William Saliba came through 45 minutes of football with Arsenal’s U21s as he closes in on a return to first-team action.

The 25-year-old centre-back has been out since he suffered a back injury in the World Cup semi-finals with France, but made a shock return to the matchday squad for Arsenal’s trip to Slavia Prague in the Champions League last week, with Mikel Arteta saying he was in a “really good place”.

Arteta had already confirmed that Saliba turned out for Arsenal in a behind-closed-doors match at the end of October, and he has now played another half for the club’s youngsters in their 5-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday, playing the first half as he builds up his fitness.

“He’s the ultimate professional from the minute he got in this morning to half-time,” U21s head coach David Horseman told the club website. “He’s fine, by the way, it was all pre-planned (to play 45 minutes), so nobody needs to panic.

“Just the way he was in the meeting, everything about him, the way he prepares on the bus, the lads probably won’t notice it, but they should. The way he coaches and talks on the pitch, and then his quality, the detail of play, and he mixed his game up between short and long.

“Obviously, everybody knows he’s a world-class defender, one of the best in the world, if not the best. It was brilliant, but he was so good around the lads, you’d never know it.

“He’s a brilliant pro, great guy, and we’re really thankful for him to act like that, because if he does it, there’s no excuse for the rest not to do it. It was brilliant having him. I’d love him every week. Obviously, that’d be lovely, but he’ll leave us soon and go back with the first team.”

Saliba was not part of the senior squad that beat Hull 1-0 on Saturday but is on course to be back in the Gunners squad for the trip to Newcastle after the international break.

Mikel Arteta has no need to rush him back, though, given the form of summer signing Ezri Konsa.

Max Dowman was among the goalscorers in the U21s’ win over Villa.

Dowman is still suspended from the first team after his red card in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat at Fleetwood last month.

Maalik Hashi, Evan Mooney and Andre Harriman-Annous, who scored twice, also found the net.