Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will be without William Saliba this weekend against Newcastle, but the Gunners boss is refusing to rule out a playing return before the end of the season. The Frenchman has been absent from the team since March 16 when he was substituted off with a back injury in the early stages of the Europa League clash with Sporting CP.
The Gunners have played seven games without Saliba and the absence of his composure and dominance in the back line has been sorely missed. With another couple of days having passed since Arsenal's last clash, Arteta provided the latest on his ongoing recovery
"Not a lot of progress," Arteta said when asked for an update on Saliba. "He’s feeling better every day but he’s not been able still to have any activity around the first team so we don’t expect him to be with us."
READ MORE: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta handed £150m transfer budget with five first-team players set to leave
With just four games left this season for Arsenal, time is running out for the 22-year-old to play again and despite another week of no significant progress being made, Arteta is not ruling him out for the rest of the campaign just yet.
"We are not there yet today, because we're always hopeful and players are pushing to play," Arteta admitted. "If that's the case at some stage we'll announce it. But hopefully, that’s not the case.
He added: "It’s about the healing process. Pain-wise and the things he can do now off the pitch he's in a good place. But we have to build that capacity to have the right impact, the right load and to be in good condition to play for the team."
Arsenal take on Newcastle this weekend at St James Park in the Premier League, nearly 12 months on from their last visit to Tyneside where a 2-0 defeat saw their Champions League qualification hopes dissipate.
READ NEXT:
Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer: Deal 'very close', £53m price tag, Barcelona battle
Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal Gabriel Magalhaes injury update for Newcastle
Why Arsenal are targeting Premier League players, Emile Smith Rowe future, Marc Guehi latest
William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Newcastle clash
Transfer news LIVE: All the latest news and rumours from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham
