William Saliba was absent from Arsenal's 2026/27 squad photo this week due to a scheduled medical appointment as he continues his rehabilitation from a back problem. The annual photo session at the Sobha Realty Training Ground offered a snapshot of this season's squad, with significant changes in positioning reflecting the club's summer business and current fitness landscape.
Saliba has yet to feature this season but has recently begun individual on-pitch work at the club's Colney base. Manager Mikel Arteta provided an update on the defender's progress. "Now it's over a week, I think," Arteta said, referring to Saliba's time training on grass. "He'll be managing that load, and how many repetitions and sessions in a row he can do, but he's building now his capacity to good standards, and let's see in the next few weeks we can start to introduce him with the team, and to see where we are to actually make him available." The club and player have opted against surgery, with a potential return to competitive action targeted for November.
Eze's promotion and summer changes
The most notable positional shift in the photo saw Eberechi Eze seated in the front row, a spot previously occupied by Gabriel Martinelli. Eze joined from Crystal Palace last season for £67.5 million, while Martinelli was sold to Al Hilal for £60m this summer. Eze now sits alongside established figures like Ben White, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka, who is the club's top scorer this season with three goals. The photo also featured new signing Noni Madueke, who joined from Chelsea for £50m last term and wore a headband for the shoot.
Other details caught the eye. Captain Martin Ødegaard ensured the golden lion badge on his sleeve was visible, while defender Gabriel Magalhães smiled broadly, a contrast to his more serious look in last year's image. The Premier League trophy, won for the first time in over two decades, and the Community Shield were displayed on either side of Arteta.
Youth prospects earn their place
Academy graduate Marli Salmon secured a place in the back row alongside the goalkeepers and fellow prospect Piero Hincapié. Salmon made his senior debut in a 3-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge in December 2025. Another young player, Max Dowman, was also included in the official image.
Arsenal head into their next fixture against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground sitting second in the Premier League with 15 points from six games, just three points behind leaders Manchester City. Their recent form is strong, with four wins from their last five matches, including a 3-0 victory over Lille where Eze was on the scoresheet. The team has been clinical, scoring 12 goals this season at an average of one every 45 minutes of play. The full details of the squad's contributions this season are available in our stats. With Saliba working towards a return and the new-look squad settling, the photo captures a moment of transition for the reigning champions as they prepare for their next challenge.
More detail at football.london
