Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will not undergo surgery on his back injury but will be sidelined 'for an extended period' of rehabilitation. The centre-back was forced off during France's World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain last Tuesday.
Saliba's injury timeline
The 25-year-old revealed during the World Cup that he had been playing with a back problem 'for several months' throughout Arsenal's Premier League title-winning campaign. Following his return to London, specialist reviews confirmed the injury requires a managed recovery programme rather than surgical intervention.
Arsenal's medical decision
A club statement on Wednesday evening read: 'William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty, where he played an integral role in France reaching the semi-finals of the competition. Subsequent specialist reviews on William's return to London this week 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. William's rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period. Everyone is fully focused on supporting William to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.'
Impact on Arsenal's season
Saliba's absence comes as a blow to Mikel Arteta's side, who relied heavily on the defender during their title-winning campaign. The club have not provided a specific timeline for his return, but the 'extended period' suggests he will miss significant matches at the start of the season.
