William Saliba and Declan Rice Subbed Off Early: The Real Reason Behind Arsenal Duo’s Early Exits Against Crystal Palace

Mikel Arteta substituted centre-back William Saliba at halftime during Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Gunners ended the weekend in high spirits, securing another Premier League win to remain at the top of the table. Eberechi Eze’s clever first-half volley proved to be the match-winner against his former side at the Emirates Stadium, keeping Arsenal four points clear of their closest challengers, with Liverpool trailing in sixth place.

However, amid the celebrations, concern arose when Saliba did not return for the second half. He was replaced by summer signing Cristhian Mosquera, sparking fears of a possible injury setback. Speaking after the match, Arteta explained that both Saliba and Declan Rice had suffered knocks: “William had to come off in the first half, and Declan was also struggling. We’ll have to assess them.”

Saliba has been a consistent presence this season, missing only one game due to an ankle issue. Earlier this month, he was also taken off at halftime against Newcastle with a hamstring concern but recovered quickly. Arteta is expected to rotate his squad for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Brighton, yet keeping Saliba fit remains crucial as Arsenal prepare for key fixtures against Burnley, Slavia Prague, and Sunderland.

Captain Martin Ødegaard praised the defensive partnership between Saliba and Gabriel, calling them a reliable duo who “love defending” and understand each other’s movements perfectly. He added that their chemistry reflects the unity and strong culture running through the entire Arsenal squad.