Arsenal FC were forced to play without key defender William Saliba during their Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

The French centre-back was surprisingly absent from the match day squad, prompting questions from fans about his availability. Arsenal later confirmed that Saliba missed the game due to an ankle injury sustained in their previous match against Chelsea

Saliba had played the full match in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, even scoring during the game. However, he reportedly turned his ankle during that match, and although he finished the game, the injury worsened afterward.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta explained before the Brighton game that the defender was too sore to be included in the squad, which forced the coaching staff to leave him out as a precaution.

The club will continue monitoring the defender ahead of upcoming fixtures, including domestic cup matches and the next round of Premier League games.

Saliba has been one of Arsenal’s most important players this season, playing a key role in the club’s defensive stability and title challenge.

With Saliba unavailable, Arsenal handed a starting role to Cristhian Mosquera in central defence.

Mosquera partnered Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães at the heart of Arsenal’s backline in what was one of the key changes to the team lineup.

Despite the absence of their defensive leader, Arsenal managed to maintain their defensive structure during the match.