have their defensive leader back in the fold.
Saliba's return is a major lift for Arsenal. Over the last few seasons he has grown into the heartbeat of their back line, a centre-back who combines pace, composure and aggressive one-on-one defending. In European competition, where one lapse can decide a tie, having a player like him available matters.
But his comeback also brings a good problem for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal's defenders have been coping without him, and the partnerships that developed in his absence are now part of the equation. Does Arteta throw Saliba straight back into a high-stakes European night, or protect him and ease him in after time away from the pitch?
That call is about more than one match. It is about rhythm, fitness and trust in the defenders who have kept things steady. Slavia Prague will want to test Arsenal's backline, so the team sheet will be one of the most closely watched parts of the build-up. Arteta will have to weigh Saliba's quality against the risk of rushing him back.
