Arsenal to retake team photo with William Saliba after defender’s omission

Arsenal will take a new team photograph with Saliba

Arsenal plan to retake their official 2026/27 team photograph so that William Saliba can be included, Mikel Arteta has confirmed. The defender was absent from the image released this week after missing the shoot for a medical appointment.

Arteta said the club had already tried to arrange the photograph three times, but each previous attempt had to be cancelled at short notice. With commercial commitments and visitors who had travelled for the shoot, Arsenal decided to proceed without Saliba.

“We will have another picture with the whole family,” Arteta said, adding that the club hoped to get everyone together and would announce the new photograph.

The manager confirmed Saliba was comfortable with the situation. “He knows how loved he is,” Arteta said, noting that teammates had joked with the defender about his absence.

Saliba’s recovery is progressing

Saliba has yet to feature this season while recovering from a back injury. He has resumed training on the grass, and Arteta said the signs so far have been “very, very positive.” The defender is scheduled for another MRI scan next week to assess the healing process as he moves closer to a return.

Arteta made the comments ahead of Arsenal’s away match against Nottingham Forest.