Arsenal news: William Saliba will miss the match at Liverpool due to injury (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal will still be without William Saliba for Sunday's huge match at Liverpool, according to reports. The Frenchman has still been unable to train since suffering a back injury before the international break.
Saliba has sat out of Arsenal's last two Premier League matches against Crystal Palace and Leeds. The Gunners have won both of those games, with Rob Holding deputising in his absence.
Mikel Arteta will have been hoping Saliba would return for the trip to Anfield, a ground Arsenal haven't won at in the league since 2012. But The Sun are reporting that the weekend's match will come too soon for the 22-year-old.
Arteta has already stated that Saliba does not require surgery on the issue. However, he is not yet prepared to risk a return to the pitch.
Arsenal know they may well have to be near perfect for their final nine matches of the season in order to win their first title since 2004. They sit eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City but Pep Guardiola's side do have a game in hand.
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Sunday's trip to Liverpool is one of three daunting away matches Arsenal face. Arteta takes his side to the Etihad to play City later this month before playing Newcastle at St James' Park in May.
Saliba has been a key part of Arsenal's rise to the top of the table this season. He had started the club's first 27 games of the campaign alongside Gabriel in the centre of defence.
Ahead of last Saturday's win over Leeds, Arteta said Saliba was doing all he could to recover for the title run-in. He said: "He is progressing, unfortunately he still has some discomfort in his back.
"We are trying to manage him in the best possible way. Unfortunately, he’s not going to be fit for this game and we’re trying and he’s trying to do everything to feel better and get back training. But not yet.
"I am very hopeful [Saliba will play again this season] and he is as well. Back injuries are a bit tricky and how they evolve with the load that you put in certain areas. He’s very positive and the medical staff are positive about it.
"Let’s push it every day and see how he copes with that and how the pain develops as well. He’s so willing to be back in the team."
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