Walters Saliba has been ruled out of Arsenal’s squad for the Crystal Palace clash

Saliba have yet to miss a Premier League game for the leaders during their impressive title charge in 2022/23, although Thursday night’s setback forced them to a Europa League last-16 second leg home defeat against Sporting Lisbon in the early stages. issue

Arsenal were set to assess the impressive centre-back in the hope he can still play some part in Sunday’s London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

but, standard game Saliba will not be involved today, with reports from French publication L’Equipe on Saturday understanding that he is set to miss several weeks and will not be available for international duty.

The 21-year-old is now expected to deputize alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back against Palace, with the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny in the treatment room.

January signing is another possible option, Jakub Kivier, although he is yet to make his top-flight debut and has only made one appearance for Arsenal in the Europa League.

Manager Mikel Arteta could otherwise opt to move Ben White in from right-back, with Kieran Tierney another possible solution. Arsenal are also without the versatile Takehiro Tomiyasu after he picked up a knee problem that looked serious against Sporting.

One player in the matchday squad against Palace will be Walters. The 18-year-old is a right-back and is also comfortable playing centrally as part of a back three and has impressed at youth level this term.

Walters, formerly of Tottenham’s academy before joining Arsenal in 2020, has played 20 times for the young Gunners this term but has been training with the first-team group following injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu, awaiting his senior debut.

He was selected in Arteta’s squad to tour the United States in pre-season and started in a friendly win over German side Nürnberg last July.