William Saliba has returned to full training at Arsenal, 3½ months after his last game — in the World Cup semifinals for France.
Saliba has been out of action with a back injury that didn't require surgery but an extended period of rehabilitation, Arsenal said in July.
The center back took part in a training session on Tuesday, a day before Arsenal's Champions League match at Slavia Prague.
Saliba hasn't played since being substituted out of France's 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain at the World Cup during the first half.
Saliba has struck up an impressive, yearslong center-back partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes that was key to Arsenal winning the Premier League title last season.
However, despite his ball-playing qualities and excellent reading of the game, Saliba might not be rushed back into the first team by manager Mikel Arteta.
That's because the man who has replaced Saliba for the start of this season — summer signing Ezri Konsa — has put in a slew of strong performances so far and Arteta might not be ready to break up the Konsa-Gabriel combination just yet.
One option could be to switch Konsa to right back, where he occasionally has played for former club Aston Villa and England. Arteta also has Jurrien Timber and Ben White as options at right back.
