Eddie Nketiah returns to Arsenal training, William Saliba still out

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has returned to first-team training with the Gunners following an ankle injury, but William Saliba is still absent from the group.

Neither man was able to play a part in the weekend's 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, where long-term knee victims Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu also missed out.

Prior to that thrilling stalemate, Mikel Arteta claimed that one unnamed injured player might be able to take part in training, raising optimism about a possible return for Saliba or Nketiah.

The Gunners travelled to Merseyside without either member in the squad, though, as Rob Holding started for the third Premier League game on the bounce alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Englishman conceded a second-half penalty at Anfield - which Mohamed Salah put wide - as Arsenal failed to hang onto a two-goal advantage against Jurgen Klopp's men, cutting their lead at the top of the table down to six points.

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Arteta's squad were put through their paces in a recovery session on Tuesday morning, and Nketiah was seen with the rest of the first team as he closes in on a return from an ankle problem.

The 23-year-old has not played in red and white since their 4-0 win over Everton at the beginning of March, missing Arsenal's last seven matches across all competitions.

Thankfully for Arsenal, Nketiah's layoff coincided with Gabriel Jesus's long-awaited return from knee surgery, while the astute signing of Leandro Trossard in January also eased the Gunners' attacking concerns.

Nketiah - who scored four Premier League goals in five games during Jesus's absence in December and January - could now be in line for a return against West Ham United this weekend, as he aims to build on the nine strikes he has chalked up for Arteta's men this term.

However, there was no sight of Saliba on the training pitches, with the French centre-back still struggling with the back issue he sustained against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.

❌ Saliba
✅ Nketiah

Arsenal training following the weekend's match against Liverpool pic.twitter.com/knnOFYBkbF

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 11, 2023

A report from the Evening Standard states that Saliba has not been completely ruled out of Sunday's clash with West Ham just yet, but the 22-year-old is classed as a major doubt for the match.

A comeback against Southampton on April 21 is considered more realistic, but Arsenal will take no risks over his fitness before they take on Man City at the Etihad on April 26.

Saliba had to wait three years before making his competitive first-team debut for Arsenal, but the France international has been one of the Premier League's standout centre-backs this season.

The former Saint-Etienne man has three goals and one assist to boast from 33 matches in all competitions, playing the full 90 minutes in 26 top-flight games this season.

Saliba's contract in North London expires in the summer of 2024, but the Gunners are working on an extension and remain in discussions with the centre-back's entourage.