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The events of the World Cup cast a shadow on the Gunners’ season
Arsenal have been dealt a blow after their France defender William Saliba picked up a fresh injury during their 2026 World Cup semi-final against Spain amid fears he will be out for a long time, which could extend to five months.
Saliba left the field around 30 minutes into France’s 2-0 defeat on Tuesday after missing the match with a back injury, sparking fears about his fitness ahead of the start of the new season.
Fear of absence until December
According to the newspaper L’EquipeFrench. Arsenal fear their international defender will be sidelined for four to five months, which could mean he is out until next December.
The paper adds that the player is now a candidate for surgery to treat a chronic back problem he is suffering from in an attempt to end the crisis that has plagued him in recent months.
French journalist Julien Lawrence also found out that after the injury, Saliba said:
Injury without any contact
Saliba’s injury came in a scene that saw no intervention from the Spanish players, as the Arsenal defender fell to the pitch and pointed directly at the technical staff to be replaced, with France trailing by a goal without reply.
The player left the field slowly, leaning on two members of the French national team’s medical staff, while coach Didier Deschamps substituted Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix along with Dayot Upamecano.
France’s woes were later compounded after Pedro Porro scored Spain’s second goal to send La Roja through to the final, where they will face Argentina.
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An injury that plagued him all season
Saliba was one of Arsenal’s most popular players during the 2025-2026 season and was instrumental in helping the team win the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
He also played a key role in France’s World Cup campaign despite being plagued by a back injury that forced the coaching staff to rest him in Norway’s final group stage match after securing qualification.
The medical staff of the French national team continued to monitor the player’s condition throughout the tournament in an attempt to manage the injury and minimize its effects.
Saliba: I was picky about myself
The French defender admitted during the World Championship that he played with back pain for several months.
He said: “I’ve been suffering from a few minor problems for a few months and I’ve been hard on myself because of the Champions League games and the Premier League race.”
He added: “The technical staff treated my condition very well. The World Cup is held once in four years, so you have to be patient.”
He concluded his statements by saying: “I’m not 100 per cent at my best physically, but there are a lot of players who are also involved and they’re not fully fit and that can’t be used as an excuse.”
