William Saliba has resumed normal training with Arsenal after recovering from a back injury, but Mikel Arteta will decide his return according to the team's needs. Bongda24h reports that the defender played 45 minutes in a closed friendly the previous week.
Recovery reaches team training
Saliba had been out since leaving the first half of France's 2-0 World Cup semi-final defeat against Spain. Arsenal's July update, recalled by the source, said surgery was unnecessary but a lengthy recovery was required.
The 25-year-old joined the full squad's Tuesday session before Arsenal's Champions League trip to Slavia Prague. Speaking ahead of that match, Arteta said the recovery had followed the intended course and that Saliba felt comfortable and ready to return.
That assessment gives the coach another option, while the choice of when to use him remains a selection decision.
More defensive combinations
Saliba previously partnered Gabriel Magalhaes during Arsenal's Premier League title-winning season. In his absence, summer signing Ezri Konsa has performed well at centre-back, according to the report.
One option discussed by Bongda24h is using Konsa at right-back, a role he has played for Aston Villa and England. Arteta also has Jurrien Timber and Ben White available as alternatives in that position.
The manager views an additional centre-back as helpful in managing players' workloads. Arsenal's next personnel decisions therefore involve balancing those defensive options after Saliba's return to collective training and his playing time in the closed friendly.