Arsenal boost as William Saliba steps up injury return and new timeline emerges

William Saliba has stepped up his recovery from a serious back injury, with Arsenal hoping that he could return around the November international break.However, an "extended period" of rest was recommended and that has kept Saliba out of action for the first couple of months of the season.The 25-year-old is still some way from being available, but it was positive news for Arsenal to have Saliba on the training pitch on Monday afternoon.The centre-back was going through individual drills on the grass with two Arsenal coaches, away from the main group.That is the latest step for Saliba as he builds cautiously towards a return to first-team action.Arsenal defender William Saliba was injured playing for France at the World CupGetty"Now it's over a week [on the grass], I think, and he'll be managing that load," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said on Monday, ahead of the Champions League clash with Lille."How many repetitions and sessions in a row he can do, but he's building now his capacity to good standards."Let's see in the next few weeks [if] we can start to introduce him with the team, and to see where we are to actually make him available."Asked whether Saliba would be available after the international break next month, Arteta replied: "I don't know, we're still talking about weeks.Read More"That is very difficult to say if he can play just before or after that. It is a very specific healing process and I cannot tell you exactly how he is going to react to it."In Saliba's absence, Ezri Konsa has made an impressive start to his Arsenal career alongside Gabriel.The Gunners have also been strengthened in defence over the international break, with Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera recovering from injuries.Both players are undergoing scans on Monday to determine the severity of their injuries.