Arsenal have confirmed that defender William Saliba faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines after suffering a back injury during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The France international picked up the injury while helping Les Bleus reach the semi-finals in North America.
He was forced off during France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain, and further examinations after returning to London confirmed the extent of the problem.
In a statement, Arsenal revealed that specialist assessments showed Saliba had sustained a back injury that will require a period of rehabilitation.
The 25-year-old had raised concerns after collapsing to the ground without any contact during the semi-final, prompting fears over the seriousness of the injury.
However, the club received encouraging news after medical evaluations concluded that surgery would not be necessary.
Instead, Saliba will begin a carefully managed rehabilitation programme, avoiding what could have been a far longer absence had an operation been required.
The injury appears to have developed after months of playing through discomfort. Speaking during the World Cup, Saliba admitted he had been dealing with ongoing physical issues.
“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. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes around only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either. You can’t make excuses.”
Before joining France for the tournament, Saliba made 50 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal. His demanding schedule also included playing the full 120 minutes in the Gunners’ Champions League final defeat earlier this year.
France coach, Didier Deschamps had previously sought to allay concerns about the defender’s fitness, insisting: “He’s here, everything is fine.”
Despite that reassurance, Saliba was eventually unable to continue against Spain, highlighting the physical toll of his workload.
The centre-back joined Arsenal in 2019 before spending loan spells with Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille. He broke into Arsenal’s first team at the start of the 2022-23 campaign and has since become one of Mikel Arteta’s most influential players.
He played a crucial role in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning season, making 31 league appearances, while also featuring in 12 Champions League matches as the club reached its first final in the competition since 2006.
His absence will be a significant setback for Arteta, with Saliba’s defensive awareness, recovery pace and ability to play out from the back forming a key part of Arsenal’s system.
Reports from France also claimed the defender told his teammates, “My back is gone, my back is gone,” during the semi-final, underlining the severity of the pain he experienced before leaving the pitch.
Arsenal’s medical staff remain confident that a structured recovery and rehabilitation programme will be sufficient to help Saliba return to full fitness without the need for surgery.
