William Saliba limped out of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain after just 30 minutes – and now Arsenal face the prospect of their star centre-back being sidelined for up to five months. The 25-year-old, who made 50 appearances last season as the Gunners ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, has been playing through a back injury since March, France manager Didier Deschamps has revealed.
“He went through some examinations. The injury did not worsen. He faced that injury since March. He had some pain and unfortunately the pain was not bearable,” Deschamps said ahead of France’s third-place play-off against England on Saturday. The problem flared up during the semi-final, forcing Saliba off despite having “gritted his teeth” through the pain for months. “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba admitted earlier in the World Cup. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.” He missed France’s final group game against Norway before returning for the knockout stages.
“William Saliba faces five months out after playing through an 'unbearable' back injury since March.”
Now Arsenal will assess the injury when Saliba reports back to the club. Surgery is among the options, and French media believe a lengthy lay-off is likely – with the Mirror reporting that he could be out for five months if surgery is required on a fracture similar to one he suffered at the end of the 2022/23 season. The injury is a huge blow to the Premier League champions as they look to defend their title, with teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka also carrying long-term injury concerns after an exhausting campaign. Piero Hincapie, another Arsenal player, also suffered muscle issues during the tournament, reflecting the toll of Mikel Arteta’s relentless schedule. For now, Arsenal have yet to confirm a recovery timeline, but the severity has become clear: the pain that forced Saliba off in the World Cup semi-final was, in Deschamps’ words, “unbearable”.
