Saliba’s return changes Arsenal’s defensive picture
William Saliba is back in Arsenal training and Mikel Arteta says the defender is “fit and available to play” ahead of Gameweek 10. For Fantasy Premier League managers, the key point is that availability doesn’t guarantee an immediate start: Arteta says the club will decide when and how much to use him based on the team’s needs.
Saliba has been out with a back injury. He played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match last week, and Arteta described his progress and response to the rehabilitation process as positive. The manager said the club had monitored his workload and built his capacity before clearing him to return. That preparation matters given Arteta’s view that a centre-back generally needs to be ready to play a full match, rather than being brought on for a short spell in the way an attacking player might be.
“Now we need to give him the right moment, the right amount of minutes, and hopefully that’s going to be very soon,” Arteta said. He also indicated that Saliba is back in the group and being treated like any other available player. That puts the defender firmly back in the selection conversation, but leaves some uncertainty over the first match in which he’ll feature.
The injury was managed without surgery. Arteta said specialists assessed the options and settled on a conservative approach, with Saliba’s progress reviewed regularly. The manager said that process had brought him to the point where he is now available. For FPL decisions, the practical takeaway is clear: the fitness update is encouraging, but managers still need to account for a possible return to the starting XI in stages.
That development could also affect Ezri Konsa’s minutes. Arteta described Konsa primarily as a centre-back who can also play on either side of the defence, including at right-back. He said having both Konsa and Saliba available alongside Gabriel Magalhaes could help Arsenal manage player workload and fixture congestion. The longer-term competition is relevant to Konsa’s owners, although the immediate selection picture depends on when Arsenal choose to reintroduce Saliba.
Bukayo Saka remains out with a quad problem. Max Dowman is still suspended for domestic matches, though he is eligible to play in the Champions League.
Liverpool wait on Gravenberch’s heel
Ryan Gravenberch is Liverpool’s main fitness concern ahead of their trip to Fenerbahce. He was left out of the 22-man travelling squad because of a heel fracture and will stay at the AXA Training Centre for treatment. Andoni Iraola said the midfielder’s condition is being assessed day by day, with pain and confidence central to the decision.
Gravenberch had discomfort while warming up against Arsenal and, according to Iraola, has not improved since. The manager couldn’t say whether he would be ready for Sunday’s match. He would welcome the midfielder’s availability, but the latest comments don’t offer a firm return date. For FPL managers, that makes this a wait-for-more-news situation rather than a confirmed absence for the weekend.
Four other Liverpool players remain sidelined: Hugo Ekitike with an Achilles issue, Conor Bradley with a knee problem, Jeremie Frimpong with a hamstring injury and Giovanni Leoni with a knee injury. Liverpool’s travelling squad for the Champions League match is Alisson, Gomez, van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Tsimikas, Munoz, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Barcola, Araujo, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha and Danns.
City have few senior absentees
Manchester City’s senior squad is reported to be fit apart from Antoine Semenyo, who has a knee injury and is described as a medium-term absentee. Ryan McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite were also missing from Tuesday’s training, but they are the only other absentees mentioned in the update.
Enzo Maresca framed squad management around the length of the season. He said City need to think across a campaign of “65 games” and aim to have players fit for February, March and April. The message suggests the manager is weighing the immediate need to win against the demands of a long run of fixtures. With only Semenyo identified as a senior injury absence, City’s available options appear comparatively stable for this round, though the comments don’t confirm a specific starting lineup.
City’s travelling squad is Donnarumma, Rulli, Bettinelli, Lewis, Nunes, Khusanov, Reis, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, Bouaddi, Anderson, Kovacic, Fernandez, Foden, Cherki, Allan, Ndiaye, Doku, Samba and Haaland.
What the updates mean for Gameweek 10
Among these three clubs, Saliba brings the clearest change: he has returned to training, played 45 minutes in a closed match and is available, but Arteta has left the timing of his first appearance open. Gravenberch’s status is less settled, with Liverpool monitoring his heel pain daily and no assurance that he’ll be fit for Sunday. City’s update is more straightforward, with Semenyo the only senior player reported absent.
Those distinctions matter when setting an FPL lineup. Saliba’s return raises a selection question for Arsenal’s defence and for managers holding Konsa, while Gravenberch’s uncertainty calls for attention to Liverpool’s next update. City’s broader availability offers fewer injury-related doubts, but it doesn’t settle who will start. The next useful signal will be the clubs’ final team news before the Gameweek deadline.