Mikel Arteta’s Five Options to Replace William Saliba After Failed Aston Villa Experiment

William Saliba’s hamstring strain has created a new injury dilemma for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a demanding and potentially decisive period of fixtures.

The anticipated absence of star defender William Saliba for the next two weeks has compounded Mikel Arteta’s injury concerns, forcing him to consider a reshuffle in defence.

This setback comes at a crucial moment for Arsenal as they aim to stay within touching distance of Premier League leaders Liverpool while also securing a route past the Champions League play-off stage.

France international Saliba missed Saturday’s draw against Aston Villa due to a hamstring issue. The injury could keep him sidelined until after Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City in early February. Before that, Arsenal face two European fixtures and a challenging trip to Wolves.

Adding to Arteta’s woes, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain out with long-term injuries, while Riccardo Calafiori missed the Villa match due to a minor issue. These absences may push the Arsenal manager to explore creative solutions.

Here are five potential defensive options Arteta could deploy ahead of Wednesday night’s encounter with Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates.

Jurrien Timber

Shifting Timber into a central role alongside Gabriel wasn’t particularly effective against Villa, but given the current fitness and availability issues, he seems the most likely option to retain the position for the next few matches.

Riccardo Calafiori

Unless Italian defender Calafiori regains fitness, his involvement remains uncertain. In a debut season marred by minor muscle injuries, he has primarily operated as a left-back, though Arteta sees his long-term potential as a central defender.

If he is physically ready, this could be an excellent chance for him to make his mark.

Jakub Kiwior

Poland international Kiwior, a natural centre-back, was an unused substitute against Villa, reinforcing speculation that Arteta might not fully trust him to deliver at the highest level.

He has only started two league games this season—the victory over Manchester United and the draw with Fulham in early December—with the majority of his playing time coming in cup competitions.

Declan Rice

Back in his early days at West Ham, midfielder Declan Rice caught David Moyes’ attention as a potential centre-back, a position he occasionally filled in the Premier League, showing composure even in a struggling side.

However, much time has passed since then, and Rice has developed into a far more dynamic player. As a result, deploying him in defence might now seem like a last resort for Arteta.

Thomas Partey

The Ghanaian midfielder recently expressed his willingness to play in any position where he can contribute. However, similar to Rice, using him in such a role would be a last resort. Partey is far more likely to feature at right-back.