William Saliba is facing a significant spell on the sidelines after Arsenal confirmed the defender suffered a back injury during France's World Cup campaign — but the club has ruled out surgery in what they called a 'major boost'.
The 25-year-old was forced off after just 30 minutes of France's semi-final defeat to Spain, having been managing a back problem for several months. 'I've had some minor niggles for several months,' Saliba admitted earlier in the tournament. '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.'
“Arsenal confirm William Saliba out for extended period with back injury but no surgery needed.”
Subsequent assessments in London confirmed the injury, with Arsenal releasing a statement: 'William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty... Subsequent specialist reviews... have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation. Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme.' The club added he is 'expected to be out of action for an extended period'.
France manager Didier Deschamps described the pain as becoming 'unbearable', adding that Saliba had been dealing with the issue since March. The injury echoes one he suffered at the end of the 2022/23 season, and initial reports had suggested months on the sidelines before surgery was ruled out.
Saliba's absence is a major blow for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal prepare to defend the Premier League title. The centre-back, who partnered Gabriel in a defence widely regarded as the best in Europe, made 50 appearances last season as Arsenal ended a 22-year title drought and reached the Champions League final. The Gunners face Manchester City in the Community Shield on 16 August, then host promoted Coventry City five days later in their league opener. With a daunting run of fixtures including trips to Aston Villa and Liverpool and a visit from Chelsea, Arsenal will have to cope without their defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future.
