William Saliba was substituted at halftime during Arsenal’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, with Cristian Mosquera taking his place on the field. The tactical decision by manager Mikel Arteta has raised fresh concerns about potential injuries within the Arsenal squad, which was already dealing with the absence of several key players prior to the match.
The Gunners headed into the fixture missing Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz due to knee injuries, while long-term absentees included Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus. Gabriel Magalhães’ participation was also uncertain after he seemingly picked up a knock during Arsenal’s recent 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. However, he was deemed fit enough to start against Palace.
Saliba has been a pivotal figure for Arsenal this season, having started in seven of the team’s nine league matches and contributing significantly to their status at the top of the Premier League standings. He was on the pitch when Arsenal took a 1-0 lead against Palace, with Eberechi Eze scoring a stunning scissor kick to level the match 39 minutes in. The former Palace player, who recently joined Arsenal for £67.5 million, has made a significant impact, netting three goals and providing one assist in 12 appearances across all competitions this season.
Ahead of the match, Arteta acknowledged the potential emotional stakes for Eze, stating, “There’s something in the tummy when you play against a former club. There are a lot of emotions and close relationships, but the focus is on the team.” His comments reinforce the anticipation surrounding the matchup and Eze’s return to face his former side.
As Arsenal navigates through injury challenges, the team’s resilience and depth will be tested, but their strong start to the season offers hope for fans eager to see how they maintain their Premier League lead.