Arsenal youngster Reuell Walters in squad for Crystal Palace clash as William Saliba ruled out

Saliba is yet to miss a Premier League game for the leaders in their impressive title run in 2022/23, despite being sent off at the start of Thursday night’s Europa League clash in the last-16 second leg at home against Sporting Lisbon with a problem return.

Arsenal were set to assess the influential centre-back in hopes he could still play a role in Sunday’s London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

However, standard sports understands Saliba will not be involved today, with reports from French publication L’Equipe on Saturday indicating he is set to miss several weeks and will not be available for international duty.

With the 21-year-old now joining Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny in the treatment room, Rob Holding is set to fill in alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back against Palace.

Signing Jakub Kiwior in January is another potential option, although he is yet to make his top flight debut and has only made one appearance for Arsenal in the Europa League so far.

Manager Mikel Arteta could otherwise choose to move Ben White inside from right-back, with Kieran Tierney another possible solution. Arsenal are also without versatile Takehiro Tomiyasu after suffering a serious knee problem against Sporting.

One player who will make the matchday squad against Palace is Walters. The 18-year-old is a right-back by trade equally comfortable playing in the center as part of a back three and has impressed at youth level this term.

Walters, formerly of the Tottenham academy before joining Arsenal in 2020, has made 20 appearances for the Gunners youth side so far this term but is awaiting his senior debut after training with the first-team squad since the injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu.

He was selected in Arteta’s squad to tour the United States during pre-season and started the friendly win against German side Nuremberg last July.