Arsenal have confirmed that centre-back William Saliba will be sidelined for an extended period after suffering a back injury during France's World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. The Premier League champions announced that the 25-year-old does not require surgery but will undergo a rehabilitation programme.
Injury Details and Recovery Plan
Saliba was forced off after just 30 minutes in France's 2-1 loss to Spain in the last four. Subsequent specialist reviews in London revealed a back injury that will require a managed recovery process. Arsenal stated: "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."
Saliba's Previous Injury Struggles
After the semi-final, Saliba missed France's third-place playoff against England. Earlier in the tournament, he admitted to playing through pain: "I've had some minor niggles for several months. 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."
Impact on Arsenal
Saliba's absence is a significant blow for Arsenal, who are competing on multiple fronts. The club's other internationals, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, also battled injuries during the World Cup but were fit enough to play in the third-place match, with Rice scoring and Saka netting a hat-trick in England's win. Arsenal will now rely on other defensive options while Saliba recovers.
