Arteta says Arsenal are better equipped as Saliba stays in Champions League squad

Arteta: Arsenal must prove a stronger squad

The squad story that will frame Arsenal vs Chelsea is already on the record. Mikel Arteta said it is down to Arsenal to prove they are stronger than last season despite having fewer attackers, and Sky Sports News carried his update on William Saliba after the defender was included in Arsenal's Champions League squad.

The Athletic reported Arteta's exact stance. Asked if the squad was stronger than in May, he was unequivocal: "Yes I do. This is what I feel. Now we have to prove it. I think we are better equipped. I think we have more players available than what we had at the start of last season. We have increased the quality and we have increased the leadership in the team as well which is very important." He added he had no regrets over how the window panned out.

Saliba's presence on the Champions League list is the second hard fact. Sky Sports News framed the clip as a fitness update after that registration, not as a starting XI prediction. Inclusion on a UEFA list does not by itself confirm minutes against Chelsea, but it is official paperwork: the centre-back remains inside the European group while Arteta talks publicly about availability compared with last August.

Arsenal vs Chelsea is the Sunday 16:30 BST fixture at the Emirates, after Saturday's Premier League programme. Arteta's comments set the context: fewer listed attackers, a claim of more available bodies, and Saliba still registered in Europe.

The news is the manager's statement plus the Champions League registration Sky Sports News highlighted. That is the squad context to carry into Sunday's derby.