‘Incredible’ Arsenal player could now miss start of next season due to international commitments

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Although there’s still a ton left for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta to play for this season, it seems they could lose one player for the start of next.

Arteta and his squad will now have a long break before their next Premier League match, a definitive tie with Manchester City at the Etihad.

The majority of the Arsenal players will leave with their international sides over the next few weeks, whilst the likes of Gabriel Martinelli will recover from injury at London Colney.

Fortunately for Arteta, international break permitting, it seems as if his squad are now all getting back fit at the right time.

Although used sparingly of late, the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko will surely all be crucial in the final months.

That being said, it now seems as if Arsenal could lose one crucial player for the start of next season owing to the summer 2024 Olympic Games due to take place in Paris.

According to Mirror Sport, France U21 boss Thierry Henry could be about to call up William Saliba to his squad for the tournament. 

Saliba, 22, would qualify as an under-23 player for the tournament, and France want to take the competition seriously.

William Saliba could miss start of next season for Arsenal owing to Olympics

According to the report, Henry is set to call up Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann as his three players over the age of 23, signalling how serious the competition will be taken.

Mbappe has already confirmed his intention to play in the tournament, urging his compatriots to follow his example.

That all being said, Arsenal would have the power to block Saliba from playing in the games given the tournament is not recognised by FIFA.

In theory, Arsenal could refuse the release of Saliba at the start of next season, choosing to prioritise their own plans.

Of course, that might not be a popular decision with Saliba or Henry, two figures Arsenal will surely be wary of upsetting.

Saliba did previously refuse a call up to the 2021 games in Tokyo, given he was trying to establish his position at Arsenal, but that situation is very different now.

It’ll be an interesting one to watch unfold, but Arsenal surely could allow ‘incredible‘ Saliba this chance if he so pleased.

And in truth, the club’s summer recruitment should be designed to find better cover for the Frenchman anyway.

And away from international talk, Jack Wilshere now thinks Arsenal have a youngster who is showing a ton of promise.