Arsenal have confirmed that centre-back William Saliba will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a back injury during France‘s World Cup campaign. The Premier League champions issued a statement this week revealing that the defender is expected to be out of action for “an extended period” as he begins a managed recovery programme.
Medical assessments conducted after Saliba returned to London confirmed the severity of the issue. While the 25-year-old will not require surgery, the club stated that extensive assessments have concluded he must commence a managed recovery programme with continual management of the injury.
“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,” Arsenal said in a statement. “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.”
World Cup struggles
The setback occurred during France’s semi-final defeat by Spain, with Saliba forced off after just 30 minutes. He subsequently missed the third-place playoff against England, which France lost.
However, the defender had been carrying the problem throughout the tournament. Saliba played with the back issue during France’s run to the last four, having earlier admitted to competing through discomfort for several months prior to the finals.
“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,” Saliba said during the competition.
International colleagues
Saliba was not the only Arsenal player battling fitness concerns during the tournament. England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice also managed injury problems throughout the World Cup, though both were fit enough to feature in the third-place victory over France. Rice opened the scoring in that match, while Saka netted a hat-trick.
The French defender’s absence will leave a significant gap in the club’s defensive options as preparations begin for the new domestic campaign. The exact timeframe for Saliba’s return remains unspecified, with the club stating only that they are fully focused on supporting his rehabilitation.