Arsenal has announced that defender William Saliba will be out for some time due to a back injury. He picked up this injury while playing for France during the FIFA World Cup.
According to BBC Sport on Thursday, the 25-year-old centre-back had been dealing with the issue for weeks before the tournament. He made it worse during France’s semi-final loss to Spain, where he left the pitch after just 30 minutes.
After coming back to London, Saliba saw a specialist for a more detailed check-up. Arsenal confirmed that he will not need surgery.
Instead, Saliba will start a planned rehabilitation programme to recover.
This injury also kept Saliba out of France’s third-place play-off loss to England.
Before the World Cup, Saliba shared that he was playing through pain to support both his club and his country. He said, “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.”
Last season, Saliba was very important for Arsenal. He played 50 matches in all competitions. He helped Mikel Arteta’s team win the Premier League title after 22 years and reach the UEFA Champions League final.
His injury is a big blow for Arsenal as they prepare for the new season.
Saliba is likely to miss the Community Shield match against Manchester City on August 16. He will also be absent for the Gunners’ Premier League opener against newly promoted Coventry City five days later.
The club has not shared a specific timeline for Saliba’s return but said his absence would be for an extended period.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇