William Saliba ‘failed fitness test and is OUT for Crystal Palace clash’, which is a major setback for Arsenal.

To make matters worse, ARSENAL’s pursuit of their first league title since 2004 has been dealt a major injury blow.

On Sunday, the Gunners will take on the Crystal Palace with the knowledge that a victory could put them eight points ahead of second-placed Chelsea.

Nonetheless, they won’t have France’s star defensive back William Saliba.

In the Europa League quarterfinal matchup with Sporting Lisbon, the 21-year-old was injured and had to be replaced by Rob Holding.

Now, reports out of France indicate that his time away from the starting lineup may be extended.

The central defender may be out for “several weeks,” according to L’Equipe, and will reportedly not be returning for international duty.

Saliba was scheduled to join the French team for their upcoming matches against the Netherlands and Ireland.

But now he’ll be out for a while, hopefully healing in time to help Arsenal win the league.

Saliba is a rock at the back for the Premier League’s best team, where he forms a formidable partnership with Brazilian Gabriel.

They’ve been instrumental in Mikel Arteta’s plans, which have propelled their team to the top of the league.

Former Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Saliba signed with the North London powerhouses for £27 million in 2019.

Though he was sent out on loan after initially showing signs of difficulty adjusting to his new environment.

After a rocky start to his career in Nice, Saliba blossomed in Marseille and was widely praised for his play in Ligue 1 last year.

With a string of impressive performances this season, he has further established himself as one of Europe’s brightest defensive prospects.

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Last Thursday’s loss to Sporting on penalties wasn’t the end of Arsenal’s woes.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, who also injured his knee, was also forced to leave the game and be replaced.

Five points separate Arsenal and Manchester City in the league standings; a victory for the Gunners at the Emirates on Sunday would increase the pressure on their rivals.