William Saliba could face an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining a back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final defeat, with former Arsenal striker Jérémie Aliadière warning the situation is “very, very worrying” for the Premier League title hopefuls.
Saliba was forced off during the last-four clash, and Aliadière believes the defender’s decision to withdraw from such a crucial fixture indicates significant severity. “When you go off like that, saying ‘it’s over, my back’s dead’, it’s very, very worrying,” Aliadière told Get French Football News. “You’re in the semi-finals of the World Cup, you don’t go off with injury if it’s just a minor thing. I played in matches that were far from a World Cup semi-final but were important matches in my eyes and so I played with muscle tears.”
Surgery fears and lengthy absence
The former France youth international suggested that Saliba may require an operation to correct the issue, potentially keeping him out of action until the new year. “I read this morning that Arsenal are saying that he is going to need surgery, that he’ll be out for four to five months,” Aliadière said. “So that’s a big blow for Arsenal as we’re probably not going to see him before January now.”
Aliadière drew a concerning parallel with Samuel Umtiti, who played through a knee injury during France’s 2018 World Cup triumph but subsequently struggled to regain full fitness. The comparison highlights the risk of long-term complications should the issue not be addressed thoroughly, even if that means an extended period of rehabilitation.
Arsenal’s defensive and fitness concerns
The absence of the 21-year-old centre-back represents a significant setback for Mikel Arteta’s side, particularly given Saliba’s established partnership with Gabriel at the heart of the defence. Aliadière noted that Arsenal had already managed the defender’s back carefully last season to maximise his availability, yet the problem has escalated despite those precautions.
The timing compounds Arsenal’s concerns ahead of the Premier League restart. With several Gunners having featured deep into the World Cup tournament, Aliadière questioned whether the squad will be physically prepared for the opening fixtures. “You start thinking are we going to be able to put out [a team]? Because all these players who have played in the World Cup… they will not be physically ready for the beginning of the league,” he explained.
Aliadière stressed the importance of a strong start in the Premier League title race, warning that falling “10 points behind after 20 games” would prove difficult to overcome. Arsenal must now assess their defensive options, with Saliba’s potential unavailability until 2024 representing a major test of squad depth during a critical phase of the campaign.