William Saliba misses Arsenal training as Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri return from injury | OneFootball

The influential defender was again absent but the returning pair are back in contention

Arsenal have been dealt a blow after William Saliba was absent from training ahead of their Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb.

However, Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri were able to join their team-mates on Tuesday afternoon.

The centre-back underwent tests on Sunday and French newspaper L’Equipe report he will be out for around two weeks.

Riccardo Calafiori back training with the Arsenal squad

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Saliba was absent from training on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Arsenal’s game against the Croatian side in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Manager Mikel Arteta is due to address the media later on Tuesday afternoon in a press conference when he will give an update on Saliba.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu continue to be absent. White has been out of action since November after he underwent surgery on a knee issue that had been causing him problems.

Jurrien Timber has predominantly played at right-back, but Saliba’s injury at the weekend forced him to move to centre-back and for Thomas Partey to drop into the defence.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal walk out to the pitches before training.

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Calafiori has missed Arsenal’s last three games due to injury, but is now in contention to face Dinamo. The Italian has struggled for fitness since joining the Gunners in the summer from Bologna as part of a deal worth around £40million.

Nwaneri has been out of action since around the start of this month after picking up a muscle injury during a draw at Brighton. The 17-year-old had been impressing before then and emerged as an option to cover for Bukayo Saka on the right flank.

Youngster Max Dowman again joined the senior squad training session as he waits to make his debut.