Mohamed Elneny has revealed William Saliba is making progress in his rehabilitation from a back injury that has derailed his and Arsenal’s season.
The international suffered a back strain during his side’s defeat against Sporting Lisbon a month ago and has missed the last four matches.
Arsenal initially appeared as though they would cope in his absence, registering consecutive 4-1 victories, but cracks have emerged in recent weeks with Rob Holding culpable in the concession of two-goal leads against both Liverpool and .
but had been hopeful that the centre-half would be able to play again this season.
Whether Friday’s must-win game against Southampton and the potential title decider against Manchester City the following Wednesday will come too soon remains to be seen.
The sight of Saliba back in the gym working out on an exercise bike, posted by Elneny, will certainly be taken as a sign of encouragement by fans concerned that the 22-year-old season was over.
Injury, meanwhile, may have ruled Elneny out for the remainder of the campaign but Arteta’s ‘quiet leader’ is determined to play a part in Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge.
While his team-mates prepare for the visit of bottom club Southampton on Friday night, Elneny will be continuing his recovery from knee surgery which ended his season when he went under the knife in January.
The 30-year-old has largely been seen as a squad player at the Emirates Stadium ever since his arrival from Basle in January 2016 but he is widely respected inside the walls of Arsenal’s London Colney training base.
‘I’m not on the pitch but I am still a part of what is going on at the moment,’ he said about playing a role in the final weeks of the campaign. ‘For me, when I come to our football club every morning, it is not in my mind that I’m not playing, no injury – I come with a smile on my face, to give energy to people when they need it.
‘I come in every day and I try to give everything to my family, because we work as a family and I look I try to look after my family. I try to give everything to this family. To be successful. I talk to them, I listen. We discuss things football and not football.’
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