Mikel Arteta's 5 options to replace William Saliba after failed Aston Villa experiment

William Saliba's hamstring strain has fixed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta a caller wounded headache to contend with during a hectic and perchance decisive spell of fixtures

Mikel Arteta's wounded headache is worsening with the expected lack of prima defender William Saliba for the adjacent 2 weeks prompting a request to reshuffle his defence.

It comes astatine a captious clip for the Gunners arsenic they question to cling connected to the overgarment tails of Premier League leaders Liverpool portion aiming to guarantee they tin bypass the Champions League play-off round.

France centre backmost Saliba missed Saturday's gully against Aston Villa due to the fact that of a hamstring ailment and helium could besides beryllium ruled retired until aft the crippled against Manchester City successful aboriginal February, with 2 European ties and a travel to Wolves earlier that.

And with Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu some inactive sidelined by semipermanent injuries positive Riccardo Calafiori besides missing the Villa crippled due to the fact that of a insignificant problem, Arteta whitethorn person to get creative.

Here are 5 antithetic options for the Arsenal manager to see earlier Wednesday night’s crippled against Dinamo Zagreb astatine the Emirates.

Jurrien Timber

Moving Timber wrong to spouse Gabriel did not enactment retired brilliantly against Villa but considering fittingness and availability helium appears the starring campaigner to stay successful the spot for the adjacent mates of games.

Riccardo Calafiori

Well, unless Italian defender Calafiori is fit. In a debut run astatine the nine interrupted by a bid of insignificant musculus injuries, helium has played mostly astatine near backmost but Arteta believes that semipermanent helium tin beryllium champion successful the middle.

Should helium beryllium physically capable, this represents a bully accidental to involvement a claim.

Jakub Kiwior

Poland planetary Kiwior is simply a centre backmost but remained an unused substitute against Villa, adding further substance to the mentation that Arteta whitethorn not deliberation helium is susceptible of truly doing the business.

He has made conscionable 2 league starts - the triumph against Manchester United and gully astatine Fulham successful aboriginal December - with astir of his minutes coming successful the cupful competitions.

Declan Rice

It is simply a agelong clip agone present but erstwhile the midfielder was establishing himself astatine West Ham, David Moyes felt his champion presumption could extremity up being astatine centre half.

He played determination a fig of times successful the Premier League and looked comfy for a struggling team. But truthful overmuch clip has passed and Rice has go truthful overmuch much dynamic a subordinate that it whitethorn look a past edifice for Arteta.

Thomas Partey

The Ghana midfielder precocious said helium volition play successful immoderate presumption that helium tin assistance but, overmuch similar Rice, this would beryllium a hopeless measure. Partey is acold much apt to look astatine close back.

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