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Ritabrata Banerjee

'We had to get him out' - Mikel Arteta reveals William Saliba was injured in warm-up before Arsenal's loss to Liverpool and gives update on French defender's condition

Mikel Arteta has revealed that William Saliba picked up an injury during the warm-up before Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. The Frenchman was forced off in the fifth minute after he went down following a challenge with Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool went on to win the game 1-0 courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning late free-kick.

  • Saliba suffered ankle injury before Liverpool clash
  • Arteta provided update on defender's condition
  • Saliba won't join France team during international break
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Arsenal were dealt a massive injury blow at the start of their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, as star defender Saliba was forced to leave the field early in the game due to an injury. Arteta replaced the Frenchman with new signing Cristhian Mosquera, who had a decent outing at Anfield, however, Szoboszlai's world-class free-kick late in the match sealed three points for the hosts. 

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    After the match, Arteta provided an update on Saliba's condition, while revealing that the centre-back had twisted his ankle during warm-up, but he still wanted to feature in the starting lineup. According to The Standard's Simon Collings, Saliba will not join the France national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. 

  • WHAT ARTETA SAID

    Speaking to reporters after the match, the Gunners boss said: "He [Saliba] twisted his ankle during the warm-up. He came in and he said he believed that he could carry on and play but straightaway in the first two actions I could see that he couldn't cope and we had to get him out, unfortunately. But thank God we have Mosquera, which we put in for the first time in the Premier League, his debut, not expecting it at Anfield and I think he was really, really good."

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    WHAT NEXT FOR SALIBA?

    The Arsenal medical staff will conduct scans on Saliba's ankle to identify the full extent of his injury. The Gunners will hope that the knock is not too serious and he recovers during the international break before taking to the pitch again on September 13, when the club host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.