Thierry Henry Bid for William Saliba Olympic Selection Faces Arsenal Hurdle

Reports suggest that Arsenal may reject Thierry Henry request to include William Saliba in the France Olympic squad this summer. Henry set to manage Les Bleus at the tournament in Paris aims to select an 18-man squad including three players over 23 years old with Mbappe, Giroud and Griezmann as potential picks. Saliba could qualify as an Under 23 player but Arsenal may block his participation to avoid missing the start of the 2024-25 season.

The club holds the authority to refuse Saliba’s release as the tournament is not recognized by FIFA. Saliba withdrew from the 2021 Games in Tokyo to focus on Arsenal’s pre-season. His potential inclusion in Didier Deschamps squad for the European Championships further complicates matters as players require additional rest before reporting for pre-season.

The Olympic Football Tournament ends a week before the Premier League potential start creating scheduling conflicts.