Saliba out for extended period with back injury
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Arsenal confirmed defender William Saliba will miss an "extended period" after suffering a back injury while on World Cup duty with France.
- The 25-year-old had been managing a back issue for several weeks but was forced off after 30 minutes of France's semi-final loss to Spain.
- After returning to London and seeing a specialist, Arsenal decided surgery was not needed and a managed recovery programme will begin instead.
- Saliba sat out France's bronze final defeat by England and said he had been "gritting my teeth" through "minor niggles for several months" to play through the Champions League and Premier League runs.
- Saliba made 50 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal last season as they ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.
- Mikel Arteta's side face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday 16 August — five days before opening their Premier League title defence at home to promoted Coventry City.
Why it matters: Saliba's absence leaves Arsenal without their defensive cornerstone from a 50-appearance, title-winning season heading into the Community Shield on 16 August and a Premier League opener five days later. With no surgery required but a managed recovery timeline undisclosed, Arteta faces an early-season test of defensive depth at the worst possible moment.
