Arsenal’s title defence has been dealt a potentially crippling blow with William Saliba facing up to five months on the sidelines – and Chelsea are circling to exploit the crisis by targeting the same replacement.
The 25-year-old centre-back, a cornerstone of Arsenal’s first league triumph in 22 years, was forced off after just 30 minutes of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain with a back injury. Saliba had been “gritting my teeth” for several months, he admitted earlier in the tournament. “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months… because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.”
“William Saliba faces up to five months out; Chelsea target John Stones amid Arsenal injury crisis.”
Now surgery is among the options being considered by Arsenal’s medical team, with reports in France suggesting an absence of up to four months – and the Athletic indicating it could be five. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, built on clean sheets that “secured them vital points” last season, is suddenly in jeopardy.
Enter John Stones. The 32-year-old is available on a free transfer after his Manchester City contract expired, and his stock is high after a strong World Cup with England. Arsenal have been courting Stones to cover Saliba’s absence, according to reports over the weekend.
But Chelsea, who have already beaten Arsenal to the signing of Morgan Rogers for £117m this summer, are also keen on Stones. The Athletic has revealed the Blues view him as a “ready-made” addition to their squad. They are already in talks with Crystal Palace over Maxence Lacroix, but a deal for the 26-year-old could cost up to £55m – more than Chelsea’s valuation.
For Arsenal, the timing is agonising. They had 15 players involved in the World Cup, with eight still competing this weekend – including David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi in Sunday’s final against Argentina, and England’s Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze facing France in the bronze match. Rice and Saka have been managing fitness issues throughout the tournament.
Arsenal are hopeful Ben White will be fit for the start of the season after knee surgery, while Jurrien Timber, who missed the World Cup, is also expected to return. White and Timber can provide alternative options at centre-back, along with Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera. But none carry the defensive authority of Saliba or the proven Premier League pedigree of Stones.
If Chelsea move for Stones, it would be the second time this summer they have hijacked Arsenal’s transfer plans – following the £117m capture of Rogers, a player Arsenal valued at £80m and might have gone to £100m for. With Villa’s valuation rising after Elliot Anderson’s £116m move to Manchester City, Chelsea “put up the money to seal what could well end up being the biggest deal of the summer.”
For Mikel Arteta, the question now is whether history will repeat itself – or whether Arsenal can secure Stones before Chelsea strike again.