Arsenal are equal on points with championship rivals Manchester City, who will be missing Rodri.
Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City would choose William Saliba if they had to pick one Arsenal player to sit out the championship chase.
The Premier League champions and Arsenal are set to compete for the domestic championship again this season, after the Gunners were pipped to the trophy on the last day last season.
Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team and Arsenal drew 2-2 at The Etihad earlier this month, and they enter the last round of matches before the international break tied on 14 points each. The champs are aiming for a record-breaking fifth consecutive title victory.
They have already been struck a big setback, however, with Rodri’s ACL injury forcing him to miss the season. And City’s performance without the important midfielder has prompted some to assume that Arsenal may now have the advantage in the championship battle.
Carragher and his colleagues on the Stick to Football podcast were debating the topic when asked which Arsenal player City would want to be away from the championship battle. For Carragher, Saliba was an obvious decision.
He clarified: “Saliba.” I don’t think they have much backup at center back. If [Declan] Rice walked out, they’d have [Thomas] Partey and Jorginho.
“If one of them is out, who would you put in at centre-back? They [Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior] are left-footed, right? “I believe Saliba.”Saliba has formed an exceptional relationship with Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arsenal’s defence over the last two years, and the duo has gotten plenty of praise in the early stages of the current season.
Ironically, the Frenchman was absent for a crucial stretch near the conclusion of the 2022/23 season owing to a back ailment. His absence from the team coincided with a drop in Arsenal’s fortunes, which saw them fall behind in the closing weeks of the championship battle.
Saliba reflected on his 11-game stretch last year, saying, “Unfortunately, I was injured throughout the year, in the last run. It’s apparent that I was disappointed, but it’s a new season with new goals, and I believe we can perform better.
“It’s apparent that with me, Arsenal could have won the championship. However, injuries are now a part of sport, and we are focused on the current season.
