WILLIAM SALIBA is set to make his Arsenal debut at Fulham on Saturday.
The Gunners’ new centre-back will take David Luiz’s place as the Brazilian will miss out with a neck injury.
William Saliba will make his Arsenal debut against Fulham on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
David Luiz will miss out with a neck injury
Arsenal signed Saliba for £27million from Saint-Etienne last summer before loaning him back to the French side for the season.
And he is now set to make his first Premier League start alongside fellow new signing Gabriel Magalhaes.
Luiz suffered a neck injury in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool.
And after aggravating the knock in training, there are fears Luiz could miss up to six weeks of action.
However, Arteta is said to be weighing up risking the 33-year-old at Craven Cottage given his lack of options in defence.
Arsenal head to West London with Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari out of action.
Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney completed the Gunners’ three-man defence alongside Luiz, at Wembley.
Originally set to be loaned out to Newcastle, Holding’s exit could be delayed or even binned altogether as Arteta waits on his absent stars.
Saliba and Magalhaes are thought to be fit but neither have played since March.
Napoli and Chelsea were both keen on signing Brazilian Magalhaes this summer but he is said to have signed for Arsenal because of their manager.
The player’s agent Guilherme Miranda explained: “Gabriel chose them over more lucrative offers because Edu convinced us of the project.
“It’s 100 per cent because of Edu and Arteta.”
Top ten stars who earned most sitting on bench last year with Man Utd’s Romero bagging £3.6m and Hart getting £2.3m
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
