William Saliba’s absence from Arsenal’s official team photograph for the 2026/2027 season has surprised supporters, with fans noticing that the defender was missing after the club released the picture. His absence attracted attention because he remains an important member of Mikel Arteta’s squad despite his current injury problems.
Saliba has not featured for the Gunners since the start of the season as he continues to recover from a back problem. Arsenal have opted to let him rest rather than undergo surgery, hoping that a conservative approach will allow him to return to action without further complications.
The defender has recently started kicking a ball again as he works towards regaining full fitness. Although he still has progress to make before returning to competitive football, he remains one of Arsenal’s leading players and is expected to feature once he is fit enough to play.
Saliba continues his recovery
Arsenal will hope Saliba can make a significant contribution during the second half of the campaign. His defensive quality makes him an important part of their plans, and his return would provide a boost as the team continues its pursuit of its objectives this season.
Given his importance to the squad, his absence from the official team photograph naturally raised questions among supporters. Team photographs are a regular part of a club’s preparations and publicity for a new season, and injured players are often included even when they cannot train or play.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arsenal explain why the defender was absent
The club has clarified that Saliba missed the photoshoot because of a medical appointment. As reported by Standard Sports, Arsenal explained his absence by saying:
“Due to a medical appointment, William Saliba was not available this afternoon.”
The explanation suggests that his absence was a practical matter rather than a sign of any wider issue between the defender and the club. His ongoing recovery remains the key concern, with Arsenal focused on helping him return to full fitness.
Saliba’s omission from the photograph should therefore not be taken as an indication that he has lost his importance to the team. Once he has recovered from his back problem and is ready to play again, he is expected to remain a significant figure in Arsenal’s defensive plans for the remainder of the season.
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