Thierry Henry denied! Arsenal may block France U21 boss' request to pick William Saliba for Olympic games, as he would miss start of 2024/25 season

Henry, currently at the helm of the France U21 squad, is set to lead Les Bleus in the Olympic tournament this summer. With the task of selecting an 18-man squad along with four reserves, the former Arsenal legend faces constraints as only three players over the age of 23 are allowed.

As one of the few U23 players in contention, Saliba's inclusion could bolster France's defensive lineup. However, Arsenal holds the authority to veto his participation, citing the tournament's lack of recognition by FIFA, according to the Daily Mirror.

French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo has emphasized the importance of assembling the strongest team, urging Henry to spare no effort in building a competitive squad. Nevertheless, Arsenal's decision could thwart Saliba's Olympic aspirations, mirroring a similar scenario during the 2021 Tokyo Games, where he opted out to focus on Arsenal's pre-season preparation to impress Mikel Arteta.

The situation is further complicated by the concurrent European Championships in Germany, where Saliba is also anticipated to feature under the guidance of France national team coach Didier Deschamps.

Real Madrid have reportedly informed the French FA that they would not allow any of their players to participate in the Olympic Games which means that Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy will not be in Paris. Significantly, Kylin Mbappe might not also feature in the Summer Games if he completes his move to Real Madrid after the end of the season due to the decree of his potential new employers, as the games could overlap with the start of domestic league seasons.

The Olympic Football Tournament is slated to be held from July 24 to August 9. This means that if France manage to reach the summit clash then Saliba would potentially miss the Premier League opener for the 2024-25 season which is likely to be held on August 16 - a scenario Arteta wants to avoid.