Arsenal Face Saliba Injury Blow Amid Surgery Concerns

Arsenal could be without William Saliba for an extended period if the French defender undergoes surgery to address a persistent back injury, according to a report by L’Equipe.

The 25-year-old centre-back was forced off during France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-final after appearing to struggle with the problem. Lip readers claimed Saliba said, “My back is gone,” while receiving treatment on the pitch.

According to Get French Football News (GFFN), Saliba later told teammate Dayot Upamecano that he could no longer cope with the pain before being substituted for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

The report added that the defender has been managing the injury for several months, with both Arsenal and the French national team relying on painkillers and a heavily restricted training schedule to keep him available.

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It was also reported during the World Cup that Saliba had not been taking part in training sessions, focusing solely on match appearances.

With the injury now worsening, a decision on whether surgery will be required is expected in the coming weeks. Should he undergo an operation, the France international could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The development is likely to raise concerns at Arsenal, where manager Mikel Arteta may be forced into the transfer market for defensive reinforcements. Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa has already been linked with the Gunners, and further centre-back targets could emerge if Saliba is ruled out for a significant part of the upcoming season.

Arsenal will be hoping the injury proves less serious than feared, but the prospect of starting the new campaign without one of their most influential defenders would represent a major setback.