Saliba to miss extended period with back injury

Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will be out for an “extended period” after aggravating a long-standing back injury at the World Cup with France. The 25-year-old defender had been managing the problem for several months but was forced off after 30 minutes of France’s semi-final loss to Spain and then missed the bronze-medal match against England.

After returning to London, specialist assessments concluded that surgery is not required. Instead, Saliba will follow a managed rehabilitation programme, with Arsenal stressing that he is expected to miss a significant spell of action but no exact return date has been given.

The injury is a major blow for Arsenal as they begin their Premier League title defence. Saliba made 50 appearances in all competitions last season as the Gunners won the league for the first time in 22 years and reached the Champions League final, so his absence will test their defensive depth ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City and the opening league game against Coventry City.

Reports had suggested he could be out for several months, potentially into the winter, but the decision to avoid surgery and focus on rehabilitation means the timeline will depend on how he responds to treatment. For now, Arsenal’s immediate task is to manage without one of their most important defenders while protecting his long-term fitness.