Saliba handed return month as recovery reaches new stage

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William Saliba is back running as he closes in on his first Arsenal appearance of the season, with the Frenchman now expected to be available again in November.

The centre-back has not featured for the Gunners at all this campaign. His last competitive minutes came in the opening stages of the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain, where a back problem he had been managing for some time finally forced him out of the contest.

Arsenal opted against rushing him back after he was told that surgery would not be required, instead handing him an extended period to allow the issue to settle properly.

Running again as November return targeted

According to Metro Sport, Saliba has resumed running and is now expected to be fit and back in action for Arsenal in November.

The defender is gradually taking on more work as part of his rehabilitation, and he is expected to rejoin team training in the coming weeks before stepping up towards a competitive return.

That build-up will be managed carefully. Saliba has been out for an extended spell, and the club will want to be certain the back issue is fully behind him before he is thrown back into the demands of a congested schedule.

Konsa has filled the gap

Arsenal moved in the transfer market during his absence, bringing in Ezri Konsa to bolster the defensive options. The team has continued to perform well without one of its most important players, which has taken some of the urgency out of the situation.

Still, Saliba's standing within the squad is not in question. The partnership he has formed with Gabriel at the heart of the back line has been one of the foundations of Arsenal's recent seasons, and he is expected to return to that role once he is back to full fitness.

His comeback would also give Mikel Arteta genuine depth in a position where options can be stretched thin over a long campaign. With Konsa now part of the picture, Arsenal would have four recognised senior centre-backs available for a season running across multiple competitions.

The timing matters too. A November return would give Saliba the chance to rebuild match sharpness ahead of the winter period, traditionally the most punishing stretch of the English calendar.

For now, the focus remains on workload. Running is a significant marker in any back-related rehabilitation, but the next steps — full team training, contact work, then matchday involvement — will determine whether the November target holds.

Arsenal will be hoping the next few weeks pass without setbacks as Saliba edges closer to pulling on the shirt again.