It was a decision which has since been watched over and over by supporters and there will only be further scrutiny on the PGMOL following a similar incident between Chelsea and Liverpool at Anfield this weekend getting a different result. The ill-feeling between the Gunners and the officials grows ever worse.
Arsenal have a game before the arrival of the Merseysiders and that comes in the form of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The Gunners will be expected to win and dominate the match and they could opt to go without Saliba in preparation for Liverpool.
Practicing with a back four which doesn’t include Saliba will arguably allow players to gel partnerships before such a match. That said, there is nothing stopping Arteta from choosing the former Saint-Etienne man for this game and they would be in some ways unnecessarily hamstringing themselves by not choosing him.
Furthermore, practising for Liverpool would in turn provide Arne Slot an insight into what Arteta might be planning. Many might argue that any preparation for a different game should be behind-closed-doors and in training as opposed to in the spotlight.
That said, there remain question marks over some key members of the group like Jurrien Timber. Oleksandr Zinchenko has returned from injury and was on the bench at the weekend while Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to be out for a while again after suffering yet another problem.
There could be some balance found where Saliba either starts or comes on later in the game to allow for some reshuffling in preparation but Arteta will need to find the balance. Arsenal learned at the weekend about how no opposition can be taken for granted.
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