William Saliba returns to first-team training for Arsenal

Arsenal central defender William Saliba returned to first-team training on Tuesday, marking his recovery after a nearly four-month absence due to a back injury. The 25-year-old French international has not played since July, when he was substituted during the 30th minute of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat against Spain. He opted for conservative treatment rather than surgery to address the issue, which persisted through the tournament.

During his absence, Arsenal remained successful, currently leading the Premier League by three points over Manchester City and maintaining an unbeaten record in the Champions League after three matches. To cover for his injury, the club signed England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, who has since become an integral part of their defensive setup. Arsenal is now preparing for their upcoming Champions League match against SK Slavia Prague on Wednesday.

While the club has not confirmed a specific date for his competitive return to the pitch, his presence in full training sessions indicates that his rehabilitation phase is nearing its conclusion. The club's announcement and footage released on Tuesday confirmed his reintegration into the squad training alongside his teammates.