Saliba had to go off after 30 minutes as France lost the World Cup semi-final to Spain.
Arsenal have confirmed that stopper William Saliba will be out for “an extended period of time” following a back injury he suffered during the World Cup for France.
Read: Manchester United want fifth summer signing to be one of England’s best at the World Cup
The centre-back does not need surgery for the injury that led to him being substituted after just half an hour of play in France’s semi-final loss to Spain – but he looks set to miss a significant part of Arsenal’s defence of the Premier League title.
Saliba was one of the big stars when “The Gunners” won the league gold last season, with a whopping 50 games across all competitions.
Arsenal kick off the 2026/27 season against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday 16 August, before the league opener against Coventry five days later.
Arsenal: “Will start rehabilitation immediately”
In a statement from the club, it says:
“William Saliba has returned to us after his World Cup assignment, where he played a crucial role in France reaching the semi-finals of the championship.
“Follow-up specialist examinations following William’s return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury that requires a rehabilitation period.
“Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William must now start a controlled performance program.
“The rehabilitation starts immediately, with continuous follow-up of the injury, and he is expected to be out for an extended period of time.
“Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting William so that he can be fit again as soon as possible.”
Do Arsenal need to bring in a new stopper?
Arsenal already knew they would have to do without their first stopper for a while – but the news of how long he will be gone will almost certainly make them step up their search for a new defender.
Ezri Konsa and out-of-contract John Stones have both been mentioned as targets, and according to reports, a £30 million bid has been rejected from Aston Villa for the former.
Villa are likely to demand far more for the England international, which could make Stones a more realistic option – although the 32-year-old’s physical fitness is still being questioned.
Stones made five appearances for the Three Lions at the World Cup, including every minute in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but started just five league games for City last season.
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