Arsenal's Saliba Out Extended Period After World Cup Back Injury

Arsenal defender William Saliba will miss an extended period after sustaining a back injury during France's World Cup semi-final against Spain on July 22, 2026. The 25-year-old was substituted in the 30th minute of the match. According to the BBC, Saliba had been managing back issues for several weeks before the tournament and carried the problem into World Cup play.

Following his return to London, specialist assessments determined that surgery is not necessary. Arsenal announced that Saliba will instead commence a managed recovery programme with continual injury management. The club stated he is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, though no specific timeline was provided. Saliba also missed France's World Cup bronze medal match against England.

The injury comes at a significant moment for Arsenal's season. Manager Mikel Arteta's squad will face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16, followed by the Premier League title defense against newly promoted Coventry City on August 21. Saliba made 50 appearances across all competitions last season as Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years and reached the Champions League final. In his absence, potential defensive cover includes Ben White, who has returned to pre-season training after a knee injury, along with Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, and Piero Hincapie.