09 October 2023 , 09:59
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Arsenal defender William Saliba has withdrawn from the French squad following his side's 1-0 win over Man City.
The 22-year-old was a pivotal performer at the Emirates on Sunday, keeping Erling Haaland quiet and winning 100 per cent of his duels with opposition players. But he left the field at the final whistle suffering with pain in his big right toe, and has since taken the decision not to report for international duty.
Rather than represent a concern, the news is likely to be welcomed by Mikel Arteta. With two weeks until the Gunners play again, an intriguing trip to Chelsea, Saliba now has time to recuperate and get himself fit following the dramatic late win over the champions.
Indeed, Arteta won't need reminding about the back injury sustained by Saliba in the Europa League clash with Sporting CP last March, which ruled him out of the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign. And his absence proved pivotal, with Arsenal capitulating in the closing stages of the season as City overhauled them in the title race.
And the Spanish boss will be hopeful that Bukayo Saka also doesn't play in this international window. Despite being ruled out of Sunday's clash, the forward has been controversially named in Gareth Southgate's squad for the games with Australia and Italy.
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France, meanwhile, play a Euro 2024 qualifier in Holland on Friday before a home friendly with Scotland next Tuesday. And Saliba's replacement in Didier Deschamps' squad, Jean-Clair Todibo, is well known to one of Arsenal's Premier League rivals.
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William Saliba has withdrawn from the French squad (Hans van der Valk/Orange Pictures/REX/Shutterstock)The Nice centre back was pursued by United in the summer, with the clubs reportedly coming close to agreeing a £34.1million deal. But a move didn't materialise, with the 23-year-old later implying that was his decision.
“It’s very clear the club would not have sold me this summer," he admitted to L’Equipe. "I have given it in-depth thought and I remained calm. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice.”
Todibo hit the headlines in January 2019 when he signed for Spanish giants Barcelona. However, he would make just five La Liga appearances in two years and after two loan spells elsewhere, joined Nice for £7.3million.