This comes at a crucial juncture for the Gunners as they strive to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool and secure a direct entry into the Champions League group stage.
French centre-back Saliba was absent from Saturday's draw against Aston Villa due to a hamstring issue and could also miss the match against Manchester City in early February, with two European fixtures and a trip to Wolves in between.
With Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu still out with long-term injuries and Riccardo Calafiori also missing the Villa match due to a minor issue, Arteta may need to think outside the box.
Here are five potential solutions for the Arsenal boss to ponder ahead of Wednesday night's clash with Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates.
Jurrien Timber - Shifting Timber to partner Gabriel didn't yield great results against Villa but given the current fitness and availability issues, he seems the most likely candidate to fill the void for the upcoming matches.
Riccardo Calafiori - Provided Italian defender Calafiori is fit. Despite a debut season marred by minor muscle injuries, he has mostly played at left-back but Arteta believes his future lies in central defence.
If fit, this could be an excellent opportunity for him to stake his claim.
Poland international Jakub Kiwior, a centre back, remained on the bench during the match against Villa, fuelling speculation that Arteta may not believe he's up to the task.
He has only started two league games - the victory over Manchester United and the draw at Fulham in early December - with most of his playing time coming in cup competitions.
Declan Rice was once considered by David Moyes as potentially best suited to a centre half position. He played there several times in the Premier League and seemed comfortable, even in a struggling team.
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