William Saliba’s absence from Arsenal’s matchday squad against Hull City this afternoon has raised questions, particularly after the Frenchman appeared to be closing in on his long-awaited return.The 25-year-old has yet to feature competitively this season following the back injury sustained during the summer’s World Cup, but there had been encouraging signs of progress.Saliba returned to training last week and was named among the substitutes for Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Slavia Prague, although he remained on the bench.As we previously reported, Arteta had welcomed Saliba back into the Arsenal squad, suggesting his return to action was approaching.Saliba’s Absence Comes as a SurpriseInterestingly, Arsenal’s official match preview suggested Saliba could make his long-awaited return against Hull.However, when today’s confirmed team was announced, the Frenchman was missing entirely.Ezri Konsa, who suffered a knee concern during the victory in Prague, has been named alongside Gabriel in central defence.That will be reassuring for Arteta, but Saliba’s absence is nevertheless unexpected given his recent involvement in training and the travelling squad.(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)France Decision Offers Arsenal Breathing SpaceThere is, however, some encouraging news regarding Saliba’s rehabilitation.The Evening Standard confirms that Saliba has been left out of France’s squad for the upcoming international fixtures against Italy and Turkey.That decision means he can remain at Arsenal throughout the international break, giving the club additional time to manage his return to full match fitness.With Konsa continuing to impress alongside Gabriel, Arteta has little reason to rush Saliba back prematurely.Whether today’s omission is simply precautionary remains unclear, but Arsenal supporters will be hoping there is no fresh injury concern.Are you surprised Saliba has been left out of today’s squad, or do you think Arteta is right to take his time with the Frenchman’s recovery? Join the conversation in the comments below._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…The post Saliba Missing From Arsenal Squad Against Hull City Despite Fitness Return appeared first on Just Arsenal News.