Arsenal have finally been able to evaluate William Saliba after he limped off in the France World Cup semi-finals and was rumored to be sidelined for months.
William Saliba sent off after France World Cup semi-final defeat (Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal have confirmed William Saliba’s back injury will not require surgery, in a huge boost for the Premier League champions.
Saliba limped out of France’s semi-final defeat to Spain and initial reports suggested he could miss the opening months of Arsenal’s Premier League defense. The injury was similar to one sustained three years ago at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Initial reports suggested surgery would be required, leading to a months-long waiting period. Arsenal have not given a timetable for the centre-half’s return, but confirmed he has been assessed and will begin a “rehabilitation period”.
In a statement, the club said: “William Saliba has returned from World Cup duty and played an integral role for France in reaching the semi-finals of the competition. Subsequent specialist tests on William, who returned to London this week, confirmed that he has sustained a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation.”
“After extensive assessment, we have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should begin a managed recovery program.
“William’s rehabilitation will begin immediately and there will be continued management of his injury and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period of time. Everyone is fully committed to supporting William back to full fitness as quickly as possible.”
France coach Didier Deschamps claimed Saliba’s pain had become “unbearable” after their semi-final defeat. Saliba also said he had been dealing with an injury since March.
William Saliba and Gabriel’s double act was key to Arsenal’s success
Before the World Cup, he said: “We’ve had a bit of frustration over the last few months. We had the Champions League and the Premier League, so we were gritting our teeth. But the coaching staff are dealing with it well. The World Cup only comes once every four years, so we have to grit our teeth. I’m not 100 per cent, but there are a lot of players who aren’t 100 per cent. There are no excuses.”
In the first 10 games of the season, Arsenal will face Aston Villa and Liverpool, while also hosting London rivals Chelsea as they look to get off to a fast start. Over the past decade, Manchester City has been the only team to retain the Premier League title.
In recent years, Saliba has formed a centre-half partnership with Gabriel, which is considered the best in Europe. This formed the basis of Arsenal’s success, finally ending their 22-year wait for a top-flight title and reaching the Champions League final.
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